An evening of deceit, code-breaking and fun based on hit TV show 'The Traitors' - and involving Beyond Radio - has raised more than £6400 for a Lancaster cancer charity.
'The Betrayers' brought players from local businesses together to try to catch 'The Traitors' and it was all in aid of a great cause.
The event organised by CancerCare was held in the atmospheric surroundings of the council chamber at Lancaster Town Hall on Thursday.
Among the players was Beyond Radio's own Greg Lambert, who turned out to be an effective 'Betrayer', lasting until almost the very end!
Audience members also got to take part in the game by cheering on their favourites and holding up signs to predict who might be a 'Loyal' or a 'Betrayer'!
"What a fantastic evening of deceit, code-breaking and fun we had at our first ever Traitors inspired corporate fundraiser event 'The Betrayers'," said a spokesperson for CancerCare.
"We would like to thank Lancaster City Council for the use of their stunning venue, the Council Chambers, which was the perfect setting for this exclusive event.
"The round table featured 14 representatives from local businesses who competed to find out who would be the winner – a Treacherous Traitor or a Loyal Faithful!
"Great fun was had at the round table discussions, whilst they worked together to uncover the Betrayers. Family, friends, and colleagues filled the room with laughter as they came to support the players as part of our interactive, live audience.
"Our amazing contestants had also been fundraising up until the event, to try and save themselves from banishment, which raised a phenomenal £4253 excluding Gift Aid, bringing the total raised for our charity to £6,404 on the night.
"We are so grateful for the amazing support we have had from local businesses, helping to make this new and unique event possible.
"Who needs Celebrity Traitors when we have such amazing local talent.
"Thank you to everyone who made this event such a roaring success."
Contestants were Jon Powell, Lancaster University; Greg Lambert, Beyond Radio; James Sanders, Starvale; Graham White, Lancaster & Morecambe Chamber of Commerce; Daniel Barry, North Star Projects; Enrika Lasukaite, Jumbo; Matt Preston, FGH Security; Stephanie Anderson, Bluebird Health Care; Michelle Turner, Cambian Group; Steve Wright, Wright and Lord Solicitors; Rod Taylor, Morecambe FC; Tony Bell, First Digital Media; Dean Kamitsis, Starvale; and Jamie Lee, Jumbo.
The event was hosted by 'Claude' from Lancaster Escape Rooms and 'Claudia' (Lisa Lambert, below) from CancerCare!
The evening began with all players and audience members putting on masks as 'The Betrayers' were chosen.
Then the game began, and included the infamous 'Round Table' as seen on the television, where players had to choose who they believed should be 'banished'.
First player voted out was Daniel Barry from North Star Projects, who paid the price for a game of Chinese whispers that went suspiciously wrong! A great cheer came up in the room as Daniel then revealed he was indeed the first 'Betrayer'!
'Murders' took place slightly differently to the TV show, as players went behind a screen, one at a time, to secretly choose a player to 'kill off'.
Everyone then put their masks on again, and when told to take them off, the 'murdered' player was revealed. Victims included Jon Powell from Lancaster University!
There were also games where players could earn an 'immunity shield' to avoid banishment or murder.
Our Greg was fortunate to receive one such shield thanks to Beyond Radio colleague Phil McGrath, who donated £50 to CancerCare to earn him one!
Beyond Bear also got involved in the game, alongside Beyond Radio's Roy Ward.
In the end, after a series of tense banishments and murders, two 'Betrayers' had been detected. But did this mean there was still at least one left in the game?
The remaining six players had to decide, as they gathered round for the finale.
After Rod Taylor from Morecambe FC was eliminated, but revealed himself to be a 'Loyal', there were only four left, including our Greg.
A vote of remaining players couldn't determine a clear outcome, so the eliminated contestants got the casting vote and Greg was eliminated.
He then revealed to the room that he'd been a 'Betrayer' all along!
This left Tony Bell from First Digital Media, Michelle Turner from Cambian Whinfell School and Matt Preston from FGH Security as the last three 'Loyals' and ultimate winners of the game.
A big thank you to everyone who donated to Greg, who raised a total of £445 including Gift Aid.
Roy Ward chatted to players during the evening and here are his interviews.
Michelle Turner
Tony Bell
Greg Lambert (before)
Daniel Barry
Steph Anderson
Rod Taylor
Greg Lambert (after)
Winners Michelle, Tony and Matt
Here are more photos from 'The Betrayers', by photographer Lauren Hall.
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