The Traitors Australia S3 | Banished Player Exit Interview | Episode 6

In this episode of Beyond Reality: Beyond The Traitors, I'm joined by the first Traitor to be banished from the game Masterchef Australia's Alvin Quah. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:16

This is Beyond Reality. Hi, Alvin. Hi. Thank you so much for joining me. First traitor to be banished from the game. How are you feeling, you know, after Alex turned on you?

SPEAKER_01 0:30

I'm feeling good. Like it's it's when when I mean it's been a while since we filmed that. And I remember um uh when it happened all that time ago, I was a little bit sore. But um, but that's because I wasn't privy to all the side conversations. So it's very interesting watching this as a viewer. Um, you get to see what's actually been sort of like your name's been thrown around, and and I think that's why I think right, it all makes sense. Um, I mean, that poor woman, like she was like completely like manipulated, um, which is the name of the game, you know, like it's it's completely fine, but it's like, wow, that is good good gameplay.

SPEAKER_00 1:09

So you're talking about Alex being manipulated by AJ.

SPEAKER_01 1:13

Yeah, yeah. And and I I just didn't I didn't realize that. I didn't realize all that was happening, and and it was just it makes sense because at the time when when she revealed that she wrote my name, I'm like, what are you doing? Uh and and you know, you couldn't react, of course, and you're like, yeah, okay, good. Um, so yeah, that's how I feel right now. I'm good.

SPEAKER_00 1:35

I'm glad that you're you're good with it now. Obviously, you've had some time to process. I guess, you know, you talk about those conversations that you weren't privy to. What surprised you the most watching the series back?

SPEAKER_01 1:49

Well, two things, actually. Uh so watching the series back, like I felt like as traders, at least, at least for the first you know, five episodes, like we were good at creating organized chaos. Like, literally, and that was our plan to start with. Let's just murder this person, which like is so random. Like, sort of think, why did we do that and stuff like that? And people just don't get it. Um, and then what then happens is they scramble and then start creating a theory of why traders would do that and then subsequently work out or try to work out who the traders are. So that's one thing that's good. The other thing is I I clearly like we as a tr as as traders that you don't you don't see exactly what everyone is talking about. Like you, there's three of you, and you could fan out and you can actually sort of gather information. But watching it as a viewer, you actually think, wow, like these faithfuls, they are really, they are really on to something. Like sometimes they would sort of hang on to a theory and sort of run with it, or they would say, or they would compare notes, or they would try and plot and scheme. So, you know, like it's always it's always a joy to sort of see that's like, yeah, okay, like it's it's very good not to underestimate your faithfuls.

SPEAKER_00 3:04

Yeah, and I mean, I have to say, you were playing so well, and I didn't expect you to be the first traitor to be banished. I guess there was a few things this this week, though. And I obviously in the episode that we saw last night, the moment where Alex blew up at AJ at breakfast. Did you feel in that moment that that was gonna immediately lead back to you because that conversation took place in the conclave, and then it it was from a conversation where there was only five people in the car?

SPEAKER_01 3:36

Yep, it was. I think that was the catalyst that actually sealed my fate. Um, it was it was so surreal watching it from across the breakfast table. And I mean, I couldn't reach out to and say, stop talking, stop talking. It's it's I and and it was always a pack for the three of us to sort of say in the conclave, if you hear anything that you couldn't tell us in the manner, tell us in the conclave. So at least we'll be prepared on how we can sort of manage this. And what I didn't expect was I think we are all so weary from being a faithful of the day and then traders at night. Like it really wears you down. And I think it was wearing Alex down, and she was getting quite emotional. And her emotional outburst was like, oh my god, it's like watching a car crash, and you sort of think, I can't, uh, what am I gonna do now? And you can't say anything, it's so um, it's just so oh it's so insidious this game.

SPEAKER_00 4:34

What were you thinking in your head at that time?

SPEAKER_01 4:37

Well, it was it was really interesting because I I was thinking, I I I want the ground to swallow me right now. Um and but I was also thinking Kirby is literally sitting between Alex and um and AJ. And and uh and and Kirby like literally told me inside I was literally tapping Alex on her lap and saying, Are you good? Are you good? But but she wasn't hearing any of it because she was just so frustrated with how AJ is just playing her and you know, like rightfully so, and you sort of think, Oh my god, yes, hindsight is such a great thing.

SPEAKER_00 5:18

So interesting. I can't wait to see how that is going to unfold. But I also want to talk about the previous night Luke had brought your name up at the round table. Can you tell me about that? And what do you think tipped him off? And was there anything that you could have done differently in hindsight?

SPEAKER_01 5:36

Yeah, look, I uh so the first question, I don't know what tipped him off. Um, and and the second question, I I wouldn't do anything differently because I uh how I work as a person going into a room, a room of however many people, where they're all type A personalities, they all talk a lot. Like I'm an extrovert, don't get me wrong, I love talking as much as the next person. But like when I get to these rooms, I I don't speak because there's so many opinions. And I thought the best way for me to do to actually deliver anything concrete and not making it sound like noise is to be quiet and observe and then make my you know like summary. Um, so I think when when he said that, and and my defense was completely truthful, like literally, I say to him, I can't like I don't argue like you guys argue. Like I come from a different background, a different, you know, like different culture, like how how we present our argument is we sit back and we take up all the pros and cons, and then you make an educated guess or a decision. Um, and I guess where he's coming from is like oh you're too quiet. And you can understand that completely. Like this game, you you're crucified if you talk too much, and you're crucified if you're not you're not talking enough. So it's so I guess it, I guess it was on me or the person being accused is to defend yourself and and and how well you can defend it. Um, so to my I I guess, yeah, like I guess I didn't defend myself that well.

SPEAKER_00 7:11

I mean, it's such a hard game. It's you're right. It's like you're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't. So, and once people think you're a traitor, it's very hard to shake that.

SPEAKER_01 7:21

Yeah, once they smell blood, you're gone.

SPEAKER_00 7:26

I mean, obviously, Alex voting for you, that was unexpected. Is there any bad blood? Do you respect the move?

SPEAKER_01 7:34

I respect the move, and and I I respect the move because it was it was self-preservation. It was just she was she had her back against the wall, and there was the only her only move was to sort of do that because otherwise she's going to look really, really, you know, like um um shady.

SPEAKER_00 7:53

Yeah, and in the manor, was there anyone that you were particularly wary of and and you were avoiding because you were worried they were dangerous?

SPEAKER_01 8:02

Yeah, there was. There was actually a few, and and I mean, there's no bad blood between them now because I literally told them like after the show, I said, Oh my god, I thought you were this person, but you're so nice. I was so scared of you. Um uh and his name is Rob, and he's such a sweetheart. But I think it's because we um um we sit at a round table and he sits across from me, and all I see is him giving me the shady look. And he goes, That's just my face, which is uh, which is really sweet. And the other person, and again, I I have since like I've been to this person's house for dinner and all that sort of stuff, um, is Chrissy. Um, she is a delightful woman, but I was so scared of her. Like, I was so scared of her, and I couldn't, I couldn't connect with her. Um, so it was really, it was really bizarre. And you realize we were all there to play a game and we all wore a mask at some point.

SPEAKER_00 8:58

If you survived, what would have been your next move?

SPEAKER_01 9:02

I would murder AJ.

SPEAKER_00 9:05

Okay, why?

SPEAKER_01 9:06

I would murder AJ because it was such a it was such an inkling that he's starting to he's starting to like manipulate and actually like trying to control the trader. Like, so it's time like it, so we need to sort of cut that off. And the my next, if not AJ, I would break up the twins.

SPEAKER_00 9:26

Yeah, two votes right there, yeah, potentially, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:31

And I think the strategic move from the start would have been to murder one of them, but it was yeah, hindsight's a great thing, like I said.

SPEAKER_00 9:38

Obviously, your background is from Master Chef, a very different competition. How did that experience on MasterChef influence the way you approach the traitors?

SPEAKER_01 9:51

I think um it's a completely different beast. Like Master Chef is is a supportive environment, whereas in traders, trust is a currency, right? But what I will say though is everyone who's done this series of traders, they all come up, come with a hang up of the show. Like survivors are automatically looked at as, oh, don't trust them. They'll be out to get you. Um, the good thing about coming from a show like Masterchef is that A, these people, probably half of them haven't seen the show because it's just not in their world. And secondly, they only see MasterChef as good. So coming in the show as a MasterChef contestant and being made a trader is like the biggest advantage because they think, oh no, surely not that chef, you know, like he just cooks, he doesn't kill. Um, so that that actually put me in good stead, which is probably why I I sort of flew under the radar for so long, or halfway through anyway.

SPEAKER_00 10:49

Yeah, definitely. No, it is interesting how each show has kind of a reputation attached to it. What aspect of being a traitor did you underestimate in terms of how difficult it would be?

SPEAKER_01 11:03

I think um the biggest thing is uh lying to people and and and lying to them at the start, I will say, is easier because I don't know them. Um and it got harder for me anyway. I can't speak for the other two. It got harder for me because they became friends. Like I started liking them and we we started bonding because during the day we're doing challenges together and we'll help each other, and then and then you have to lie to them. And I think that was my biggest struggle. And I I remember like I just sort of think, oh my god, I can't do this anymore. Like, I can't look at their face and sort of say, Yeah, I'm a faithful. Yeah, that was hard. That was hard.

SPEAKER_00 11:48

And finally, before we get to the quick fire questions, I'd love to know. I mean, Lawson's line to banish you was very iconic. What do you make of that?

SPEAKER_01 11:59

Oh, he's a sweet man. Lawson, um, Lawson is very good at diffusing a very tense situation. So, round table discussions, you can imagine there, accusations flying all over, everyone's on edge. But every time, in every round table, I remember when we get to Lawson, he would he would sprout these weird and wonderful sayings, saying, Oh, Lawson, you'd just shake your head, but you'd smile. Um, so I think it's his way of softening the blow. And I adore him for that. We uh I am not I'm not going anywhere else with him. No, no.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

I'd love to get to some quick fire questions. All right, who did you trust the most?

SPEAKER_01 12:39

Uh Kirby.

SPEAKER_00 12:40

Who were you most starstruck by?

SPEAKER_01 12:43

Uh Chrissy.

SPEAKER_00 12:44

What's more intense, the Master Chef Kitchen or the Round Table?

SPEAKER_01 12:49

The round table, 100%.

SPEAKER_00 12:52

Who surprised you the most in the manner and why?

SPEAKER_01 12:55

Um, Claudia, because despite being someone from Love Island, um she is someone to watch out for.

SPEAKER_00 13:03

In a good way.

SPEAKER_01 13:04

In a good way, yeah. She's I I adore her for her brain, um, her beauty, and her wit.

SPEAKER_00 13:11

If you could be on any other reality show, not Master Chef, not the traitors, what would you be on?

SPEAKER_01 13:17

It's been cancelled since, but I would love to be on the Mask Singer.

SPEAKER_00 13:21

Oh, I could see that. Can you sing?

SPEAKER_01 13:23

Uh a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 13:26

We'll have to wait and see.

SPEAKER_01 13:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 13:30

And finally, what Master Chef Judge do you think would be great on the traitors?

SPEAKER_01 13:36

Oh my god, I would love to see. Um, I would love to see Matt Preston.

SPEAKER_00 13:44

Oh, old school.

SPEAKER_01 13:45

Old school. I'm going old school. I want to see that guy in the round table.

SPEAKER_00 13:52

You think he'd be a traitor?

SPEAKER_01 13:53

I reckon. You'd be a very small trader.

SPEAKER_00 13:58

Yeah. Thank you so much, Alvin. It's been so nice to chat. I think you are a great trader. I'm surprised that you were first to go. I can't wait to see what happens.

SPEAKER_01 14:07

No, stay tuned.