Clarkson SHOCKS Fans! Doubts Reality of 'The Traitors' - What Will Happen?!

Jeremy Clarkson, the man who traded fast cars for farming and captivated us all in "Clarkson's Farm," has thrown a bit of a wrench into the reality TV machine. He's a big fan of "The Traitors," apparently, but something about it just doesn't quite ring true for him.

Clarkson SHOCKS Fans! Doubts Reality of 'The Trait...

In a recent interview with The Sun, Clarkson sang the praises of the BBC for creating such a popular show. He called it a "belter," which, coming from Clarkson, is high praise indeed. But, ever the seasoned television veteran, he couldn't help but express some skepticism about how real the whole thing actually is. "Come on," he said, "I’ve worked in television for 30 years. You’re not going to spend that much money on a programme where there’s a risk it all falls to pieces." He admits he can't figure out how they pull it off, but he’s definitely impressed.

The question, of course, is whether the producers at Studio Lambert are subtly nudging things along behind the scenes. Clarkson seems to think so. "They must be," he asserted, "and I’m not just being a cynic, I know how television is made." He clarifies that he doesn’t think they are telling contestants *exactly* what to say. His argument is that it's probably painstaking editing that creates the drama we watch unfold. It's a fair point, and anyone who's ever worked in TV knows editing can work wonders.

Now, Studio Lambert, the production company behind both the UK and U.S. versions of "The Traitors," is adamant that they take a hands-off approach. Sam Rees-Jones, who oversees the U.S. version, claims that once the game is set up and the traitors are chosen, the contestants are left to their own devices. They say they don't influence who talks to whom, because they don't want to change the outcome. It's a noble claim, but Clarkson, and probably a fair few viewers, remain unconvinced.

Despite his appreciation for the show – especially with Claudia Winkleman at the helm – don't expect to see Clarkson himself competing on a celebrity edition anytime soon. "I wouldn’t in a million years," he joked. "I’ve got ten jobs already why would I want 11?” Fair enough, I suppose. He does have a farm to run, after all.

For those of us who are hooked on the drama, the BBC has announced that "The Traitors" Season 4 will be hitting our screens on New Year’s Day. This civilian edition follows the huge success of "The Celebrity Traitors," whose finale, featuring Alan Carr as the traitor champion, drew an impressive 15 million viewers. Whether it’s all real or not, it's clearly captivating audiences. And honestly, maybe a little bit of manufactured drama is just what we need sometimes.