The faithful one

Rev Lisa Coupland found herself surrounded by secrets and strategy on The Traitors – but her faith was her anchor. Here she shares how God sustained her in the castle

When Rev Lisa Coupland entered The Traitors, she stepped into a world of deception, strategy and psychological pressure. Yet even in the midst of suspicion and secrecy, her unshakable faith remained her anchor. In this interview, Lisa opens up about her path to priesthood, her unexpected TV adventure, and the steady presence of God through it all.

Could you share the story of how you came to faith?

I was born into faith. I was delivered by Catholic nuns in a Catholic hospital. My grandmother used to take me to church and I went to church schools. At around seven, I told my priest that I’d really like to be a priest. He said, ‘You’re a girl, so you can’t’ I was a bit annoyed. Why did the boys get all the fun? The only option to me at that point was to be a nun. Then I had rebellious teenage years. Fell out with the church for one reason or another, but never fell out of my love with God, and never felt like God had abandoned me.

How did you end up becoming a priest?

Life happened but it was always something that was deep within me. I was later baptised into the Anglican Church and became Anglican. I was very poorly for a long time and I had to have emergency, major surgery to save my life. One day, I was in hospital, and I said, ‘Right, God, if you get me through this, I will dedicate what’s left of this mortal life to serve you and the people around you.’ After that, I went back to church and I was in a meeting one day and felt a nudge to say I’d really like to be a priest and here I am.

And then you find yourself on The Traitors. What made you apply?

I love playing games and I love a murder mystery, and I was sat there one night watching the programme and it advertised applying to be on the next series. I thought, ‘I could do this, I’d be able to spot the traitors a mile off.’ So I applied.

How did you keep filming under wraps from your congregation and friends?

I told them that I was going on a retreat to Scotland. Bending the truth slightly. It was a kind of retreat and it was in Scotland. It was funny though, because some friends joked I was taking part in Love Island, while others joked I was in rehab because I didn’t have my phone on me, so there were a lot of weird and wacky rumours about where I was.

How did your faith help you through the process?

There were times that people felt quite lonely, but I never did. We’re separated from our loved ones, but I always had God with me. So that was a huge comfort to me. And I still maintained the daily office. I still prayed. There was always that comfort and that strength.

Did you find it harder or easier once everyone knew you were a priest?

It was much easier. I had to really weigh that up. Even the couple of days before entering the castle, I was still unsure about what to do because it is left completely up to you how you play the game. I thought if people knew, they would think I was an ideal choice for a traitor. So I decided not to say. Then Frankie came to me and asked, ‘What’s with all the God stuff?’ So I thought I better come clean because it was throwing suspicion on me.

What’s your favourite memory from the show?

The boat challenge was a highlight because there were bits on that boat that were really good, and there was that feeling of getting people to work together to get to the end objective and to actually save people, because we got immunity that night. But also just being with people and listening to their stories. I’ve made some wonderful friends. We all stay in touch and they come to visit me. So the true highlight is the relationships that I made and bringing that out into real life.

How has your life changed since being on The Traitors?

I get recognise in lots of strange places, like IKEA, public toilets and motorway service stations. I get asked for selfies at other people’s weddings. I get to do things I never thought I would do, like walk the green carpet of Wicked, meet the likes of Lorraine Kelly, Ed Gamble and Claudia Winkleman. But in Cornwall, I’m still just Lisa the priest.

Have you been able to easily slip back into your role as a priest?

I don’t think I ever stopped. Even when I was in the castle, I was still a priest. There were times when things were really hard for people and it was good to be able to be there so that they could talk to you. There was still very much that pastoral side of my character, so I don’t ever feel I actually stepped out of that, I just moved it into a different stratosphere. But coming back was fine. My congregations were brilliant. They were very supportive.

What does Christmas mean to you?

Christmas for me is about that profound celebration of the incarnation – God choosing to dwell among us. And it’s a reminder of that divine love that just breaks into the ordinary.

Do you have any Christmas traditions?

I always try to keep present opening until after lunch, but it doesn’t always work. Christmas comes with its own busyness – services, sermons, the reality of being a wife, a mother and a grandmother and holding that alongside being a priest. It’s a constant dance between church and home – between preparing the altar and preparing dinner.

Have you personally experienced hope breaking into darkness?

Yes, when I was very ill and no one really knew what was going on, and I spent two years in and out of hospital, there was always that hope I would get to the other side. I can remember when it all sort of blew up and they said, ‘Right, the surgeon’s taking you down to emergency surgery’ – the following day I read Psalm 40, about being pulled out of a pit of despair, and that really spoke to me. It was the hope that this was the turning point and that God was really on my side.