Hancocks’ Very Own Faithful: Reece Ward
When season 4 of The Traitors was on TV, there was a familiar face on screen for the Hancocks family—our very own Reece Ward did us proud in the hit BBC show!
With the series done and dusted, we caught up with Reece, who is part of the team at our Hancocks Sheffield store. From an intense audition process to long days filming in Scotland, we wanted to know all about his experience as a Faithful.
Here, Reece gives us the inside scoop on his once-in-a-lifetime experience.
What made you apply for The Traitors?
A: The uniqueness of the opportunity shouted at me instantly. You can’t walk down the street and ask someone what it was like. When something like that strikes you, you have to go for it.
Q: What was the audition process like?
A: Lengthy. Phone call after meeting, after Zoom call, after medical, after interview! It’s a full personality grilling—insane, but so worth it. I was in Vietnam, and they rang my family to see if they thought I’d cope with being away from home under intense scrutiny!
Q: How long were you in Scotland?
A: You’re scheduled for just shy of a month for the full filming period. If your journey gets cut short, like mine did, you don’t stay the whole time. I was there just under three weeks.
Q: What were the filming days like?
A: Long, really long. About 16 hours. And because it gets condensed into one-hour episodes, there’s loads viewers don’t see.
Q: Did you get any downtime?
A: You’re in castle mode all the time. But on the day off, you’re in your hotel—no cameras, no microphones, and no access to each other.
Q: Do you really travel in blackout cars and get blindfolded?
A: Yep! You travel everywhere in those cars. And to and from the castle, you’re blindfolded and wearing headphones so you can’t see where you’re going.
Q: Do you actually get to eat properly?
A: The food is insane—as good as it looks on TV. Even behind-the-scenes catering is amazing, and they’ll do anything for you. On a day off, the hotel menu didn’t have pasta, I asked for spaghetti bolognese, and it was sensational.
Q: What might surprise people about behind the scenes?
A: Breakfast is filmed around midday, so you don’t want to eat too much because lunch is coming up before the mission.
Q: Have you stayed close with anyone from the show?
A: I love them all — it’s cliché, but we’re one big family. Jessie is my absolute best friend, and she comes to stay sometimes. I’m also really close to Amanda.
Q: What’s Claudia like off camera?
A: She genuinely cares. In my first chat with her, I mentioned family names—then seven months later, at the December premiere, she was asking about those same people by name. She’s such an icon and a motherly figure.
Q. What have been your colleagues' reactions?
A. So, so supportive! I was always sceptical about telling colleagues because of how much I’m with them. I’m with my work family more than my actual family, so I needed their honest opinions to be exactly that, honest!! But they’ve all been very accommodating when it’s gotten too much, and so supportive when it’s been difficult. I’m so grateful.
Q: What has been the customer reaction?
A: Haha, interesting! I think when you’ve built up a relationship with customers the way I have, the banter is very much welcomed! It’s also lovely to hear people you don’t perhaps talk to enough, talk to me about it all
Q: What’s the biggest thing you’ve taken from it?
A: I’ll take a piece of the people with me everywhere—the cast, production, floor crew, editors, everyone. They all taught me something unique. It was so special.
Q: Would you do it again?
A: Absolutely. Hardest thing I’ve ever done—but the best thing I’ve ever done!
Reece’s story is a brilliant reminder that the magic of Hancocks isn’t just in the sweets—it’s in the people. We’re proud to have such passionate, talented personalities across our stores, with Reece bringing the authenticity you saw on-screen to our Sheffield store.
Share this post
