Who knew that a former Bachelor contestant’s shaky hands could be the death of you on The Traitors, but unfortunately for Caroline Stanbury of The Real Housewives of Dubai, it was Colton Underwood’s unsteady appendages that ultimately sent her packing.
During a mission on Season 4 of The Traitors, Stanbury and Underwood elected to partner up, with Underwood tasked to stack 10 skulls in order to protect Stanbury from murder, a task he wasn’t able to complete.
“My tactic was to pick Colton for every single mission,” Stanbury shares with Gold Derby, calling in from Dubai after her elimination. “Colton obviously is a huge football player, and in normal circumstances, that man would have saved me from anything. Who knew he’s got shaky hands?”
Left without safety, Stanbury was tied to a tree in the Scottish woods where the season’s Traitors — The Real Housewives stars Lisa Rinna and Candiace Dillard Bassett, along with Love Island’s Rob Rausch — opted to murder her. Funnily enough, if Stanbury had chosen partners differently, it could have been another Housewife murdered in the forest.
“Dorinda [Medley] begged me for Colton,” Stanbury remembers of The Real Housewives of New York star. “I literally mowed Dorinda down to get to Colton for myself. I should have just gone, ‘There you go, Dorinda. It’s your turn to have him.’”
Despite her ultimate elimination, Stanbury harbors no ill will towards Underwood. “I know he tried, and he felt terrible,” she says. “He had everything, and he just couldn’t get it together, but considering I did absolutely nothing and kept getting bailed out, how can I shout at someone for actually trying?”
Following her elimination, the RHODubai star dished on Rinna’s betrayal, Medley’s fear of Swifties, and why her husband, Sergio Carrallo, would do poorly on The Traitors.
Caroline Stanbury, ‘The Traitors’Euan Cherry/Peacock
Read on for our full exit interview with Caroline Stanbury.
Gold Derby: Let’s start with you tied to a tree in the woods. How long were you tied there? What was it like? What was going through your mind as you heard people shuffle about in the dark?
Caroline Stanbury: I grew up in the British countryside, so I’m not weak for cold and being in the woods. I’m all right, but you’re there quite a while. They leave you pondering, and what goes through your mind? Well, obviously, you don’t want to go. You’re like, “OK, there’s four people. One out of four. There are better choices than me.” But when I saw who the Traitors were, it made perfect sense. I’m lucky I got that as far as I did, frankly.
So you weren’t surprised that the other Housewives were targeting you?
No, because the Housewives have always been targeted. To take out Housewives is a genius idea [by Candiace and Lisa], because then [the Faithful are] going to be looking at anyone but the Housewives, and taking out two so early on, [the Faithful are] not going to think that it’s [other Housewives].
Were you surprised when you saw who the Traitors were?
Yes, very surprised. I mean, I wasn’t surprised by Lisa Rinna at all. I always knew. She plays the villain. She is a baddie. That’s who she is, that’s what she enjoys. Obviously, I have a relationship with her outside of the show, but it’s tactical. It’s a game. I’m not personally angry. It’s actually a very clever move that they played. It took the heat off them completely. Candiace and her together, two Housewives. I was floored. I didn’t suspect any of them. And Rob. Well, Rob can murder me anywhere. That smile? Just one little wink.
Going back to the beginning, when you first got the call, how did you prepare? Did you watch old seasons? What was your strategy?
When I got the call, obviously, I said, “Yes.” I’d heard all about it. I know it’s so big. Everybody loves The Traitors. I really wanted to do it. I’m up for a challenge, and I’ve only done reality shows like The Real Housewives, so I wanted to do something in a different light. I binge-watched the entire show when I was in the castle in my room, because we didn’t have it [in Dubai]. I watched it, and absolutely loved it. Strategy-wise, I don’t believe you can strategize. How can you possibly strategize? You’ve got 23 big people with 23 different opinions. I don’t care what strategy I had; if there were two Housewives who are Traitors and they’re killing Housewives, there’s not much of a strategy I can have. They know exactly who I am, and they wanted me out. I’ll have to take it as a compliment.
Did you talk to Chanel Ayan at all before you went? Did she give you any advice?
I did talk to Chanel, and she was also disappointed she was out so fast. It’s such a whirl that there’s no advice to give except enjoy it. It’s a bit like your wedding day. It’s going to go very fast. Make sure you take it all in. That would be my advice to anyone going in there. Don’t think about it. Just have fun.
I loved the jacket with the shoulder pads you wore when you first arrived. How did you put together your looks for the show?
That look I did completely my myself actually, but I have a stylist in the U.K. that helps me with things. She had bought me that jacket, and then I had the suit. You know what the castle made me feel like? Hogwarts. I wanted to dress up, but not to feel too theme-y. Everyone does the tartan and all of that. I had these giant, long Bottega boots, which I think everyone fell in love with. I just came up with it in my closet, playing around. I’m a girl. That’s what we do, isn’t it?
At the first Round Table, you vote for Donna Kelce. Were you worried at all that the Swifties would be upset with you?
Actually, I had a bit of a run-in with Dorinda over that. We had a to-do in the castle, because she kept saying, “Stop talking about Mama Kelce. The Swifties are going to annihilate you later.” I’m like, “I’m pretty sure the Swifties are dynamic and clever enough to understand we’re all in a game here, right?” Nobody is above the game, and [Donna] wanted us to include her as a normal gamer. Everyone was a bit nervous to go ahead, but we did what needed to be done. I’m a little gutted that it got changed on the first day, because we would have been the first Faithfuls in history to get a Traitor on the first night.
Instead of Donna Kelce, Porsha gets taken out at the first Round Table. Were you surprised that Lisa Rinna voted out a fellow Housewife right away?
Rinna takes no prisoners. We’ve seen it. She’s not going to be loyal to me. To take out one of your own in the first episode? That’s really harsh. There was no need for that, but obviously, she felt that that was her game plan.
That was also the night of the conga line. Did you join the conga line, and did you think it was suspicious?
We were all in the conga line. I wasn’t suspicious at all the first night. I was just enjoying myself so much. Looking back now, there were signs, but on the night, I just wanted to get to know everyone. I wasn’t looking at Rinna. I wasn’t thinking about her. I wouldn’t have put her up. She was off my radar because I knew her. I was oblivious, having a good time in the conga line.
You and Chanel have represented The Real Housewives of Dubai on back-to-back seasons. Which Dubai lady would you like to see in the castle next?
Taleen [Marie Khanoyan]. You guys didn’t get to see her enough, but she would be brilliant. She’s hilarious and also sporty. That woman would have the missions wrapped up in a millisecond.
Do you think your husband Sergio would do well on the show?
Sergio would not do well on the show. Technically, he would do very well, but I think he’d cry a lot in the castle. [Gestures off-camera] He’s here, he’s getting very upset with me. [Sarcastically] He’d be great. Sergio should do it. Sergio should absolutely do it. [Speaks to Sergio] Darling, you’re not good in the dark. He’s not good in the dark castle, all by himself. He’d be very, very fun to watch — watch your man have a breakdown.
Well, now I think we need him on Season 5.
Cast him. We’ve never cut the umbilical cord, so by the time he gets there, he won’t know what to do without me.