Latest news with #MerylWilliams
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Traitors winner Meryl Williams breaks silence on feud with co-star Maddy Smedley
The Traitors champ Meryl Williams has revealed she has finally buried the hatchet with her former on-screen rival, Maddy Smedley. The reality star, 28, who shot to fame in the hit BBC show's first series in 2022, walked away with a share of the huge cash prize alongside fellow winners Aaron Evans and Hannah Byczkowski. But during her time in the castle, it was her fiery bust-ups with Maddy that stole the headlines. The pair repeatedly clashed over their clashing strategies and opinions, with tensions boiling over in several explosive episodes. Meryl even admitted their spats kicked off as early as episode six, telling Hayley Palmer on her talk show Saturday Night with Hayley Palmer: 'I thought I wouldn't come across as intimidating but then obviously me and Maddy started having our own tiffs… that started in episode six so [my plan] didn't work.' But the TV star has now confirmed the drama is firmly in the past, revealing the pair are on good terms again. 'We are friends now,' Meryl insisted, making it clear there's no lingering bad blood. She also gave fans a peek behind the scenes, praising the BBC for its inclusive casting process. 'The one thing I'll take my hats off to The Traitors for is the casting. They are incredible, they ticked all the boxes, with contestants aged 21 to 75, disabled and non-disabled, visually impaired and non-visually impaired'. It comes after Meryl shared the results of her forehead surgery in before and after snaps as she made a heartbreaking admission about it being 'one of my biggest insecurities'. Back in May, Meryl - who was born with dwarfism - took to her Instagram to tell her followers that she had wanted it done for years and that not many people knew she went under the knife. The reality star - who hails from Edinburgh - posted pre-surgery photos in a reel, showing off her forehead from the side, before later unveiling her new look. After the first snap, she added a mirror selfie, explaining how she was having hairline lowering surgery. Meryl shared a snap of the mapped out lines on her forehead, where the surgeon would operate. Meryl even admitted their spats kicked off as early as episode six, telling Hayley Palmer on her talk show Saturday Night with Hayley Palmer: 'I thought I wouldn't come across as intimidating but then obviously me and Maddy started having our own tiffs… that started in episode six so [my plan] didn't work' The video, which had a narrator filter as the voiceover, explained she has a 'new lease of confidence' after finally getting the op done. The video explained how Doctor Greg Bran - who is one of London's leading plastic surgery specialists - from the GBA London clinic, cut along Meryl's hairline, then pulled her skin up to remove extra skin, before stitching it all back together. Meryl confessed that to her, it has been worth it. Alongside the emotional transformation, she penned: 'Sharing my forehead reduction / hairline lowering surgery journey [sparkle emoji]. 'Not a lot of people know I under went the surgery it was something I have wanted for years & dealt with one of my biggest insecurities my forehead #surgery.' She was greeted with overwhelming support from fans in the comments, who shared how they admire her confidence and that she is looking 'radiant'. Meryl has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia which affects the growth of cartilage and can lead to a larger forehead. Meryl's new-found confidence comes some months after she was forced to hide in a toilet after being targeted by feral teenagers on a London-bound train. The TV star won a share of the BBC show's £101,050 cash prize after appearing on its first series in 2022. And she admitted to being an 'easy target' for a gang of four youths during a January trip to London - after admitting she has only just gained the confidence to travel by train. Addressing TikTok followers, she admitted she had retreated to a nearby toilet in a bid to escape their verbal abuse. 'Living with this condition is something that you can't hide,' she explained. 'People see you straight away; they notice you straight away, you're just an easy target. 'I got on the train, they sat opposite me because I'm sitting on the seats with tables, and so far they've said that I need a stepladder to get on the train, I'm a midget, they've watched dwarf throwing, they've taken videos of me, they've taken photos of me, they said I've got sausage fingers, and they've laughed at me.' The Scottish influencer admitted she was staying in the toilet until they left the train, and condemned fellow passengers for not stepping in. She added: 'This is all in the space of 10 minutes. I'm on my own right now. Everyone around me has witnessed this, heard this, and no one's said anything. I don't know what to do. 'So I thought, I know they're getting off at Durham, and they got on at Newcastle, so if you know these people, let me know, four teenagers… so I'm gonna wait in the toilet until the Durham stop, then I'll go out.'
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Traitors winner locked in feud with co-star gives surprise update
The Traitors winner Meryl Williams has lifted the lid on her infamous feud with co-star Maddy Smedley, three years after they came to blows on the hit BBC show Meryl Williams has opened up on her infamous feud with co-star Maddy Smedley. The TV star emerged victorious from the first series of the BBC game show, which sees a group of Faithfuls work together to try to work out who the Traitors are and oust them from the castle, and shared just over £100,000 with two other finalists. But viewers will remember that she had numerous spats with fellow Faithful Maddy, and the fiery clashes over their different opinions made up much of latter half of the series that year. Eventually, Maddy was banished from the castle before the final and now Meryl has spoken out about her time on the show. During a chat on Saturday Night with Hayley Palmer, she said when asked about how she coped with the lying and deceit that came her way: "I think I am a good liar and people think that I'm trustworthy. I thought I wouldn't come across as intimidating but then obviously me and Maddy started having our own tiffs with one another. That started in episode six so [her plan] didn't work." It comes after Richard Osman reveals axed Ant and Dec show was 'expensive car crash'. But when she was asked how things between her and Maddy are now, she confirmed to Hayley: "We are friends now." Elsewhere in the chat with the presenter, Meryl, who stands at 4ft 2 as a result of her achondroplasia, spoke highly of the casting process when she applied to be on the programme in the first place. She added: "The one thing I'll take my hats off to The Traitors is the casting. They are incredible, the inclusion they get for both the celebs and our one is incredible. They have between 21 and 75, non-disabled, visually disabled, non-visually disabled - they just ticked all the boxes!" Prior to finding fame on the show, Maddy actually had experience as an actress but despite that, she later admitted that taking part in the programme was a shock to the system. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, she admitted: "Yeah, I think it was very intense. I think everyone threw themselves into it. "So I realised I'm more of a method actor cause I felt like I was on death row, but then I think everything's heightened. So even you as a person, you're like, who was that? Or did I say that? And then each time I was like, oh my God. Very intense." The intensity of filming The Traitors may have helped in the long run, as Maddy's acting career has gone from strength to strength after leaving the show. She was a guest star in Call the Midwife last Christmas, playing a pregnant, poverty-stricken mother whose family is evicted from their home just as their neighbourhood is gripped by Hong Kong flu on the long-running BBC period medical drama - and fans were overjoyed to see her back on their screens.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The Traitors' Meryl reveals she's healed feud with co-star after explosive rows and deceit on BBC show
THE Traitors winner Meryl Williams has healed her rift with her co-stars after a heated feud during their time on the show. The star rose to fame on the first series of the show back in 2022. 6 6 6 And although Meryl managed to scoop a third of the prize alongside fellow winners Aaron Evans and Hannah Byczkowski - it was her fiery rows with co-star Maddy Smedley that dominated her time on the show. The pair clashed on a number of occasions as they found themselves at loggerheads over their differing opinions. Meryl made the confession during her sit-down interview with Hayley Palmer on her evening talk show, Saturday Night with Hayley Palmer. As Hayley questioned Meryl on how she dealt with the lying and deceit on the show, she opened up about Maddy. The TV star said: "I think I am a good liar and people think that I'm trustworthy. "I thought I wouldn't come across as intimidating but then obviously me and Maddy started having our own tiffs with one another. "That started in episode six so [her plan] didn't work." But, Meryl has now clarified that all is well between the pair and they aren't feuding after the show. Meryl added that things had been smoothed over between her and her co-star as she added: "We are friends now." Elsewhere, Meryl opened up on the casting process for the show as she praised the BBC for including contestants from all walks of life. 'I couldn't get out of bed' says Hayley Palmer as she fights tears amid split from The Chase's Mark Labbett Meryl said to Hayley: "The one thing I'll take my hats off to The Traitors is the casting. "They are incredible, the inclusion they get for both the celebs and our one is incredible. "They have between 21 and 75, non-disabled, visually disabled, non-visually disabled - they just ticked all the boxes!" You can watch Meryl's interview in full tonight on Saturday Night with Hayley Palmer on Freeview channel 271. 6 6 6
The Irish Sun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
The Traitors star Meryl Williams reveals results of secret forehead reduction surgery
THE TRAITORS star Meryl Williams has revealed the results of her secret forehead reduction surgery. The Scots star, 28, won the first series of the hit BBC1 psychological reality show in 2022. Advertisement 5 The Traitors' star Meryl Williams has revealed the results of her secret forehead reduction surgery Credit: SWNS 5 Meryl said her forehead had made her feel insecure for years Credit: Tiktok 5 The star showed a map of where the surgeon would operate Credit: Tiktok Edinburgh - posted pre-surgery photos in a new reel, showing off her forehead from the side, before later unveiling her new look . After the first snap, she added a mirror selfie, explaining how she was having hairline lowering surgery. Meryl shared a snap of the mapped out lines on her forehead, where the surgeon would operate. Advertisement The Traitors The video explained how Doctor Greg Bran, from the GBA London clinic, cut along Meryl's hairline, then pulled her skin up to remove extra skin, before stitching it all back together. Meryl confessed that to her, it has been worth it. Alongside her video, she said: "Sharing my forehead reduction / hairline lowering surgery journey. "Not a lot of people know I under went the surgery it was something I have wanted for years & dealt with one of my biggest insecurities my forehead #surgery." Advertisement Most read in News TV Fans flocked Meryl with overwhelming support and one said: "Looks unreal! You were beautiful before and after." "Proud of you your such an inspiration don't ever let anyone make you feel down because you have such a bright and bubbly personality I loved you on the traitors and so glad you won!" exclaimed another. The Traitors star forced to hide on train toilet in fear after cruel teens 'laugh in her face' While a third said: "Slay! You are beautiful." The news comes after Meryl tragically Advertisement She said: "Currently hiding in the toilets on the train down to London away from four teenagers who are sitting opposite me and giving me abuse. "Now I think living with my condition or having this condition is something you can't hide. People see you straight away, they notice you straight away, you're just an easy target." Speaking "Because of my condition I don't look like my parents. Advertisement "The world was not made for me. I have to adapt myself to the world. "It is a struggle but it makes me unique. I am so lucky to have [my] people around me." 5 Meryl had wanted the surgery for years Credit: Tiktok 5 Meryl said that she felt the operation had all been worth it Advertisement
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The Traitors star Meryl Williams reveals results of secret forehead reduction surgery
THE TRAITORS star Meryl Williams has revealed the results of her secret forehead reduction surgery. The Scots star, 28, won the first series of the hit BBC1 psychological reality show in 2022. 5 Meryl, who was born with dwarfism - took to TikTok to tell her followers that she'd wanted it done for years and that only a few people knew she went under the knife. The reality star - who comes from Edinburgh - posted pre-surgery photos in a new reel, showing off her forehead from the side, before later unveiling her new look. After the first snap, she added a mirror selfie, explaining how she was having hairline lowering surgery. Meryl shared a snap of the mapped out lines on her forehead, where the surgeon would operate. The video explained how Doctor Greg Bran, from the GBA London clinic, cut along Meryl's hairline, then pulled her skin up to remove extra skin, before stitching it all back together. Meryl confessed that to her, it has been worth it. Alongside her video, she said: "Sharing my forehead reduction / hairline lowering surgery journey. "Not a lot of people know I under went the surgery it was something I have wanted for years & dealt with one of my biggest insecurities my forehead #surgery." Fans flocked Meryl with overwhelming support and one said: "Looks unreal! You were beautiful before and after." "Proud of you your such an inspiration don't ever let anyone make you feel down because you have such a bright and bubbly personality I loved you on the traitors and so glad you won!" exclaimed another. The Traitors star forced to hide on train toilet in fear after cruel teens 'laugh in her face' While a third said: "Slay! You are beautiful." The news comes after Meryl tragically revealed how she was forced to hide in a train toilet after she was targeted with abuse. She said: "Currently hiding in the toilets on the train down to London away from four teenagers who are sitting opposite me and giving me abuse. "Now I think living with my condition or having this condition is something you can't hide. People see you straight away, they notice you straight away, you're just an easy target." Speaking after her success on The Traitors, where she won the £120,000 prize, she said: "I am the only little person in my family. My parents are both average height. "Because of my condition I don't look like my parents. "The world was not made for me. I have to adapt myself to the world. "It is a struggle but it makes me unique. I am so lucky to have [my] people around me." 5
