Paudie Moloney Reveals Truth Behind ‘Daddy’ Slip on The Traitors

Paudie Moloney, a contestant on *The Traitors Ireland*, has opened up about his reaction—or lack thereof—to a memorable moment in the show when his son, Andrew, inadvertently referred to him as “Daddy.” The revelation added an unexpected layer of humor and drama to the reality competition, where contestants strive to outwit each other while hiding their true identities.

During an interview on RTE Radio 1’s Oliver Callan show, Paudie explained that he initially nearly reacted but was hindered by physical discomfort. “Oh yeah, I nearly turned around. But my neck is so stiff at the moment, I couldn’t. My neck isn’t great so I think I couldn’t turn around,” he shared. “I just copped it in time and stopped myself. It was a close one.”

Paudie, who is also a seasoned prison officer, expressed his disappointment when Andrew was eliminated shortly after joining him on the show. “I did it with the best of intentions. Then there was a curve ball thrown with the death row,” he stated. His plan was to form a strong alliance with Andrew, but the dynamics of the game shifted unexpectedly.

Behind the Scenes of The Traitors

The father-son duo had managed to keep their relationship concealed from the other contestants. Paudie shared his strategic thinking during the game, mentioning that he believed they could have gained an advantage if their plan had succeeded. “Nick was gone if that was the case. I would have fought my case at the table and then he would have fought his case at the table the following night… that was the plan. But it didn’t work unfortunately,” he lamented.

Fans of the show were particularly amused by Paudie’s assertion to fellow contestant Nick that he was “not a hugger,” which ultimately led to Nick choosing Christine as the target for elimination. Paudie later clarified this statement, saying, “I am a hugger, to be honest. The grandkids were all at me going, ‘What are you saying granddad? You are a hugger.’”

Despite his playful comments about being a non-hugger, Paudie acknowledged the strategic reasoning behind his behavior in the game. “I will say that I wasn’t really a hugger in the castle. So had I hugged somebody in the castle, I think they would have smelt a rat straightaway,” he explained.

The Stress of Competition

Paudie attributed his ability to navigate the complex social dynamics of the game to his experience as a prison officer. “Working in a prison is a stressful job,” he noted, emphasizing how that background prepared him for the psychological challenges of reality television. “Inside the castle, you’re watching your back, you’re watching every word you say, you’re watching other people’s reactions to what you say and you don’t know if you made a boo-boo there,” he elaborated.

He described the intense atmosphere of the competition as “very, very stressful,” highlighting the pressure to maintain composure and strategy while competing. “You’re fighting to survive, if you like. It was very, very stressful. There’s no point saying otherwise,” he stated candidly.

Paudie’s insights reveal not only the intricacies of gameplay on *The Traitors* but also the personal connections that contestants form, often at great risk to their game strategy. As viewers continue to follow the unfolding drama, the relationship between Paudie and Andrew adds a heartfelt dimension to the competitive narrative.