Mystery Traitors US henchman revealed - and he’ll be returning to Ardross Castle for a wedding…
A BAGPIPER who tutored a former World’s Strongest Man to play in Wester Ross found himself thrust back into the TV spotlight at the weekend.
Jason Faulkner, a former South Lodge Primary and Invergordon Academy pupil, has carved out a new career for himself after over 20 years in the army.
And at the weekend, it emerged that one of his more unusual gigs was playing one of Traitors US host Alan Cumming’s henchmen on the eagerly anticipated launch show for the latest series.
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He said: “I appeared briefly at the end of the first episode of The Traitors US as one of Alan Cumming’s henchmen.”
This was in stark contrast to “what I normally do which is play the bagpipes for all events including weddings and funerals in the Highlands”.
He explained: “I am registered with various casting agencies. As you are most likely aware, the production company need extras plus games testers for both the UK and the US Traitors filmed at Ardross Castle.
“My initial interest was to try and get an appearance playing the bagpipes on the show however I've been somewhat unsuccessful.
“In 2023 I did extra work and games testing from the start of production until the end without a whisker on the TV. Last year I was only able to do one day due to piping commitments and was surprised that I made it onto an episode.
“The experience working with the production has been fantastic and I am looking forward to possibly working on the show again this year.
“I encourage any Traitors fans of all ages and anyone local to Inverness to look out for the opportunity to work on the show.”
And, as it happens, he will be back at Ardross Castle for a wedding in September this year. He said: “I’m unsure if this will be during production of the next series of The Traitors. I hope so!”
He joked: “Yes, definitely not my normal type of engagement however I am always on the lookout for my starring role!”
Jason joined the British Army when he was 17 and spent over 20 years with The Highlanders (4th battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland).
In those two decades he travelled the world with the Pipes and Drums, performed at events like the Edinburgh Tattoo and played for royalty in Buckingham Palace. As a soldier he was also deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Another of his more unusual engagements was giving Eddie ‘The Beast’ Hall a piping primer in Ullapool while the latter was on a motorcycle tour of the NC500.
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