The Traitor about to backstab his way to stardom: Harry Clarke already enjoys a life of private jets, famous friends and has a TV presenter girlfriend... now PR gurus say he could be the next Bear Grylls

Within a few short weeks, he’s gone from being a dependable and much-liked military engineer into a ruthless, back-stabbing killer.

And in the process, Harry Clarke has become one of the most popular reality stars on our screens.

The British Army Corporal, 23, is the favourite to win the second series of the BBC’s smash-hit reality show The Traitors – and its £120,000 prize money – tomorrow, after deploying a dazzling range of Machiavellian tactics on the programme.

At the beginning of the second series, Harry was selected as one of three ‘traitors’ whose job is to ‘kill’ off the remaining 19 ‘faithful’ contestants, night after night.

Meanwhile, the faithfuls work to unmask the traitors – picking them off in a bid to secure the prize money.

Harry Clarke, 23, has become one of the most popular reality stars on our screens

Harry and his girlfriend, children’s TV presenter Anna Maynard, embrace while out for dinner

While Harry was initially overshadowed by his fellow traitor, the proudly villainous Paul Gorton, the student became the master – and murdered him.

Last night’s spectacular episode saw Harry continue with his mission of deceit. In a shock twist that proved him to be even more treacherous than many had imagined, he ruthlessly ‘killed’ another, newly-recruited traitor, Ross Carson – having cynically befriended him the previous evening.

What might surprise viewers more, however, is the fact that this is not Harry’s first brush with fame.

Harry and singer Conor Maynard (Anna’s brother) on a private jet. Industry insiders believe the Traitors star could become the ‘face of a high-street brand’ or follow in the footsteps of TV stars such as Bear Grylls

Harry and Anna lean in for a kiss in matching white towelling robes

The young man from Slough, who enjoys boxing in his spare time, was on a boys’ night out in 2022 when he met Anna Maynard, who would go on to become his girlfriend.

Anna, 23, is a children’s TV presenter and social-media star with 150,000 Instagram followers – partly thanks to having famous brothers: pop star Conor and vlogger (and former I’m A Celebrity star) Jack.

She has proudly detailed her blossoming romance with Harry on her TikTok feed.

‘We literally met in a nightclub where I live,’ the host of CBBC’s Got What It Takes singing competition told her TikTok fans.

Claudia Winkleman hosts the BBC reality show The Traitors with season two kicking off with 22 contestants

Ms Winkleman poses with the Bafta for Entertainment Performance Award for The Traitors last May

‘He’s not from where I live and the chances that he was out that are night are really, really slim. He was sober while I was drunk and he still fancied me so I’m clearly doing something right.’

She revealed that she knew Harry was ‘the one’ when he drove her and her friends home from the club that night and stopped off at McDonalds.

For his part, Harry seemed to enjoy the perks of being part of a famous family, attending glitzy dinners and travelling with Conor on a private jet as part of the family entourage.

But his duplicity on the BBC show, pre-recorded last September, has prompted Anna to ask how she’d ever ‘trust him again’.

She joked on Instagram: ‘If anyone wants an unfaithful, unloyal, dishonest, a traitor as a boyfriend, be my guest. I’m putting him up for sale. I don’t need that bad energy in my life. This whole thing, my perception has just changed.’

But the pair, who were rocked by claims that Anna had kissed another man at the beginning of their relationship, appear to be happily still together, posting loved-up photos only this week.

Harry, who was working full-time as an engineer in the British Army before joining the show, said that he would like to use his potential winnings to ‘treat’ his family and girlfriend and to ‘start my new chapter in life’.

And, with millions of viewers tuning in every night this week to see whether the ‘faithfuls’ will finally unmask him, the future certainly looks bright for him.

Industry insiders say Harry’s ‘charming’ and ‘likeable’ personality could see him go far.

He could become the ‘face of a high-street brand’ or follow in the footsteps of TV stars such as Bear Grylls and SAS veteran Ant Middleton and own the ‘young adventure man space,’ according to leading talent manager Jonathan Shalit.

Harry already has an impressive 25,700 followers on Instagram, despite having posted just 16 photos, and is represented by leading television PR agency Plank.

Indeed, the young star seems well equipped for the world of celebrity.

‘I can approach anyone, talk for ages and chat someone’s ear off. My mum says it: I’m the clumsiest but smartest guy she’s ever met,’ Harry said before he filmed the show.

However, in the same breath Harry admitted that he’s ‘got a Jekyll and Hyde in me’.

He said: ‘I also have five brothers and sisters so I can tell little white lies and I make myself believe them first – and then it just becomes the truth.’

Tomorrow, The Traitors’ finale will prove just how perfidious young Harry is prepared to be to achieve stardom.