Soap star Julie Hesmondhalgh - the most recently banished contestant from The Celebrity Traitors - says she left the show with her "head held high".

The former Coronation Street actress, from Accrington, Lancashire, starred as a faithful contestant in the second series of the BBC One show - before being voted out by other players on Friday's episode.

Hesmondhalgh said she "had no idea" she was going to be banished.

"It became clear it was going to be me and I was a bit worried," she told BBC Radio Manchester. "I did feel it was my time and I left with my head held high. But I have to say I had some very gratifying apologetic texts on Friday night."

Hesmondhalgh said being on the game show had been an "amazing experience".

"I absolutely loved it," she said.

"I'm a huge fan of the show anyway. I've watched every episode of them all - even the New Zealand one."

Hesmondhalgh also revealed she was personally recruited to be a contestant on the show last year - while the first series was in full swing.

"I got asked to do it at the height of last year's celebrity series," she recalled.

"I was doing a play in London.

"They came to see me in my dressing room and asked me.

"I couldn't believe it. I like fell on the floor."

"Keeping it a secret was so, so hard."

The actress, who was the third celebrity to be banished from the Traitors' Castle, said it had been a "total relief" to now be able to watch the series as a fan.

"I can't tell you how stressful it is to watch yourself - especially when you're playing badly," Hesmondhalgh said.

"I was doing good but I knew what was to come. I knew I'd turn into this crazy lady Traitor hunter.

"My overriding feeling now is total relief that I can watch it as a fan again - because my nervous system will never recover."

She added: "It was a total thrill to be in there.

"And amazing to be representing - not just the North West - but the whole of the north.

"I'm very much looking forward to just watching it and I am backing Sharon [Rooney], Leigh-Anne [Pinnock] and Bash [Sebastian Croft]."