Fans of The Traitors, Peacock’s thrilling reality series, can rejoice as the third season is set to premiere on January 9. Host Alan Cumming revealed the upcoming season on October 31, hinting at a season full of drama and suspense. “I’ll just say one word: Brutal,” he teased while chatting with Hoda and Jenna on the Today show, sparking excitement for the return of this high-stakes game of deception.
For those unfamiliar, The Traitors brings together a group of reality TV stars and a few public figures in a competition of survival and cunning. Set in a majestic castle, players must navigate alliances, challenges, and betrayals to increase the prize money, which can reach $250,000. But there’s a twist—among the contestants are a few “traitors,” who secretly work to sabotage the group’s progress. Each week, the players vote to eliminate someone they suspect is a traitor, hoping to protect the “faithfuls” left in the game.
In previous seasons, both traitors and faithfuls have won the game. Survivor’s Cirie Fields took the prize as a traitor in season one, while in season two, faithfuls Trishelle Cannatella and Chris “C.T.” Tamburello emerged victorious, splitting the $200,000 cash reward. Season one included a mix of regular contestants and reality stars, but season two exclusively cast familiar faces from TV and the sports world. The change paid off, with The Traitors winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, and Cumming taking home the award for Outstanding Host.
This trend of casting notable personalities continues in season three, with an array of well-known contestants from the worlds of reality TV, sports, and even British aristocracy. Here’s the lineup for this season:
- Bob Harper (The Biggest Loser)
- Bob the Drag Queen (RuPaul’s Drag Race)
- Britney Haynes (Big Brother)
- Carolyn Wiger (Survivor)
- Chanel Ayan (The Real Housewives of Dubai)
- Chrishell Stause (All My Children and Selling Sunset)
- Ciara Miller (Summer House)
- Danielle Reyes (Big Brother)
- Dolores Catania (The Real Housewives of New Jersey)
- Dorinda Medley (The Real Housewives of New York)
- Dylan Efron (Producer and Zac Efron’s brother)
- Gabby Windey (The Bachelor and The Bachelorette)
- Jeremy Collins (Survivor)
- Lord Ivar Mountbatten (British aristocrat)
- Nikki Garcia (Professional wrestler and one-half of the Bella Twins)
- “Boston Rob” Mariano (Survivor)
- Robyn Dixon (The Real Housewives of Potomac)
- Sam Asghari (Britney Spears’s ex-husband)
- Tom Sandoval (Vanderpump Rules)
- Tony Vlachos (Survivor)
- Wells Adams (The Bachelorette)
The diversity of backgrounds adds an intriguing layer to the game. Survivor veterans like Tony Vlachos, who has proven himself as a strategic powerhouse, may have an advantage given the alliance-building and mind games required. In contrast, wild cards like Dylan Efron, Sam Asghari, and Lord Ivar Mountbatten bring a new dynamic, as they aren’t steeped in reality TV’s competitive tactics.
Drama is guaranteed. Cumming teased that at one point, he thought he might have to “break up a fight” during one of the season’s roundtable discussions, describing the season as having plenty of “peaks and troughs” in terms of tension. And, as always, the identities of the traitors and faithfuls will remain a secret until the show’s episodes air.
The Traitors Season 3 promises to deliver explosive confrontations, intense alliances, and, of course, deception. Fans can start streaming the new season on Peacock starting January 9—don’t miss out on this thrilling game of trust and betrayal!
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.