Alan Cumming, the Emmy-winning host ofThe Traitorsis revealingwhat really goes on behind the scenesas he selects the show’s Traitors. While it might look like the host makes the decision by tapping the contestants on their shoulders, the process is far more lengthy and complexthan just that! According to Cumming, he needs to make sure that the traitors he picks canstrike a balance between conflict and team spiritto ruthlessly take down the Faithfuls.
In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, the Scottish actor revealed that the contestants areblindfolded for 40 minuteswhile he decides who to tap. Cumming admits that the process is nerve-wracking for him and the contestants.“It’s terrifying in case I f**** up,”he confessed. However, he also admitted that heloves leaning into the dramaand deliberately creates tension as time passes. The host confessed that he ruffles his sleeves and makes sounds with his feet tokeep the contestants on edge.
Cummings believes thathe has to be a complete “trickster”while selecting the Traitors. According to him, thepsychological aspect of the processis what makes it so much fun. He notes that when the contestants are blindfolded,their senses are heightenedand their hearing becomes a lot more refined. The host admitted that he loves it when the contestants think he is going to tap them, only to be proven wrong.
Alan Cumming Opens About His Twisted Persona on ‘The Traitors’
As one of the producers ofThe Traitors,Alan Cumming isresponsible for many of the unexpected twiststhat the show is known for. In an interview withVanity Fair, the host opened up abouthow tough that is at times.In his exact words: “It’s always a tightrope between making lots of twists and turns andnot losing the simplicity of the game.” However, he claims thatThe TraitorsSeason 3 takes things up a notchbecause the viewers and contestants are now familiar with the format.
The host noted that these twists push the contestants intoa state of constant paranoiaand they start reading too much into the smallest clues. According to him, everyone on the showexists in a bubblewhere theycan’t think of anything besides the game— and this tension only keeps rising.
To make sure that this bubble is maintained, Cumming makes sure thathe doesn’t interact with the contestantsoutside his character. The host describes his on-screen persona as the “stern daddy” ofThe Traitors. According to him,maintaining this boundaryand keeping up the illusion of his role as theall-knowing puppeteerplays a great role inmaintaining the game’s chaos.However, he made sure tocredit the show’s productionteam for creating the complex mechanics that keep the contestants on their toes. The first three episodes ofThe TraitorsSeason 3premiered on August 14, 2025, onPeacock. New episodes will stream on the platform every Thursday.
The Traitors (US)
Contestants in the game move into a majestic castle and work as a team to complete a series of dramatic and challenging missions to earn money for the prize pot. Some contestants are traitors some are loyal.
Watch on Peacock
