The Traitors Season 3 Premieres with New Twists and Star-Studded Cast

The highly anticipated third season of *The Traitors* premiered on Peacock on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, bringing back host Alan Cumming and a star-studded cast of reality TV veterans. The murder-mystery reality series, based on the UK format, pits Faithfuls against Traitors in a high-stakes game of deception, alliances, and betrayal, with a $250,000 prize on the line.

This season introduces 21 new competitors, including familiar faces from *The Bachelor*, *Big Brother*, *Survivor*, and *The Real Housewives* franchises. Notable contestants include Bob the Drag Queen, Rob Mariano (aka Boston Rob), and British royal Lady Amelia Windsor. The show’s signature twists return, with Traitors secretly eliminating Faithfuls each night while the group works to uncover their identities during daily Round Table discussions.

Alan Cumming, who won two Emmys for his role as host, described the new season as “maddening” and “insane,” with challenges that push contestants to their limits. “Sometimes I think, ‘Oh, my God. Did I make these people do that?'” Cumming told *Vanity Fair*. “The last mission this season is so terrifying.”

Season 3 also features unexpected late arrivals, including *The Challenge* star Wes Bergmann and *Big Brother* alum Derrick Levasseur, who join the game as Faithfuls. The Traitors, revealed in the premiere, include Bob the Drag Queen, Carolyn Wiger from *Survivor*, and Danielle Reyes from *Big Brother*. The first three episodes saw the eliminations of *Real Housewives* stars Dorinda Medley and Chanel Ayan, as well as Faithfuls Wells Adams and Tony Vlachos.

Cumming, known for his campy and theatrical hosting style, emphasized the psychological intensity of the game. “They’re in a bubble. They’re not allowed their phones. They think of nothing else but this game, and so they become irrational,” he said. “It’s made me appreciate how well people lie.”

The season also introduces a new rule: finalists will no longer reveal whether they are Traitors as they leave the game, adding an extra layer of suspense. Cumming teased the possibility of an all-stars season or even a crossover with *RuPaul’s Drag Race*. “Wouldn’t that be funny? Me and RuPaul could duke it out,” he joked.

With its mix of drama, strategy, and star power, *The Traitors* continues to captivate audiences, blending reality TV with the thrill of a psychological thriller. The first three episodes are now streaming on Peacock, with new episodes released weekly.