For reality TV fans, “The Traitors” became a must-watch as soon as Season 1 premiered on Peacock in January 2023. The Emmy-winning series, hosted by Alan Cumming (“The Good Wife”), recently aired its third season, with Season 4 currently filming and Season 5 already greenlit by the network. Combining high-stakes competition and strategic gameplay, with a grand cash prize on the line, “The Traitors” is perfect for both game show devotees and reality TV fanatics alike.
For those curious about how to be on a future season of “The Traitors,” like NBC's newly announced civilian-led version or "The Traitors" UK, here’s everything we know about the viral, murder mystery-inspired reality show, including audition advice from the show’s casting director.
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Each season of “The Traitors” stars a range of TV personalities, celebrities, and other public figures who compete as themselves to win a large cash prize through various challenges and missions. Loosely based on the board game Clue, players must hide their true motives and alliances to get ahead in the competition. The host secretly designates a group of players as “Traitors,” who must eliminate the rest of the contestants, called “Faithfuls.” The Traitors can “murder” one player per week, eliminating them from the game. In return, the Faithfuls can privately vote to banish one player each week in hopes of getting rid of a Traitor. If the Faithfuls have successfully eliminated all of the Traitors at the end of the game, they’ll split the cash prize equally. But if a Traitor makes it to the end, they claim the entire pot.
“The Traitors” is filmed at Ardross Castle, a 19th century estate in the Scottish Highlands, and contestants have no contact with the outside world during filming.
Everything we know about NBC's non-celebrity version of "The Traitors"
At 2025's Televerse conference in Los Angeles, Cummings revealed that a new non-celebrity version of “The Traitors” is coming to NBC in 2026. According to Variety, NBC’s “The Traitors” will feature a civilian-led cast with, of course, Cummings serving as the host.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” Cummings said during a panel at the conference. “I think it’s going to be a hoot.”
Following the announcement, NBC revealed that the non-celebrity version is also currently casting. Production states they are seeking “smart, strategic, everyday people to compete in the ultimate game of trust & treachery.” Applicants can apply now via NBC’s submission form for a chance to win $250,000 directly
Sharon Vuong, executive vice president of unscripted programming, NBCUniversal Entertainment, also weighed in on the news, saying, “We’re excited to bring along ‘The Traitors’ highly addictive fan base as we discover the next generation of legendary gamers and schemers. With our resident host and gameplay master of ceremonies, Alan Cumming, on board to introduce complete strangers to new epic missions and twisted gameplay, this new version for NBC offers a unique opportunity for the cast and audience to meet each other for the first time, and we know it will be incredible to watch.”
The competitors for Season 4 are:
- Natalie Anderson
- Yamil Arocho
- Mark Ballas
- Candiace Dillard Bassett
- Rob Cesternino
- Stephen Colletti
- Maura Higgins
- Kristen Kish
- Donna Kelce
- Tara Lipinski
- Dorinda Medley
- Tiffany Mitchell
- Eric Nam
- Michael Rapaport
- Rob Rausch
- Lisa Rinna
- Caroline Stanbury
- Ian Terry
- Colton Underwood
- Johnny Weir
- Porsha Williams
- Monét X Change
Previous competitors include Ryan Lochte, Brandi Glanville, Kate Chastain, Rachel Reilly, Cirie Fields, Nikki Bella, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Chris Tamburello, Janelle Pierzina, Peter Weber, Chrishell Stause, Tom Sandoval, Gabby Windey, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, and Dylan Efron, among other cast members.
Reality TV veteran Deena Katz (“The Masked Singer,” “Dancing With the Stars”) is the current casting director. She has served as casting director since Season 1 and as an executive producer since Season 2.
Ahead of Season 4, the CD shared her best “Traitors” audition tips with us, pointing out the importance of being authentic. “As hard as it is, take down your walls,” says Katz. “You’re going to have a much better journey on these kinds of shows if you’re just you. Also, I love people who love this game; if you really want to be there, you’re a better cast member. So if you’re a huge fan of the show, let me know.”
“The Traitors” is produced by Studio Lambert for Peacock and BBC, so keep an eye on their applications page for updates. As mentioned, NBC's civilian-led version is currently casting, so those interested should apply here. There are also plenty of other great casting opportunities you can take advantage of, which we spotlight in the guides below:
And bookmark these pages for even more auditions and acting jobs:
Boost your chances of getting cast on a reality TV show with our advice:
