It’s no surprise that The Traitors (US) implements strict rules for its contestants, given the competitive nature of the game. Filmed in the remote Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, the reality TV series follows a complex format criticized by Season 3 star, Tony Vlachos.
But behind the scenes, the production ensures the experience is something the cast will enjoy despite their sacrifices. Chrishell Stause even said that Selling Sunset‘s drama is still more stressful than competing in the Peacock show. It’s also a harder task for the host, Alan Cumming. Here are the rules cast members sign on upon joining The Traitors.
1
The Traitors Cast Films For Long Hours Without Outside Communication
The Traitors Cast Have No Access To Their Phones Throughout Filming
In February 2023, Arie Luyendyk Jr., who quit during Season 1, revealed that he never got to sleep more than six hours each night while filming The Traitors. He said filming always started at 8 a.m. or earlier until 12 to 2 in the morning the next day. It doesn’t help that they have to surrender their phones upon entering the competition.
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All forms of communication with the outside world are prohibited throughout filming. “When we got off the plane, I was like, ‘Oh you’re taking our phones, right now,'” Season 2’s Mercedes “MJ” Javid told the Just Sayin’ podcast in January 2024. “You’re gonna take everything — they take your chargers, your watch, your passport, your wallet, your money.”
2
A Psych Evaluation Test Is Conducted Before Joining The Traitors
The Traitors Does Tests To Determine The Faithful And The Traitors
Executive producer, Mike Cotton told Variety that they do personality tests to determine who becomes a Traitor. “It’s an interesting process. It’s a big group thing,” he said of the “job interview”-ish phase of the competition. “All the contestants that take part in our show, we’ve done personality tests on them.”
Producers don’t know who the Traitors are until Alan Cumming walks around and taps them on the shoulder.
Mike said it’s part of curating “an interesting mix of characters that will bring their own unique skill set to it.” Mercedes also recalled taking a psych evaluation with about 600 questions in it. Then Arie mentioned doing “a swim test to see if we were capable of completing the last mission.”
3
The Traitors Have Security Guards To Keep The Faithful In Their Rooms
The Traitors Is Serious About Keeping The Traitors’ Identity A Secret
Watching The Traitors, it’s hard not to think about how the Faithful aren’t able to sneak out and catch the Traitors’ meetings at night. But as it turned out, the cast doesn’t sleep at the castle but allegedly in the Courtyard by Marriott at Inverness Airport, which is a 40-minute drive from Ardross.
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Still, Mike told Variety that “it’s a massive military operation each night to get the Faithful to bed in individual rooms and get the Traitors back out to have their meeting.” The producer refused to discuss the cast’s real sleeping arrangements but Kate Chastain, who appeared in Seasons 1 and 2, confirmed “there were security guards making sure you never left your room.”
The Traitors Cast Can’t Wear Their Brands Even Though They Have To Self-Glam
When The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum, Shereé Whitfield, joined Season 2 of The Traitors, she was told she couldn’t wear her brand on the show. Contestants sign a contract that restricts them from wearing their brand or advertising it.
Contestants are also not allowed to bring their glam team. Season 3 contestant, Chrishell told Us Weekly that Alan “does not allow us to have glam in the castle.” But the host revealed that even though they don’t spend overnights at Ardross, he “had a room in the castle where I would get made up and dressed.”
5
The Traitors Always Checks On Every Contestant’s Well-Being
Each Contestant Of The Traitors Has An Assigned Welfare Team Member
While the rules of The Traitors can truly drive contestants on edge, they’re each given a “welfare team member” to check on them throughout the game. Mercedes shared on Just Sayin’ that “they’re checking on you at all times.”
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“They’re so cheerful and professional,” she added. “I felt taken care of at all times.” Season 2 alum, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu (from Love Island UK Season 8), also remembered “crying a lot” to a welfare team member after she was killed off from the game.
Alex Gray from Season 1 of The Traitors (UK) even said that with the welfare team’s help, she had “someone to sort out” breakfast food for her because she has allergies. And “you could speak to a psychologist to ground yourself again and bring you back to reality if you needed it.”
The Traitors (US)
- Release Date
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January 12, 2023
- Showrunner
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Stephen Lambert
- Writers
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Lee Grant, Christine Rose
