Alan Cumming talks ‘The Traitors’ and America at 2025 Emmy Awards red carpet
Alan Cumming, host of “The Traitors,” agrees the show feels bittersweet because it reflects America’s current divisions on the 2025 Emmy Awards red carpet.
Entertain This!
Welcome back, “The Traitors” Faithfuls. Are you ready for another season of deceit and alliances?
Season 4 of the Peacock show will drop in early 2026, bringing together a cast of famous names from scripted TV, reality shows, music and sports inside a castle nestled in the Scottish Highlands. As with past seasons, the competition will no doubt bring out unexpected friendships, dramatic rivalries and meme-worthy moments.
Much of the cast hails from the NBCUniversal family, with a formidable “Housewives” contingent that includes Lisa Rinna, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Caroline Stanbury and Porsha Williams. There’s also “Real Housewives of New York City” alumna Dorinda Medley, who will unquestionably be back with a vengeance after being the first to be eliminated in Season 3.
“Love Island” fans will be glad to see “USA” Season 6 breakout star Rob Rausch back on their screens, joined by U.K. favorite Maura Higgins, who’s moved into a hosting role on “Love Island USA Aftersun.” If competition shows are more your speed, “Survivor” viewers can look forward to seeing Season 29 winner Natalie Anderson, Season 44 winner Yam Yam Arocho and podcast host Rob Cesternino.
However, factions often form regardless of contestants’ mediums of origin, and there’s no telling who might have each other’s backs.
Read on for the full “Traitors” Season 4 cast list with each contestant’s official portrait.
When does ‘The Traitors’ Season 4 come out?
Peacock’s first batch of episodes will premiere at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 8. Three episodes will be released in the first drop.
The following week, on Thursday, Jan. 15, Peacock will debut two new episodes – again at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Each week thereafter will have one new episode.
The finale and reunion are scheduled for Feb. 26.
Candiace Dillard Bassett
“Real Housewives of Potomac” star and former Miss United States winner Candiace Dillard Bassett has a new tagline for her latest NBC family venture: “The crown doesn’t shake — even when the knives come out.”
Caroline Stanbury
Real estate investor Caroline Stanbury of “Real Housewives of Dubai” – and formerly of Bravo’s “Ladies of London” – also hosts a podcast called “Uncut & Uncensored with Caroline Stanbury.”
Colton Underwood
Controversial Season 23 “Bachelor” lead and father of two Colton Brown-Underwood, who’s continued his TV career as the subject of a Netflix docuseries and cohost of a Hulu dating show, will add a Peacock feather to his cap on “The Traitors.”
Donna Kelce
What is Donna Kelce known for? Simply being “Mama” Kelce, per Peacock.
The Kelce family matriarch is mother to NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce – and is slated to be Taylor Swift’s future mother-in-law.
Dorinda Medley
“Housewives” favorite Dorinda Medley, also known as DJ Lady Medley, didn’t get a fair shake in Season 3, so she’s back for more action in the Scottish Highlands.
“I’ve decided I’m coming back every season,” she joked in an Instagram comment.
Eric Nam
After a handful of TV appearances, “I Don’t Know You Anymore” singer Eric Nam is ready to put his treachery to the test. The 36-year-old Korean American musician might be the only cast member to primarily hail from the music industry, but it’s possible that he can pull together an alliance with TV veterans.
Ian Terry
Backgammon master Ian Terry, who also happens to boast the title of “Big Brother 14” winner, will find out how much of a gamemaster he is on Season 4 of “The Traitors.”
Johnny Weir
Figure skating champ Johnny Weir is no stranger to competition. But will it be a sartorial tête-à-tête with Alan Cumming this season?
The athlete, who competed in the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, was also a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars” Season 29 and often does sports commentary with good friend and fellow Olympic figure skater Tara Lipinski.
Kristen Kish
“Top Chef” host Kristen Kish can handle the heat, but will the chef come out on top of the competition again?
The Season 10 “Top Chef” winner even admitted in an Instagram comment that “I wasn’t on my [own] bingo card for S4 but here we are, let’s do it!”
Rob Cesternino
“Rob Has a Podcast” host Rob Cesternino will put his years of competition show analysis to the test as a “Traitors” contestant.
This is the first time in two decades that the 2003 “Survivor: The Amazon” strategist and “Survivor: All-Stars” (2004) alum will be back on TV.
Lisa Rinna
Could the “Rinna take all” on “The Traitors”?
With “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Dolores Catania’s Season 3 “Traitors” win, maybe “Housewives” icon Lisa Rinna could score a two-peat for the Bravo franchise.
Mark Ballas
Mark Ballas is a three-time “Dancing with the Stars” champ – but will his moves translate from the dance floor to the roundtable?
Maura Higgins
Irish “Love Island” Season 5 icon Maura Higgins is on her way to becoming a reality TV veteran – and a “Traitors” win would be just the title to cement her status.
Historically, “Love Island” alumni from around the world have had strong showings on “The Traitors,” but none have yet to bring home the win.
Michael Rapaport
“Rapaport’s Reality” and “I Am Rapaport: Stereo Podcast” host Michael Rapaport – of “Friends,” “Atypical,” “Only Murders in the Building” and “Prison Break” fame – will put his acting skills to the test as either a Faithful or a Traitor.
Monét X Change
“RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” Season 4 champion Monét X Change follows in the footsteps of fellow drag queens Bob the Drag Queen (Season 3) and Peppermint (Season 2), neither of whom was able to score a win.
Could Monét be the first “Drag Race” alum to do so?
Natalie Anderson
Two-time “The Amazing Race” alumna Natalie Anderson, who also appeared on “The Challenge,” is used to winning it all as the champion of 2014’s “Survivor: San Juan del Sur.”
But “The Traitors” will put her strategizing to the test.
Porsha Williams
“Housewives” franchise staple Porsha Williams is used to “making my own rules.”
Perhaps the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star’s gameplay will earn another win for the Bravo faction for the second year running.
Rob Rausch
Rob Rausch knows how to wrangle a snake.
But the Alabama-born “Love Island USA” Season 6 breakout star – who first made a splash as a Season 5 Casa Amor bombshell – will soon find out whether he can wrangle votes to get a fellow “Traitor” contestant out of the game.
Ron Funches
A rare non-reality TV cast member, Rob Funches, an actor from “Undateable” and the “Trolls” franchise, could use his comedy chops to take his fellow “Traitors” contestants off guard and earn himself the grand prize.
Stephen Colletti
“One Tree Hill” and “Laguna Beach” alum Stephen Colletti also hails from the Hollywood scene.
Tara Lipinski
Tara Lipinski is no stranger to the NBCU family. The Olympic gold medalist has served as a commentator for several Olympic ceremonies.
Season 4 will also see her going up against her longtime friend, Johnny Weir.
Tiffany Mitchell
Despite having “Big Brother” and “The Challenge” on her résumé, being on “The Traitors” was a “pinch me” moment for Tiffany Mitchell, the competition show alum wrote on Instagram.
Yamil ‘Yam Yam’ Arocho
Though Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho’s “Survivor” tribemate Carolyn Wiger didn’t make it across the finish line in Season 3 of “The Traitors,” maybe Season 44 winner Arocho could pick up the baton and win the competition’s prize pot.
Clearly a “Traitors” fan, Arocho said he’d “screamed of joy” when he saw his headshot in one of the famous frames, which Cumming has a penchant for throwing following an elimination, in the “Traitors” breakfast room.
