🎧 Alan Cumming Knows He’s the ‘Castle Bitch’ on ‘The Traitors’
Recorded live at Televerse, the Emmy winner and current nom tells all (plus: a Traitors reunion)
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When Alan Cumming runs into past Traitors contestants in the real world — which he did just moments before stepping onstage to join me for a live conversation at Televerse in L.A. last week — it’s a bit of a jarring experience for all of them. “It’s like I’m meeting them for the first time,” the reality host told me as he sat down. Cumming admits that in his show persona, he is “so scary” and “really the castle bitch.” When he re-encounters the contestants in the real world, he adds, “I really feel like they have never seen me like me.”
For his performance on The Traitors — and yes, it is a performance — Cumming earned the Emmy last year for reality host. He’s nominated in that category again this year, in addition to sharing the show’s reality series nomination as a producer. Working behind the scenes as a producer in addition to his hosting duties, he says, is “a bit Truman Show-y.” In the room where he gets ready for the day’s production, there are camera feeds from all over the castle set. “They’re going into breakfast, I’m watching them and listening to them,” he says. “It’s also hilarious, the things you hear — like, ‘Oh, don’t go in yet. Someone’s crying.’”
Today, I’m so happy to bring our conversation to the Prestige Junkie podcast feed, and thanks so much to Peacock for making this all possible. Cumming told me about how the show has evolved to show more of his laughter, particularly during some of the more ridiculous physical challenges, and how you might be able to tell who’s a Traitor on the show after late nights spent filming in the turret. He also dropped a few tiny hints about season 4, and the acting skill he hasn’t had the chance to pull out for The Traitors — but might be able to someday in the future.
For Prestige Junkie After Party subscribers, there’s even more to watch. Not only can you see the full video version of my conversation with Alan, but you also can watch the panel discussion that came immediately before it. I was joined onstage by an all-star, all-Traitor lineup of past contestants: Bob the Drag Queen, Boston Rob Mariano, Cirie Fields, Kate Chastain, Parvati Shallow and Phaedra Parks. They had so much to catch up on together, from comparing notes about Traitor strategy to some lingering rivalries that haven’t quite gone away. (Not only are Bob and Rob continuing their feud, but Bob has some words for season 3 winner Lord Ivar Mountbatten.)
For just $5 a month, you can subscribe to Prestige Junkie After Party and catch the full conversation and all of the other exclusive, subscriber-only content we have over there. Unlike the Traitors roundtable, there’s room for everyone.