The Traitors US: Who are the Traitors as host Alan Cumming makes his pick and reveals Secret Traitor twist
The American series has just dropped in the UKThe Traitors US has just dropped onto the BBC and host Alan Cumming has chosen his Traitors and Secret Traitor – but who are they?
Just like Claudia Winkleman does in the UK version, Alan slowly wanders around the Round Table as he makes his selection.
The contestants are blindfolded and he quietly taps who he wants on the shoulder.
So with British fans finally getting to watch the latest American series, who did Alan pick?
Who are the Traitors in The Traitors US?
The 2026 series of The Traitors US dropped onto BBC iPlayer tonight at 9pm (Thursday June 18, 2026) and it features 23 contestants.
UK fans will instantly recognise one of the stars. Maura Higgins, who found fame in the British version of Love Island, is among them.
The line-up also includes a huge mix of American reality stars, a K-Pop musician and ex-professional sportsmen and women.
This series, Alan selected three players at the Round Table to be his Traitors at Ardross Castle in Scotland (yep, exactly where our version is filmed too!).
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Alan’s first pick was Real Housewives’ Candice Dillard Bassett. She was among the cast of rich and glamorous women in the Potomac series.
Sticking with this theme, Alan also selected Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Lisa Rinna. Lisa’s career didn’t start in reality TV. She is also known for playing Billie Reed in the American soap, Days of Our Lives.
Lastly, Alan tapped on the shoulder of Love Island USA’s Rob Rausch. Before he became a household name, Rob worked as a snake handler in Alabama.
Surely this means he will be excellent as sniffing out snakes in the game?!
The Traitors react to their selection
Candice and Lisa were first to arrive in the turret. The pair screamed as they pulled down their hoods to reveal their identities.
In a squealed whisper, Lisa told Candice: “We can be so naughty!” Candice replied: “As naughty as we want to be! And then some.”
The girls decided it “makes sense” that they’ve been put together. They call the pairing of two Housewives as Traitors “an iconic first”.
Rob possibly doesn’t see it that way, though.
Before entering the turret, he had said: “I’m hoping whoever is in there is level-headed. And cool, calm and collected. I’m just hoping we can be a good team.”
Rob struggled to hide his disappointment when he pulled back his hood. “What’s up, ladies,” he said.
Candice, meanwhile, screamed: “Alabama!”
Speaking to the camera afterwards, Rob said: “I’ve got tow Housewives as fellow Traitors. And, I’m like opposites to them. But they are pretty smart and are conniving.”
He’s trying to see the bright side!
Who is the Secret Traitor?
Just like in the UK version earlier this year, Rob has also picked a Secret Traitor. The contestant has been handed a red cloak – just as Fiona Hughes was.
But the Traitors US’s Secret Traitor doesn’t know the identities of Candice, Lisa and Rob. Fiona did in the UK version.
Alan tells the Traitors he or she will “work alone”. And just like Fiona did, they will make a shortlist each night of contestants they can murder.
The Secret Traitor was a new twist to the 2026 UK version – and it was new in the US for this series too.
When told about the mystery Secret Traitor by Alan, Lisa said: “Forever secret?! Oh that’s dirty!”
Candice says she feels like they are “second fiddlers” to the Secret Traitor.
Who already wants to know who it is?!
