The BBC has acquired the rights to the American version of The Traitors from All3 Media International produced by Studio Lambert for NBC Universal.
It comes just weeks after the highly-compelling British version concluded on BBC One with a high of 3.3m viewers. It saw twenty-two people travel to a castle in the Scottish Highlands to complete a variety of challenges to raise funds for a cash prize. But there was a twist, as three of the contestants were ‘traitors’ who were secretly trying to win all the money for themselves by offing the ‘faithful’ contestants.
The stateside version, described as a “new year treat” by the Beeb’s Director of iPlayer and Channels, Dan McGolpin, is filmed at the same location as the UK version. It will be released as a boxset on BBC iPlayer on January 13 2023 and then be shown on both BBC Three and BBC One.
Dan McGolpin, Director, iPlayer and Channels, said:
“Following the huge success of The Traitors, which has been streamed more than 28 million times on BBC iPlayer and was the talk of the nation over the festive period, we’re delighted to give BBC viewers the chance to watch the brand new US series within hours of its release in America. Hosted by the brilliant Alan Cumming and filmed at the same location as the UK series, it’s a new year treat for those seeking out more treachery – all is about to be revealed on BBC iPlayer, BBC Three and BBC One.”
Hosted by award-winning actor Alan Cumming, the show will feature a 20-strong “mix of famous faces and everyday Americans” who will be competing for a prize fund of up to $250,000.
The players must try to uncover the Traitors and banish them from the game. If the Faithful contestants banish all the Traitors, they will share the prize fund but if a Traitor makes it to the end, they will steal all the money.
The ten-part series will air on BBC One as double-bills on Wednesday nights at 10.40pm for 5 weeks from the 25 January. It will also be shown on BBC Three in various timeslots.
