Traitors Host Alan Cumming Nearly Broke Up a Fight During Brutal Season

The Traitors raised the stakes in season 3 with a physical argument that nearly broke out during a banishment roundtable.

“Everything has been upped a bit and the contestants bring their energy and their backstories. So that makes it a whole new thing as well. I love the fact of how each season is so different to the one before, even though, structurally, it has a similarity,” host Alan Cumming told Newsweek on Thursday, January 9. “The ending to this one is not like anything we’ve seen in the previous two seasons.”

Cumming, 59, didn’t expect for things to come to such a head, adding, “There’s bits in it that are so intense and brutal. I actually thought I was going to have to break up a fight at round table one time. It was really terrifying. I don’t break up many fights.”

While reflecting on the newest season, Cumming recalled plans behind the scenes to elevate the show following its overwhelming popularity.

“Partly because the second season was so successful, there was a pressure to not just repeat ourselves, it actually upped the ante. When you do a show like this, the first season nobody knows what’s going to happen. It’s virgin territory,” he continued. “Then, of course, people watch it. So it’s a question of pulling the rug from under them and keeping it fresh and having these twists and surprises. Even with my costumes and everything, we upped the ante on that. I just think it was a combination of all these things.”

Cumming teased that season 3 “hit its stride” in a way that the audience isn’t expecting. “It is bigger. I’m sort of a cult leader. I have my followers. I didn’t have followers in the other seasons,” he quipped. “So now I’ve gone from just like a dandy, lord of the manor in his castle, to official cult leader. I’m fine with it.”

Inspired by Dutch series De Verraders (which previously led to a popular UK version) , The Traitors brings together celebs, especially reality TV stars from different franchises — including Survivor, Big Brother, Real Housewives and more — as they compete in a mafia-style game for up to $250,000.

Season 3 features Wells Adams, Gabby Windey, Ciara Miller, Chrishell Stause, Jeremy Collins, Carolyn Wiger, Tony Vlachos, Bob the Drag Queen, Britney Haynes and Danielle Reyes. Bob Harper, Dylan Efron, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Sam Asghari and Nikki Bella made up the rest of the group with later additions Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano, Wes Bergmann and Derrick Levasseur.

A new cast also meant a new version of Cumming.

“It’s sort of about the language that he uses. It’s very flooded and kind of arcane. Instead of saying, ‘Hey everybody, quiet down,’ like I would say, he would say ‘Players, there must only be one voice we hear at the round table,’” Cumming added about his evolving approach. “It’s about this kind of language and authority that he has, I think that is the secret to it. It’s amazing, when you are playing a character, it’s sort of like doing drag. When you’re doing drag, you have an alter ego, and so I’m kind of doing Traitors drag, and I have this character, and obviously it is quite draggy with all my swishing cloaks and everything.”

He continued: “But also, it gives me the freedom to be this other person, to be much more heightened and aggressive. And I obviously play lots of big characters. In real life, I’m not shy, but I definitely don’t walk in and go, ‘Hello everybody. I’m here!’”

After season 1 (which featured a mix of celebrity as well as non-celebrity contestants) debuted in 2023, creator Marc Pos explained the guidelines Cumming has to follow.

“The host is not there very much, and has to be careful not to manipulate the game, influence viewers, or spark doubts within the minds of contestants who are in their bubble,” Pos told Variety at the time. “But when they’re there, they have to be kind of a friendly yet intimidating figure.”

New episodes of The Traitors are released Thursdays on Peacock at 9 p.m. ET.