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Season 3 of The Traitors premieres January 9, 2025, on Peacock. In preparation for the highly anticipated return, host Alan Cumming provided viewers with a tour of the show’s iconic Ardross Castle in Scotland. The video was uploaded on Peacock's official YouTube channel. Introducing the location, Cumming stated,
“Welcome to my castle. There are many ways in, but just two ways out — banishment or murder.”
The castle’s intricate layout and historic ambiance serve as a crucial backdrop for the series, influencing the game’s dynamic and heightening its sense of secrecy and drama. In his tour, Cumming highlighted key locations where the contestants interact, strategize, and face their most challenging moments.
Inside The Traitors' castle
The breakfast room: A hub of strategy
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Cumming began by showing the breakfast room, a setting he described as pivotal to the social and strategic elements of the game. He stated,
“Here is where the players greet the dawn of a new day. They hope it’s where tea and tactics are served.”
He further emphasized that the breakfast room is a space for forming friendships and rivalries, noting,
“Players are mourned, and friendships and rivalries forged all over an elaborate and delicious breakfast.”
The host also underscored the undercurrent of tension in this space, emphasizing that treachery, double-crossing, and backstabbing are prevalent even during breakfast.
The library and the poison chalice
The library was another focal point of the tour. Cumming highlighted its role as a place of knowledge and intrigue, explaining,
“Knowledge is a double-edged sword. Too little, and you’re in the dark. Too much, and the spotlight is on you.”
He pointed out the numerous books lining the walls, adding that while few would be read, the room itself plays a significant role in the unfolding of the game. Cumming referenced a notable moment from a past season involving the poisoned chalice, stating,
“Sweet Ekin-Su drank from the poison chalice thanks to the Traitors. Well, you knew they were callous.”
His remark connects the space to critical events in the series, underlining its importance as more than just a decorative element.
The roundtable: A place of reckoning
Cumming then introduced the roundtable, a central element of the game where contestants decide who to banish. He explained its significance, saying,
“Welcome to the roundtable. Who shall be banished next? A faithful or a traitor?”
He shared that the room serves as the site for pivotal moments, where trust is tested, alliances are betrayed, and the group determines the next player to leave the game. He further described the process, stating,
“Names dropped, trust lost, suspicions raised. In due time, it becomes much more than a game.”
He highlighted that the roundtable symbolizes the heart of the competition, where the lines between loyalty and deception blur, and players must rely on their instincts and social skills to survive.
The turret and hidden corners
The tour also included a look at the castle’s turret, a secluded area where the Traitors meet to plan their moves. Cumming highlighted its role in the game, stating,
“Traitors, dawn your cloaks each night and gather here whilst faithfuls are restless, sensing murder is near.”
He explained that the area is shrouded in mystery and plays a critical part in the game’s mechanics, allowing the Traitors to plot in secret. Cumming also drew attention to other corners of the castle, such as the billiards room and the kitchen. He remarked on the latter,
“The kitchen is where we keep all the big knives. It’s also where innocent players lose their lives.”
Throughout the tour, The Traitors' host used rhyming phrases and dramatic language to describe the castle’s features and their role in the game. He concluded the tour with an invitation to viewers, saying,
“Come back to my castle anytime for lies, deceits, tea, and treachery. Streaming only on Peacock. I do hope you enjoyed your stay.”
Catch all the intrigue and deception when The Traitors premieres on January 9 on Peacock.
