All the twists, betrayals, and drama that The Traitors showcases has proven to be extremely entertaining for reality TV fanatics. Many viewers wonder whether or not The Traitors is fake and if its intense moments are scripted. Does the show run live? Here’s all you need to know.
Is The Traitors scripted or is it real?
The Traitors is not scripted, but editing nudges are added to intensify certain dramatic moments. It is real but doesn’t feature 100% unfiltered reality.
While some moments feel unreal and scripted on The Traitors, that’s mostly because of the way the editing team picks up and highlights them. Some conversations and incidents, such as Peter refusing Parvati and Phaedra’s seduction to join the Traitors in Season 2 Episode 7 (US), could seem scripted.
However, we’ve had evidence from past contestants suggesting that the series is real. Wilfred Webster from The Traitors UK Season 1 revealed that the contestants sometimes got so engrossed in the game that they almost “forgot about the cameras.”
Furthermore, Aaron Evans, a winner of The Traitors UK Season 1, also mentioned that the show featured organic moments, with the producers not having a lot of control over the drama. As per Daily Mail, he said:
“We were never pushed into the drama, it just happens, the producers would never control anything, we had complete control over what we said and what we did.”
Instead, the producers make things more intriguing for the viewers by maintaining secrecy. This keeps some mystery for upcoming missions, certain twists, and the identities of the Traitors. Consequently, it helps to keep things as authentic as possible.
Is The Traitors live or pre-recorded?
The Traitors isn’t a live-reality TV show as it is pre-recorded well in advance.
Both the US and the UK versions of The Traitors were filmed at the grand Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands. Filming took place way before their seasons aired/streamed. The location is a 100-acre property on River Alness. The was built over 170 years ago, and Peacock producers and designers only use about a quarter of it.
The Traitors US season 2 began filming in late September 2023. Its first episode began streaming on January 3, 2024, and ended with the Reunion on March 14, 2024. As the show continues to gain more popularity, it’ll be interesting to see whether scripted elements get added to future seasons.
For more updates, learn why Chloe left The Traitors Australia. Also, find out why Invincible Season 2 was split into two halves.
