Alan Cumming hosts "The Traitors: New Blood" with 22 contestants competing for $100,000

NBC’s new reality competition, “The Traitors: New Blood,” will debut on September 17, featuring 22 civilian contestants vying for a $100,000 prize. The series is hosted by Alan Cumming and will air on Peacock, with the first episode setting the tone for a week‑long battle of wits and deceit.

The show is a U.S. adaptation of the UK hit “The Traitors,” which has become a cultural touchstone for its blend of strategy, drama, and surprise twists. NBC’s decision to bring the format over comes after the network’s recent success with high‑stakes reality shows such as “The Masked Singer” and “Love Is Blind.” By adding a new twist—casting a larger group of civilians and a handful of hidden traitors—the network hopes to generate fresh intrigue and attract viewers who crave interactive storytelling.

The 22 contestants come from a range of backgrounds, including a former Navy SEAL, a pastry chef, a tech entrepreneur, a former reality TV star, and a community organizer. Each will be assigned a role at the start of the show: most will be “loyalists” trying to win, while a small number will be “traitors” tasked with eliminating the loyalists before they are caught. The first episode will introduce the contestants, reveal the secret roles, and begin the first challenge that pits them against each other in a luxurious, isolated estate. Viewers will see the traitors work covertly to sow mistrust, while loyalists try to expose them through alliances and careful observation.

After the premiere, the series will air weekly, with a new challenge and elimination each episode, building toward a finale that will decide who claims the cash prize. NBC is promoting the show as a “social deduction” game that invites viewers to play along, guessing who the traitors are before the final reveal. The series is slated to run for 10 episodes, offering fans a mix of drama, strategy, and the thrill of watching friends turn against each other