Peacock has announced the full lineup for The Traitors Season 5, and it is a wild grab bag of reality stars, Broadway veterans, Olympic athletes and a drag queen. The show’s fifth season will send 23 new contestants to Alan Cumming’s Scottish castle to fight for a prize pot of up to $250,000.
The list reads like a casting call for a sitcom that wants to be a soap opera. Whitney Leavitt, star of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, had a run on Broadway in Chicago. RuPaul’s Drag Race queen Bianca Del Rio joins her. Southern Charm‘s Craig Conover and The Bachelor alumnus Joey Graziadei round out the reality TV contingent.
The celebrity side of the roster includes Broadway actress Kristin Chenoweth, who reunites with host Cumming, plus Lord of the Rings actor Dominic Monaghan, comedian Iain Stirling and singer Cody Simpson. The list also features Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim, NFL star Rashad Jennings and Survivor veterans Michele Fitzgerald and Q Burdette.
Returning Faces From Past Seasons
The new season brings together a mix of people who have appeared on The Traitors before and newcomers who have never played the game. The returning faces include Lisa Rinna, Maura Higgins, Parvati Shallow, Phaedra Parks, Cirie Fields and Rob Rausch.
Rausch took the entire prize home for himself after surprising Higgins in the final moments of the game and revealing himself as a Traitor. That kind of reveal is the show’s signature moment, and the new season has plenty of people capable of delivering one.
The show has built its reputation on dramatic twists, and the casting announcement leans heavily into that history. With this many recognizable names, the chances of another shocking betrayal seem high.
Chenoweth’s Return to Cumming’s Castle
Chenoweth’s inclusion is notable for more than her fame. She has shared the stage and screen with Cumming multiple times over the years.
The two first worked together in the 1999 musical Annie, where they played Rooster and Lily St. Regis. They have also appeared together in Apple TV’s Schmigadoon!.
The reunion adds a layer of history to the show’s already stacked roster. Chenoweth brings a theatrical presence to the castle, and Cumming’s Scottish setting gives the reunion a fitting backdrop.
The Two Versions of Season 5
The Traitors Season 5 is expected to hit Peacock only beginning in 2027. That means fans will have to wait nearly a year to see the new season.
The show is also running a separate spinoff this fall. NBC premiered The Traitors: New Blood, the network’s first fully civilian-led iteration of the series. That version airs on NBC and Peacock through the fall.
The two versions will run alongside each other, with the civilian edition airing first and the celebrity edition following in 2027.
Who’s Actually Competing
The full cast list runs long, so here is a quick rundown of the people heading to Cumming’s castle:
- Bianca Del Rio — RuPaul’s Drag Race alum
- Boman Martinez-Reid — Content creator
- Bronwyn Newport — Real Housewives of Salt Lake City breakout
- Casey Wilson — Actress and Bravo fan
- Chloe Kim — Olympic snowboarder
- Cody Simpson — Singer
- Craig Conover — Southern Charm
- Cynthia Bailey — The Real Housewives of Atlanta
- Dominic Monaghan — Actor
- Emira D’Spain — Next Gen NYC
- Gizelle Bryant — The Real Housewives of Potomac
- Iain Stirling — Comedian and Love Island announcer
- Jag Bains — Big Brother and Amazing Race contestant
- JaNa Craig — Love Island USA
- Joey Graziadei — The Bachelor
- Johnny Sibilly — Actor
- Kristin Chenoweth — Actress and singer
- Michele Fitzgerald — Survivor and The Challenge veteran
- Q Burdette — Survivor alumnus
- Rachel Robinson — The Challenge competitor
- Rashad Jennings — NFL star
- Taylor Hale — Big Brother and Amazing Race contestant
- Whitney Leavitt — Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
That is a lot of names, and a lot of backgrounds. The show has assembled a group of people with very different paths to fame, from reality TV to Broadway to the Olympics.
The Marketing Behind the Casting
The casting announcement is a marketing move as much as it is a creative decision. The Traitors has always leaned on recognizable faces to draw viewers, and this season is no exception.
The show has a proven formula: put famous people in a castle, give them a big prize, and let the betrayals begin. The new season is following that plan to the letter.
The fact that Season 5 is delayed until 2027 is a scheduling quirk, not a sign of trouble. The show has a loyal audience, and Peacock is betting that the wait will build anticipation.
“Could we potentially see more incredible alliances and shocking reveals in the new season? We hope so.”
That line captures the spirit of the whole enterprise. The show wants to deliver on its promise of betrayal, and it has assembled a group of people who are capable of delivering it.
The Bottom Line
The Traitors Season 5 is shaping up to be the most dramatic season yet. The cast is full of people who know how to command attention, and the show has a proven track record of getting the most out of them.
The reunion between Cumming and Chenoweth adds a personal touch to the proceedings. Their shared history gives the season a human element that the show has often lacked.
The question now is whether the new season can live up to the hype. The cast is strong, the prize is large, and the show has a history of delivering. Whether the betrayals land or fall flat will be decided when the season finally arrives.
For now, fans will have to wait. The announcement is a tease, and a good one. The full season will have to prove itself when it finally airs.
Source material: “‘The Traitors’ Season 5 Casts Whitney Leavitt, 3 ‘Real Housewives’ Stars, Kristin Chenoweth And More,” Decider.
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