Aussie reality TV is about to eat itself, and in the best possible way. The Traitors is back, and this time, it’s supercharged with a cast pulled straight from the country’s most chaotic reality franchises.
From The Bachelor to Survivor, Love Island to MasterChef, familiar faces will battle it out in the ultimate test of trust, deceit, and strategic survival.
And who better to preside over the mayhem than the woman who helped define Australian reality TV itself – Big Brother’s original host, Gretel Killeen.
Such serendipity to have so many reality stars between gigs at the same time.
The global hit format returns with its signature premise: a group of “Faithfuls” work to build a prize fund while a handful of secret “Traitors” work to eliminate them one by one. The challenge? Stay undetected, or risk being banished.
“It’s the ultimate social experiment,” Killeen said when announcing her return as host. “This isn’t about who’s the loudest or flashiest, it’s about who’s the smartest, who can read the room, and who knows when to lie.”
From Idol to deception: Dicko and Cosima reunite
Among the new recruits are some surprising reunions, including Australian Idol’s Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson and singer Cosima De Vito, who first competed together back in the show’s 2003 debut season.
Now, instead of judging talent, Dicko will need to judge character. De Vito, meanwhile, brings the powerhouse determination that made her one of Idol’s most memorable contestants.
It’s the kind of nostalgic twist that The Traitors thrives on: tapping into old rivalries, unlikely alliances, and that very specific blend of charisma and chaos that only reality veterans can deliver.
Housewives, drag queens, and survivors unite
Representing the high-drama end of the spectrum are Real Housewives icons Gamble Breaux (Melbourne) and Krissy Marsh (Sydney), who will be joined by RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under stars Kween Kong and judge Rhys Nicholson.
Then come the strategists. Olympian and Australian Survivor champion Shane Gould returns to competition mode, alongside fellow Survivor alumni Kirby Bentley, Henry Nicholson, and AJ Antonios.
And yes, romance and betrayal are still on the table. The Bachelor’s Keira Maguire and Alex Nation, along with MAFS groom Cam Merchant, will test whether love or loyalty stands a chance in a game built entirely on mistrust.
Love Islanders, Block twins, and a Farnham in the manor
Four new arrivals promise to shake things up mid-season. Love Island’s Rachael Evren and Claudia Bonifazio will join fellow Islanders turned Block runners-up Josh and Luke Packham.
Rounding out the cast are MasterChef’s Alvin Quah, Aussie Shore’s Manaaki Hoepo, Big Brother favourite Tully Smyth, Made in Bondi’s Lawson Mahoney, and musician Rob Farnham – son of Australian legend John Farnham.