The Traitors Australia 2026 has finally made its devious and camp return to Australian television, with a cast of reality TV stars ready to keep audiences on their toes.
After the premiere had an early release on YouTube on Saturday, August 1 – followed by 10 Streaming on Tuesday, August 4 – fans have been losing their minds over the return of Big Brother icon Gretel Killeen to their screens.
“The first episode of #TheTraitorsAU is excellent,” one fan wrote on X. “Gretel absolutely nailed the assignment. She is the perfect choice to host the show.”
In the show’s premiere, the contestants first met the host after she exited a coffin dressed in a blood-stained wedding dress.
Speaking to WHO ahead of the show’s release, Killeen explained the inspiration behind her character, and how Alan Cummings – the host of the American version of The Traitors – gave her permission to really lean into the drama.
“I think that the most important one to me was the permission that Alan Cummings gave with his wardrobe,” she said. “Ours goes way beyond that because ours becomes much more fancy dress, but I’d seen other hosts, and they weren’t playing characters – they looked wonderful, but we wanted to join in.
“We wanted to be part of this world and exist, come with the house and come with the magic and the fantasy.”
However, tied within the magic is a whole lot of betrayal and deception which began before the contestants even stepped through the front door.
After Shane – tagged as the most “virtuous” of the contestants – had to choose to leave the competition or steal another contestant’s key, the 2018 Survivor Australia winner opted for the latter, sending Married at First Sight “nice guy” Cameron Merchant home.
After this shock, the contestants sat down with Killeen to pitch why they would make an incredible traitor or faithful, followed by a very suspenseful round-table selection.
In the end, MasterChef Australia’s Alvin Quah, Survivor Australia’s Kirby Bentley, and The Bachelor’s Alex Nation were selected as this season’s traitors.
These traitors spoke to WHO about what was so appealing about the role of ‘traitor’ and why they wanted to lie on national television.
‘Best role in the game’
For Kirby, she entered the game knowing there was going to be a “target on [her] back”, so the role of ‘traitor’ was an easy choice for her so that she could control the narrative in her favour.
“I think that’s where the game’s played,” she said. “I think that’s where strategy is at its best.
“You want to be able to play Faithful by day and Traitor by night – and it’s a real social game as well – so I just love the idea of being challenged around that.”
Kirby added: “Obviously, I have a big target on my back as a Survivor player, and people aren’t really going to let that go, so I just hope that I can control it somewhat in the turret.”
Alvin agreed with this sentiment, explaining how being a traitor gave him “a genuine shot at controlling the narrative instead of just reacting to everyone else’s”.
“Best role in the game”, he said.
‘It’s this golden ticket to be this devious, treacherous character’
Both Alvin and Alex also relished the opportunity to play someone “completely out of character”.
“I think for me, you know, the show is called The Traitors, so I wanted to be a traitor,” Alex said. “I thought that a role like that would challenge me, and it would be fun.
“It’s kind of like this golden ticket to be this character, this devious, treacherous character.”
Alex added that her being a “social person” and known as the “bubbly fun girl” would be a strength for her, leading to people not suspecting her in the role.
She confessed that her personality that appeared on The Bachelor ten years ago compared to her personality on The Traitors now is “very different”.
“I think people saw me [on The Bachlor] as this girl that didn’t have control over her emotions, and she broke down and she cried, and she kind of was a bit of a pick-me – she wanted this guy to like her and want her,” Alex reflected. “And then, going in as a traitor, I feel like I’m this strong, confident, treacherous, dark, badass.
“I loved the idea of Australia seeing sort of my resurrection into reality TV as something so polarising to a dating show.”
‘The first all-LGBT Traitors’ turret’
Alex also spoke about how exciting it was for all three traitors to be queer this season, something that fans immediately picked up on after the show’s early release.
“Australia, I think, set a global record by having the first all-LGBT Traitors’ turret!” one viewer wrote on X.
Now this is the representation we’ve been after, and we can’t wait for what these traitors have in store for us this season!
The Traitors airs on Tuesday and Wednesday at 7.30pm on 10 and 10 Streaming.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
