Alan Cumming Says He Owes Scotland “Everything” After ‘The Traitors’ Emmy Reality Competition Win
The Traitors won for best reality competition series at the 2024 Emmys. This win for its second season comes after its host, Alan Cumming, broke RuPaul Charles’ 8-year streak as best reality or competition program host at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards last weekend.
“Thank you so much everybody. Thank you so much to the Academy. We are so grateful because we are a new show and you guys, when you like something so much you tend to stick to it—which is a good quality, so we appreciate it all the more,” said Cumming while accepting the award.
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He was then joined onstage by the crew behind the studio that makes the hit series. “These are the [staff behind] Studio Lambert, the studio that produced this show. And I would like for you to applaud them, because they care so much about the quality of their work,” he shared.
Cumming also thanked Peacock “for their kindness and support. It’s so great to be part of a new streaming service. We love them.” He extended his gratitude towards “everyone in our castle, the cast and crew, that works so hard and get so wet by the Scottish weather.” The actor additionally thanked his native country of Scotland, noting, “I owe it everything; it’s such a beautiful co-star.”
It wasn’t the only country he thanked during his speech: “I also want to thank Holland, because I don’t think we thank Holland enough because so many of these shows like The Traitors were first made up in Holland and they obviously have something in the water so let’s find it and let’s drink it and all of America’s problems will be solved,” Cumming said.
The series’ win comes after receiving four Critics Choice Real TV Awards in June, including best competition series and best ensemble cast in an unscripted series. The Traitors is an American version of the hit Dutch series De Verraders, taking inspiration from party games like Mafia and Werewolf. It follows a group of reality TV veterans and newcomers as they try to unmask who the “traitors” in the group are before being “murdered” by those pretending to be “faithfuls” — with a hefty cash prize at stake.
The game ends when all traitors are banished. To secure their win, the traitors have to use deception to convince the fellow contestants that they are innocent.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in August, the host shared how much hard work goes into hosting the show. “I feel like it’s a huge acting job,” said Cumming. “I think about it as a character. Obviously it’s me — his name’s Alan Cumming — but obviously it’s not really me. I don’t really sound like that. I don’t dress like that. I don’t have a castle. Alas, that’s too bad.”
The Peacock show was recently renewed for a third season. It will feature major names such as Vanderpump Rules‘ Tom Sandoval, Real Housewives of New York alum Dorinda Medley, Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause and Britney Spears’ ex-husband Sam Asghari.
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