Did Rob Rausch and Maura Higgins Hook Up on Traitors? She Says…

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Maura Higgins is a true faithful.

I’ve been following the show closely, and honestly, I’m totally fascinated by all the speculation! The star of Traitors isn’t saying anything about whether things got romantic with Rob Rauch while they were filming in Scotland, and it’s driving everyone wild. She’s really keeping us guessing, and I respect that, even though I’m dying to know!

I was glued to Watch What Happens Live on January 22nd when Andy Cohen jokingly mentioned everyone shipping me and Rob! She just playfully said we’d have to keep watching the show to see if anything ever happens between us. It was such a tease, but honestly, I’m hoping it means something!

Maura knows a lot of viewers are hoping she and Rob will become a couple, especially since they both appeared on different seasons of the Love Island series—Rob on the U.S. version in 2024 and Maura on the U.K. version in 2019.

“I saw,” she shared. “There’s a lot of videos on TikTok at the moment.”

Actually, Maura mentioned that even some of her fellow castmates on Traitors were trying to set people up on dates during breaks from filming and between discussions.

In a recent interview with Page Six, the 35-year-old explained that she and Rob constantly heard comments about their chemistry while they were at the castle. According to her, people kept telling them how good they looked together.

The one who was really pushing for a romance? Dorinda Medley.

Oh my god, she said they absolutely HAVE to have babies! Like, it’s just obvious, right? She told the magazine they’d have the most stunning kids ever – totally brilliant, gorgeous, and amazing athletes. I mean, can you even imagine?! It would be perfection.

She said with a laugh that she felt it was her duty to preserve it, joking that if the world were to end, this is what future generations should have access to.

 

However, it’s hard to forget that Rob secretly worked against everyone on the show. As Maura explained, she and other loyal viewers felt betrayed by his actions, especially considering he’s only 27 years old.

She explained that she used to get very defensive if anyone mentioned Rob. “I’d immediately tell them not to talk about him,” she said. “I was always loyal to him and protected him.”

For more behind-the-scenes secrets about The Traitors, read on…

Deception is central to the game of The Traitors, but players are randomly assigned as either Traitors or Faithful. Starting in season two, contestants like Phaedra Parks and Kate Chastain had the opportunity to try and convince host Alan Cumming of their innocence.

Oh my gosh, you wouldn’t BELIEVE how seriously they take the Traitor selection! Mike Cotton, one of the big bosses, actually told Variety that Alan’s opinion is HUGE, and honestly, it’s like each potential Traitor is being interviewed for the job! They really pore over everyone, figuring out who will shake things up the most. They want a perfect mix of personalities and skills – it’s all about creating the most dramatic and fascinating game possible, and they decide right before the pick! It’s amazing how much thought goes into it!

The players didn’t initially know how many Traitors were among them. Cirie Fields, a winner on Survivor, explained to TopMob News in 2023 that they were told at the start of the game there could be three to five Traitors.

Players were also asked to take the Traitor’s oath, which involved promising to lie and deceive others throughout the game, being willing to eliminate other players each night, and keeping both their own and other players’ identities secret.

To get a sense of who might be good at deceiving others, the show uses a personality test for the contestants. According to Cotton Variety, this helps identify traits that could indicate someone is a skilled liar. However, the producers don’t actually know who the ‘Traitors’ are until the very moment Alan Carr secretly selects them.

Alan Cumming was thrilled to take on the over-the-top role and even bring his dog to work. He told The Daily Beast in 2023 that when he first heard the pitch, he envisioned playing a character similar to a James Bond villain, and suggested bringing his dog as a prop. The producers loved the idea, and that’s what convinced him to sign on.

With his rescue dog, Lala, by his side, he fully embraced his on-screen role, playfully quoting the works of William Shakespeare and Plato. He described adopting a dramatic persona – “like I was flaring my nostrils” – and admitted to improvising a lot. In fact, he sometimes had lines fed to him through an earpiece, making the experience similar to stand-up comedy where you have to think on your feet.

While the actors film at the beautiful Ardross Castle in Scotland, they don’t get to live there during production.

We didn’t actually stay overnight in the castle,” Cumming told the Daily Beast. “Instead, everyone stayed at the airport hotel in Inverness.” He explained that while he had his own place nearby, he used a room within the castle to get ready. “It had a massive bed, so I’d often nap there, but never spend the night.”

The show almost involved a much more dangerous challenge. According to creator Marc Pos, he initially planned to film on a ship off the coast of Australia, where losing contestants would have to swim to an island. However, he decided it would be too complicated and expensive to actually film.

Contestants weren’t allowed access to the entire castle. According to Cotton, who spoke with Variety, they’re using just one section – a wing of the castle – as the playing area. They also have access to all the outdoor spaces and are free to move around within those boundaries.

He pointed out that with room for around thirty bedrooms, complete privacy would be difficult. While people could spread out and talk separately, the space was still small enough that conversations could be overheard or someone could be seen slipping away for a private discussion.

It makes sense that Rachel Reilly, a former contestant on Big Brother, said the best time to make plans with other players was during car rides to and from competitions. She told Reality Blurred, “You’re isolated, and no one can overhear your conversations.” She explained that inside the house, you have to whisper to avoid being heard.

Players weren’t allowed to discuss strategy at the hotel. According to Dan Gheesling, a contestant from season two, this was because anything said off-camera couldn’t be used in the show if it contained important information. He explained this to Business Insider.

Chrishell Stause, from season three of the show, shared that they weren’t allowed to have a hair and makeup team. She told Us Weekly that she would have loved to have glam services at the castle, but Alan didn’t permit it.

Getting everyone settled for the nightly murders is a huge undertaking. As Cotton explained to Variety, it’s like a large military operation to ensure the ‘Faithful’ are each put to bed in separate rooms, and then allow the ‘Traitors’ to leave and hold their meeting.

Even though Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan were a couple during season two of the show, they weren’t permitted to share a hotel room. According to executive producer Sam Rees-Jones, producers felt it would have given them an unfair advantage over the other contestants.

Despite the rules, Reza Farahan from Shahs of Sunset tried to add some playful mischief. He told Digital Spy he attempted to slip notes under contestants’ doors while he was supposed to be confined to his room. The notes jokingly accused them of past misdeeds, signed ‘The Traitors’.

Oh my gosh, you wouldn’t BELIEVE how intensely they film! I read that they basically try to finish a whole episode every single day. It’s insane, but apparently, it’s totally intentional! They do it to keep everyone completely focused and in character – like, living and breathing the story the whole time. It’s a crazy schedule, super demanding, but it really helps with the quality, you know? They start with breakfast, then have a big planning session, a mission unfolds, someone ends up murdered, and then they just…do it all over again the next day! Can you imagine? Apparently, one night they didn’t even get back to their rooms until 2 a.m.! It’s dedication, I tell you, dedication!

According to Cotton, who spoke with Variety, breakfast on set is carefully scheduled with actors arriving at different times. However, the meals themselves are kept to a maximum of one hour from beginning to end.

Producers of reality shows like Love Island limit alcohol consumption to keep contestants focused. Ekin-Su Culculoglu, winner of Love Island and a participant on another reality show, explained to Entertainment Weekly in 2024 that contestants were only allowed one drink per night, making it a very restricted environment.

While it’s often difficult to connect with genuine friends during filming, every contestant is paired with a dedicated member of the show’s support team. According to Mercedes Javid, a popular cast member from season two, these team members provide constant support. She described them as upbeat and professional, making her feel well-cared for throughout the experience, as she shared on the Just Sayin’ podcast.

When it comes to building relationships on camera, contestants don’t find out who their competition will be until they get to Scotland. Casting director Deena Katz told Time that this is intentional – they don’t want anyone researching each other or making plans beforehand. However, once the competition begins, players are given information about each other and a journal to jot down notes.

Cumming jokingly identifies as a “Traitor,” referencing the social deduction game he enjoys. In a 2023 interview with the Daily Beast, he explained that the game often leads to players accusing each other based on flimsy evidence. He illustrated this by saying someone could be labeled a “Traitor” simply because he touched them, highlighting the arbitrary nature of the accusations within the game.

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2026-01-24 00:50