Why Rob Rausch “Said No Twice” to Being Cast on The Traitors

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This article contains spoilers for season four of The Traitors.

Rob Rausch was nearly faithful to his retirement from reality TV.

Despite becoming a fan favorite on season four of The Traitors, the reality star, who previously appeared on Love Island USA, wasn’t immediately sure about joining the show, which films at Alan Cumming‘s castle in Scotland.

Rob explained to Erin Lim Rhodes of TopMob News that he initially turned down the offer twice. He wasn’t eager to return to television, but his passion for games and competition ultimately convinced him to participate.

The 27-year-old, known from season six of Love Island, decided to participate because he’s a big fan of the long-running reality competition show.

He said he only watches the show Survivor when it comes to reality TV, and he felt this new show had a similar feel. He thought it might be really enjoyable, so he decided to give it a try.

This trip was also a great opportunity to explore somewhere new. He explained that since he’d never visited Scotland before, he decided to go for it, visit a castle, and see what adventures unfolded.

For the contestant from Alabama, this season of The Traitors—featuring stars like Donna Kelce, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Colton Underwood, Ron Funches, and Michael Rappaport—could be his last appearance on television.

Rob admitted it’s usually hard to convince him to leave where he is, except when it comes to traveling to other countries to find snakes. He’s not sure what will happen, though, and said they’ll have to wait and see.

It’s unclear what’s next for the snake wrangler on TV after appearing on The Traitors, but he seems secure in his collaboration with Sonic. He has a long-standing relationship with the restaurant and is currently working with them on their “Break Up with Your Burger” promotion.

Rob mentioned he played baseball in high school and loved getting slushies with ‘nerds’ candy mixed in. When the opportunity to work with Sonic came up, he immediately said yes, partly because his brother used to be an employee there.

Plus, the $6 All-American Smasher meal is the perfect combo for Rob. 

He said enjoying a smash burger with fries or tater tots and a drink is really tasty. He believes there’s never a wrong time for a smash burger, calling it both easy to get and delicious.

Rob strongly insists he’s a fan of Sonic, but he didn’t want to talk about how he felt after being punished for voting against Lisa Rinna in episode six. Candiace was also revealed as a Traitor, and Donna was a Secret Traitor before she was eliminated in episode three.

He mentioned she playfully hit him after a recent meeting. When asked if he enjoyed it, he jokingly said he’d rather not say.

Over the four seasons of the show Traitors, many more surprising details about the players have been revealed. Keep reading to discover even more secrets!

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

The selection process for ‘The Traitor’ is heavily influenced by both the contestants and the opinions of people like Alan,” explained executive producer Mike Cotton in an interview with Variety. “It’s almost like an audition, and we carefully consider everything before making a final decision. We aim for a diverse group of personalities who each bring something different to the game.”

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 recite the Traitor’s oath, which asked if they would lie and deceive, potentially kill other players each night, and keep everyone’s identities hidden.

To figure out who might be good at deceiving others, the show uses a personality test for the contestants. As Cotton Variety explained, this helps identify traits that could make someone a convincing liar. However, the producers don’t actually know who the Traitors are until the moment Alan Carr secretly selects them.

Alan Cumming was thrilled to accept his 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 that his dog should be part of it. The producers loved the idea, and that’s what convinced him to take the job.

While filming with his rescue dog, Lala, he fully embraced his on-screen role, peppering his delivery with quotes from William Shakespeare and Plato. He described adopting a dramatic persona – ‘a sort of flaring-nostril thing’ – and admitted to improvising much of his dialogue. He even compared the experience to stand-up comedy, explaining that lines were sometimes fed to him through an earpiece, requiring him to think on his feet.

While the actors filmed at the beautiful Ardross Castle in Scotland, they didn’t get to live there during filming.

Cumming told the Daily Beast that none of the cast and crew stayed at the castle itself. Instead, they stayed at the hotel near the Inverness airport. He personally had a room in the castle, but only used it to get ready. He described it as having a large bed and admitted he often napped there, though he didn’t spend the nights there.

The show almost featured a much more dangerous challenge! Creator Marc Pos told Variety his initial idea involved filming on a ship off the coast of Australia. If a contestant was eliminated, they would have to jump into the water and swim to a nearby island. However, he ultimately decided it would be too complicated and expensive to film.

Contestants didn’t have 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 game-playing area. They also have access to the outdoor grounds 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, found car rides to and from challenges to be the perfect opportunity for strategizing with other players. She told Reality Blurred that “You’re separated, and nobody can hear what you’re saying,” which was much easier than having to whisper in the house.

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 told Business Insider, “You’re not supposed to talk about the game when the mics aren’t ready or the cameras aren’t on, because if we say something that’s important and it’s not on camera, they can’t use it on the show.”

Chrishell Stause, from season three of the show, also shared that they weren’t provided with a hair and makeup team. She told Us Weekly that she “would’ve died to have glam in the castle,” but Alan didn’t permit it.

Getting everyone settled for the nightly eliminations is a huge undertaking. According to Cotton, who spoke with Variety, “It’s a massive military operation each night to get the Faithful to bed in individual rooms, and get the Traitors back out to have their meeting.”

As a huge fan of the show, I was fascinated by Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan’s relationship! Even they weren’t allowed to share a room during season two, which was a little surprising. The executive producer, Sam Rees-Jones, explained that letting them have that privacy would have given them an unfair advantage over the other couples. It’s all part of the game, I guess!

Reza Farahan from Shahs of Sunset tried to add some playful mischief during filming. He told Digital Spy he attempted to slip notes under contestants’ doors when they weren’t supposed to be having fun. The notes jokingly referenced the game show, reading, ‘I know what you did last summer, signed The Traitors.’

The show moves at a fast pace, filming one episode each day. According to producer Rees-Jones, this intense schedule helps the cast stay focused and creates a fully immersive experience. While demanding – Stause mentioned some nights they didn’t return to their rooms until 2 a.m. – it’s believed to be the best way to maintain the quality of the show. A typical day includes breakfast, a planning meeting, a mission, and a murder, then the process repeats.

According to Cotton, who spoke with Variety, the breakfasts are carefully scheduled with guests arriving at different times. However, the meals themselves don’t last long – usually no more than an hour.

Oh my gosh, it all makes so much sense now! They really keep those Islanders on their toes, don’t they? I read that Ekin-Su, my queen from Season 2, said they only let you have one drink a night! Can you believe it? She told Entertainment Weekly in 2024 that it was super restricted. It explains so much about the drama, honestly! They have to stay sharp, and I guess that means no letting loose too much with the alcohol. I’m obsessed with knowing everything about how it’s made!

Even though it’s often difficult to find genuine support from other players, everyone on the show is paired with a dedicated member of the welfare team. As Mercedes Javid shared on the Just Sayin’ podcast, these team members are consistently checking in on contestants. She described them as upbeat and highly professional, adding that she always felt well-cared for.

When it comes to building relationships on camera, contestants don’t find out who their competition will be until they arrive in Scotland. Casting director Deena Katz told Time that the goal is to prevent players from researching each other or forming pre-game alliances. However, once the competition begins, players are given information about each other and a journal to record their observations.

Cumming jokingly refers to himself as a “Traitor,” referencing the social deduction game he enjoys. In a 2023 interview with the Daily Beast, he explained that players often accuse each other of being traitors based on flimsy evidence. He used the example of someone being labeled a traitor simply because he touched them, highlighting the arbitrary nature of accusations within the game.

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2026-01-29 19:20