Derry Girls star Siobhan McSweeney is to host an Irish version of reality TV series The Traitors, broadcaster RTE One has announced.
The TV channel said The Traitors Ireland would be coming to screens “very soon” in 2025, with a reveal video showing the 44-year-old lifting up her hood and saying “surprise”.
It will be filmed on location in Ireland, with 22 contestants from across the country competing to win a chunk of a 50,000 euro prize pot.
The Traitors Ireland is coming to RTÉ VERY soon…
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) December 18, 2024
and here is your host… @siobhni 🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/ZNJAbvV8G1
Speaking about joining the show, McSweeney said: “Like everyone, I am a huge Traitors fan so when I was asked to host the Irish version I jumped at the chance.
“I’m looking forward to meeting our loyal faithful and delicious traitors. The Irish have a charm and ability to deceive while smiling which will make this version rather special, I think.
“And I’m the luckiest person in the world to watch them close up.”
The Traitors has already seen two UK series air on the BBC, with a third set to begin on New Year’s Day.
The British version of the show, presented by Claudia Winkleman, challenges contestants to play a game which will test their detection, backstabbing and trust – with the chance of winning up to £120,000.
In it, a group of traitors must secretly murder their fellow players without getting caught, while the faithful attempt to banish the traitors from the game.
Those left at the end have a chance of winning a chunk of the prize, but if a traitor survives until the end they can take the full prize.
Steve Carson, director of video at RTE, added: “We’re really looking forward to bringing The Traitors Ireland to RTE audiences and delighted that Siobhan is going to be at the heart of it.
“She is an incredibly talented actor with a great comic and dramatic range. We know that she is going to bring something really special to Ireland’s version of this fantastic game of trust and deceit.”
McSweeney is best known for playing sister Michael in the Channel 4 comedy series, as well as hosting The Great Pottery Throw Down.
The series will be produced for RTE by Kite Entertainment, who have licensed the format from All3Media International.
The Traitors has been adapted for more than 20 countries including the Netherlands, the US, and Australia.
