The cast do not sleep on castle grounds (Image: BBC )
Fans of might think the contestants are living in luxury while filming the hit reality series, but the truth is far less glamorous. Despite the breathtaking backdrop of the 19th-century Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, none of the cast actually sleep there.
Ardross Castle, situated north of Inverness, boasts stunning gardens and over 100 acres of parkland along the banks of the River Alness.
While contestants can be seen inside the castle during the challenges and roundtables, their sleeping arrangements are far more modest.
According to Ardross Castle’s official website, under its TV & filming section, it states: “There is a range of accommodation in the local area and Inverness,” though multiple reports reveal that the contestants are simply left to hunker down in a series of local hotels in the area.
The show goes to great lengths to ensure gameplay remains authentic, which means contestants are banned from using phones and are kept separate from one another during the evenings to prevent strategy talk.
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the contestant are simply left to hunker down in a series of local hotels in the area (Image: BBC)
After each roundtable ends, the Faithfuls and Traitors are transported away in separate vehicles to different accommodations.
In fact, the castle itself isn’t available for overnight stays. Fans hoping to visit the location will be disappointed as it’s closed to the public, though it can be hired out for private events, such as corporate away days or weddings, with capacity for up to 120 guests.
The US version of The Traitors is also filmed at Ardross Castle. Actor Alan Cumming, who hosts the American edition, revealed to The Daily Beast in 2023 that even the celebrity contestants stayed at the Inverness Airport hotel during filming.
“Spoiler alert: None of us stayed in the castle. None of us. They all stayed in the airport hotel in the Inverness airport. How glamorous—you come to Scotland, and you stay in the Inverness airport hotel,” Cumming said.
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The cast do enjoy breakfast in the castle (Image: BBC)
The actor himself didn’t stay at the castle either but explained: “I stayed in a little house in Inverness. But I had a room in the castle where I would get made up and dressed. It had a huge bed in it. So I did actually sleep quite often, but not overnight.”
As well as being in with a chance of winning the £120,000 prize pot, many of the show’s biggest characters are always set to make a fair bit of cash through advertising deals now the show has become a huge hit.
But many fans are also left wondering if they got paid to be on the show. The cast don’t get paid an appearance fee but are given around £100 a day to offset them having to take time off work.
Aaron Evans, who was one of the winners of the first series, revealed: “They don’t technically pay you, they subsidise what you would have got for work with the show, it’s roughly like £100 a day. It’s not that much… but it’s definitely worth it.”