Reality Icon Rachel Reilly Shares Why the Civilian Version of ‘Traitors’ Is ‘Very Different’

Rachel Reilly knows a little something about reality TV, forming alliances, and backstabbing. The Big Brother Season 13 winner shared why she thinks The Traitors: New Blood is so different from the celebrity version.

Reilly, who was a contestant on Season 1 of Peacock‘s The Traitors, talked to us about Big Brother and The Traitors during her partnership with BetMGM. The reality TV icon came in eighth place when she was banished on episode 8. She also played on Seasons 12 and 27 of Big Brother and Seasons 20, 24, and 31 of The Amazing Race. She shared her thoughts on the new version of the series.

“So, I feel like The Traitors: New Blood is such a different version of Traitors that we’ve seen in the US,” Reilly said. “It does remind me more of the U.K. or New Zealand or Australian versions, which I’ve also watched.”

“I love The Traitors. It’s just such a fun game. New Blood is fun because nobody knows each other, so the deceptions and the backstabbings feel so real and raw.”

In the beginning, Reilly said that she was complaining because she didn’t know the cast and didn’t know what was going to happen. “I don’t have any reason to root for one person over the other,” she said. “But, as the show has evolved and aired more episodes, we’re really getting to know the players a lot more.”

The Big Brother winner said that now that fans have more backstories on the players, she is “rooting for the Faithfuls.”

“Victor [Vollbrechthausen] has become such a big part of this season, and one of my favorites to watch. He is a little crazy, and I love it!” she laughed. Reilly also said that she loves Joe Vanella and Katie Frites. “They stack up to The Traitors we’ve seen on the celebrity version.

The Traitors: New Blood is currently airing its first season on NBC. The series was the first for the U.S. in that it was all civilians. Season 1 was split with half celebrities and half civilians.

However, Reilly had to express her love for the celebrity version as well. “I love that we come in already knowing that you’re going to have the Housewives fighting with a Survivor player. You’re going to have them calling out someone who’s been on one of these gaming shows,” she said.

“I love that we have these game show rivalries and that they go against each other and that the game/competition show people don’t ever want to work together. It’s so much fun to watch!”

Reilly went on to say she loves the outfits and drama in the celebrity version. “To me, it feels like two very different shows,” she said.

The reality TV icon ended by saying that she cannot wait to see the upcoming season of the celebrity Traitors in 2027 because the “cast is so iconic.”

The Traitors: New Blood, Thursdays, 8/7c, NBC, Streaming next day on Peacock

The Traitors, Season 5, TBD, 2027, Peacock