Siobhán McSweeney, the beloved Derry Girls star, is stepping into the spotlight as the host of The Traitors Ireland, RTE One’s highly anticipated adaptation of the global smash-hit reality show. But with the premiere looming on Sunday, the actress admits she’s been battling sleepless nights, gripped by the weight of expectation and a fear that one wrong move could unravel the show’s carefully crafted tension. “I haven’t slept in a week,” Siobhán confessed to The Irish Sun, her voice tinged with both excitement and nerves. “It’s really nerve-wracking. I feel a huge responsibility, not only to the show but to the Irish people watching it.”
The pressure is palpable. The Traitors, based on the Dutch series De Verraders, has captivated audiences worldwide, with the BBC’s version—hosted by Claudia Winkleman—drawing over 10 million viewers for its third series premiere. Now, as Ireland’s version prepares to debut, Siobhán is acutely aware of the high bar set by its predecessors. “It’s all right to mess up abroad, but you don’t want to mess up at home,” she said. “Irish audiences are astute and literate in every sense. You do not want to do a half-assed job.”
Set against the grand backdrop of Slane Castle, The Traitors Ireland transforms the stately home into a labyrinth of deception, complete with the iconic Round Table where contestants will face off in a battle of wits. The show blends the intrigue of a murder mystery with the raw drama of reality TV, pitting 24 contestants—divided into Faithfuls and Traitors—against each other in a high-stakes game of subterfuge for a €50,000 prize. Siobhán’s role as host is pivotal, guiding the players through the game’s twists while delivering moments of spine-chilling gravitas. “My job is to stay out of the way and give them information,” she explained, “but sometimes to put the fear of God into them!”
Yet, even with her commanding presence, Siobhán admitted to moments of self-doubt during filming, particularly over her extravagant wardrobe choices. In the show’s early scenes, where she selects Traitors with a dramatic tap on the shoulder, she fretted that a wayward sleeve or flowing garment might accidentally sabotage the moment. “We were trying on different clothes, wondering, ‘Would there be a shuffle when I lifted my arm?’” she recalled, laughing nervously. “What if that outfit hit someone’s shoulder rather than my hand? Oh my God Almighty!” Thankfully, a top-notch production team was on hand to guide her, ensuring no sartorial mishaps derailed the suspense.
The Irish Sun was granted exclusive access to the Slane Castle set earlier this year, witnessing firsthand how producers reimagined the historic venue into the atmospheric heart of The Traitors Ireland. From the candlelit Round Table to the shadowy corridors, the stage is set for a psychological showdown that promises to grip viewers. But for Siobhán, the real magic lies in the contestants themselves. “You can hope for a good cast, but you can never tell,” she said. “We’ve found an extraordinary group for this series. They’re all so interesting and incredibly different from one another—it’s created some magnificent TV.”
As she prepares for the premiere, Siobhán’s hands tremble from her 50th cup of tea, a testament to the relentless pressure of delivering a show that lives up to its global legacy. “I’m nervous,” she admitted, her candid vulnerability endearing her even more to fans. “That’s why you’ll see my hand shake.” But if anyone can rise to the challenge, it’s Siobhán McSweeney, whose wit, warmth, and fierce determination are sure to make The Traitors Ireland a must-watch event. Tune in to RTE One this Sunday to see if she and her cast of cunning contestants can pull it off—or if the weight of those sleepless nights will leave everything feeling, as she fears, “unfinished.”