The Dublin-based production company Kite Entertainment is working on a localized version of the reality series The Traitors for the Irish TV market.
The Traitors is based on the original Dutch format De Verraders, which was developed by All3Media label IDTV and RTL Creative Unit. The format has sold to 20 territories so far, including Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Israel and France. All3Media's Studio Lambert produces the UK and US versions of the format for BBC1 and Peacock.
Managing director Darren Smith told the Irish Times that Kite was in discussions with RTE's factual department about the show, but recent budget cuts at the network make a sale more complicated.
Smith said that unlike some versions, an Irish take on the format would feature civilian contestants, rather than celebrities. He added that while he had visited Ardross Castle in Scotland when Studio Lambert was filming the latest UK and US versions of the show, Kite's production would use an Irish castle for budgetary reasons.
Season two of The Traitors in the UK has been a solid hit, with the show reaching its highest-rating ever with this week's airing on BBC1.
While the show is familiar to UK audiences, it is less familiar in Ireland. While Irish audiences can watch the original linear airing, it's not available on demand because the BBC's iPlayer is not available in Ireland.
In the meantime, Kite's most recent production, an Irish version of the LOL! format, will premiere Friday, December 19th on Prime Video.