Alan Cumming on the Flirtation BetweenThe Traitors' 'Castle Daddy' CT Tamburello and Phaedra Parks (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Sorry to fans ofThe Traitorswho feel like they’ve been watching a showmance unfold between season 2 playersChris “CT” TamburelloandPhaedra Parks— hostAlan Cummingsays the relationship betweenThe Challengelegend andThe Real Housewives of Atlantaalum might just be fan fiction.

“I think there’s as much chance of a romance between CT and Phaedra as there’s between me and CT or me and Phaedra, actually,” Cumming, 59, tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “But they’re a funny little odd couple and they’re very affectionate.”

Tamburello, a Faithful, helped Parks, a Traitor, through the river during a mission in episode 6, and the two paired up to compete together in another mission the next episode. (When it came time to pick partners, Tamburello turned to Parks and asked, “How you doin’?” to which she replied, “Alright, Daddy!”) Later in episode 7, Parks lit Tamburello’s torch to grant himimmunity from the night’s murder.

“If Phaedra wants to light my torch, I’m not gonna be rude and say no,” Tamburello, 43, said on the show.

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic; Presley Ann/Getty; Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

Cumming thinks the pressure of the game drew Tamburello, 43, and Parks, 50, to one another.

“These people are put into this incredibly emotional and mind screwy situation, and they’re in this bubble. They don’t have really access to the outside world,” suggests the Tony Award winner. “Of course they’re going to become really emotionally involved with each other.”

Phaedra Parks and Chris ‘CT’ Tamburello on ‘The Traitors’ season 2.Euan Cherry/PEACOCK via Getty

Euan Cherry/PEACOCK via Getty

Still, “I don’t think just because you hold hands with someone means you’re having an affair with them,” Cumming continues. “If that were the case, I would be having an affair with most of my friends.”

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Chris ‘CT’ Tamburello (left) and Alan Cumming.Euan Cherry/PEACOCK via Getty

However, while weighing whether he should joinPeter WeberandTrishelle Cannatellain voting to banish Parks in the latest episode ofTraitors, Tamburello truly considered it, saying he came on the show “looking for Traitors, not love.”

The majority of the group ultimately ended up voting for TraitorParvati Shallow, making Parks the last Traitor standing — for now.

Phaedra Parks and Alan Cumming.Euan Cherry/PEACOCK via Getty

“She never really risks a judgment about anything,” the Scottish actor continues. “And as a lawyer, you have to be very authoritative, but non-partisan. So, I was kind of surprised.”

Though Parks may be selective in her support (RIPBergalicious), she rides for her fellow Housewives. “The only thing she was really kind of firm about was her loyalty to the Housewives,” Cumming says. “There was a very tribal aspect to her housewife stuff, which I kind of enjoyed as well.”

Parks did court fellow Bravo starKate Chastainto join her as a Traitor, but viewers will have to wait until Thursday’s episode to see if she accepts the offer. AsThe Traitorsseason 2 approaches its home stretch, Cumming teases even more twists to come.

“As soon as you think, ‘Oh, that’s happened,’ then something else happens and it’s just so fascinating,” he says. “And people just disappear in the night.”

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New episodes ofThe Traitorsdrop Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.

source: people.com