Alan Cumming has made history by becoming the fourth individual to win the Emmy for Best Reality Host consecutively, joining the ranks of television legends.
Alan Cumming Joins Elite Emmy Winners as Best Reality Host
Before this weekend, Jeff Probst (Survivor), Jane Lynch (Hollywood Game Night), and RuPaul Charles (RuPaul’s Drag Race) were the only individuals to win the Best Reality Host Emmy at least twice consecutively. Now, Alan Cumming (The Traitors) has entered this prestigious group.
Victory at the Creative Arts Emmys
As predicted by Gold Derby, Cumming secured the award at the 2025 Creative Arts Emmys, triumphing over co-nominees RuPaul, Probst, Kristen Kish (Top Chef), and the Shark Tank ensemble including Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, and Daniel Lubetzky.
A Successful Season for The Traitors
The Traitors garnered four awards at the Creative Arts: Best Reality Host, Best Reality Directing for Ben Archard, Best Cinematography for a Reality Program, and Best Editing for a Structured Reality Program. Check the full winners list for details.
Cumming portrays a heightened version of himself on Peacock’s reality show, where he revels in the drama that unfolds in his luxurious Scottish castle. He oversaw several memorable confrontations throughout Season 3, including “Boston” Rob Mariano vs. Bob the Drag Queen, and Danielle Reyes vs. Britney Haynes. “This season was chaotic, reflecting the current state of America,” Cumming shared with Gold Derby.
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Upcoming Primetime Emmys
Next Sunday at the Primetime Emmys, Cumming is also nominated as a producer for The Traitors, which is vying for Best Competition Program. He won this category last year, bringing his total Emmy count to three. Could The Traitors thrive without Alan Cumming? Certainly, but it wouldn’t be as entertaining.
RuPaul’s Record and Competition
RuPaul, who remains the record-holder with eight consecutive Best Reality Host wins (2016-2023), was the second favorite in Gold Derby’s predictions. This year, “Mama Ru” was nominated for the 17th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, where Onya Nurve triumphed over Jewels Sparkles, Lexi Love, and Sam Star. RuPaul’s career Emmy total stands at 14 wins, as he also serves as a producer on the award-winning franchise.
Other Notable Nominees
In third place was Survivor‘s Probst, who dominated the category in its early years (2008-2011) but was notably absent from nominations for 13 years until 2024. “It was a real surprise to be back in the conversation,” Probst remarked.
Kish, the fourth host from Top Chef to receive an Emmy nomination, expressed her surprise at her success. Rounding out the category were the Shark Tank entrepreneurs, marking a significant year as Cuban’s final season on the show. The group previously won Best Structured Reality Program in 2024.
