The Traitors: Is a Welsh accent really more trustworthy?

This text contains some dialogue of the primary episode of The Traitors, however doesn’t include main spoilers akin to who the brand new traitors are or who will get murdered or banished.

Plot twists are taking place already in season three of the PJ’s The Traitors, as one contestant from London lifted the lid on her charming – however false – Welsh accent.

Charlotte, 33, has lived in London her complete life however has determined to faux she is from Abergavenny, in Monmouthshire, to maximise her probabilities of survival.

“I have been placing on a Welsh accent as a result of my mum’s from Wales, it is one of the crucial reliable accents,” she informed the digital camera on New 12 months’s Day.

However is a Welsh lilt actually the important thing to gaining folks’s belief as a devoted within the present – and maybe in life normally?

The truth present centres round traitors chosen by host Claudia Winkleman, who should deceive and acquire the belief of different contestants, who’re faithfuls.

Dr Mercedes Durham, a sociolinguistics professor at Cardiff College, led analysis into the likeability of the Welsh accent and located folks affiliate the accent with being pleasant – however not essentially intelligent.

“They genuinely appreciated it, they discover it humorous, enticing and pleasant, however they did not take it significantly or affiliate it with intelligence,” mentioned Dr Durham.

However friendliness and trustworthiness are linked, says Dr Durham, so there could possibly be a technique behind the masks.

Inspiration could have come from earlier Welsh contestants Andrew Jenkins from Talbot Inexperienced, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Amanda Lovett, from Swansea, who each eradicated faithfuls and narrowly missed out on The Traitors trophy in collection one and two.

Amanda sailed by way of the primary collection in 2023, along with her opponents swearing hand on coronary heart that the common-or-garden character may by no means be a traitor.

“I believe the Welsh accent could be very enjoyable, it undoubtedly performed a job in folks trusting me in being a motherly determine,” mentioned Amanda.

“Perhaps they did not suppose I might be sharp sufficient, or the sort able to murdering, that I used to be too naive perhaps,” she added.

“However I do not know if I agree with pinching our Welsh accent,” Amanda laughed, “we’re very pleased with our Welsh heritage”.

Amanda mentioned Traitors followers could even be cautious of Welsh contestants this time, as each her and Andrew took their charming accents to the very finish.

Andrew agreed the Welsh accent is reliable, however mentioned he would have noticed Charlotte’s pretend effort from a mile off.

“Oh, I believe it is horrible, she retains dipping out and in of her London accent,” he mentioned.

“I simply suppose the Welsh are pretty, pleasant, trusting folks, I went in and was genuine.

“I attempted to make as many pals as I may and be myself to be trustworthy, I believe that helped.”

Charlotte is just not the one Welsh particular person within the recreation this yr, as Cardiff-based Elen is from north Wales and Leanne is from Holywell in Flintshire.

There’s loads of variation in Welsh accents, and folks are likely to relate extra to sure areas, in response to Dr Durham.

“The primary affiliation of individuals outdoors of Wales is the south Wales valleys and Barry Island within the Vale of Glamorgan, because of Gavin & Stacey,” she mentioned.

“Presumably greater than the opposite two contestants, it is an accent outsiders will affiliate essentially the most with Wales.”

The Welsh accent has enticed new contact centres to arrange or broaden in Wales lately, together with Starling Financial institution, Capital on Faucet, Veezu and TCH Group.

One agency selected Newport, over Middlesbrough, Teesside, to open its funeral planning enterprise, due to the “consoling” and “empathetic” Welsh accent.

Sandra Busby, chief government of Cnect Wales, which helps contact centres, mentioned Wales has all the time been a beautiful location for a lot of causes with accents “taking part in their half”.

“Through the years the Welsh accent all the time comes within the prime three regional accent surveys for friendliness and for being reliable,” she added.

The Welsh accent took prime spot for essentially the most enjoyable accent throughout the UK in 2024, in a research by the College of Sheffield and Spa Seekers.

The general public have a smooth spot for all Celtic accents, Irish and Scottish included, because of their pleasant connotations, mentioned Dr Durham.

Obtained pronunciation, also called Queen’s English, does effectively to achieve folks’s belief, however primarily due to its social status.

However Birmingham, Liverpudlian and Cockney accents are sometimes not favoured and will be discovered within the decrease half of recognition polls.

Belief in accents can change over time relying on our social circles and day by day relationships, in response to a research by Ilaria Torre from Plymouth College.

Contributors heard both a normal southern English accent or a “lesser trusted” Liverpudlian accent, and attitudes modified relying on first impressions and judgements.

If an individual who spoke in a “trusted” accent went on to behave pretty, then this primary impression of trustworthiness elevated.

But in the event that they went on to behave unfairly, they have been seen as much less reliable than those that had each a lesser trusted accent and behavior.

Contributors “have been punishing them, so to talk, for not dwelling as much as the contributors’ expectations”, mentioned Ms Torre.

On the alternative aspect, those that have been seen as sounding “untrustworthy” with a Liverpudlian accent however acted properly have been capable of reverse unfavorable preconceptions.

So, whereas a Welsh lilt would possibly begin you off in good stead as a trusted contestant, the chances are nonetheless all to play for.

With a combination of various accents from throughout the UK, how will the Welsh ones do?

You’ll find out – the primary three episodes of The Traitors are now on PJ iPlayer, and the collection airs on PJ One at 21:00 GMT on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.