The hidden science behind Traitors

Round Table Science – The hidden science behind Traitors

Hold onto your hoods and pull up a seat at the round table! In the first episode of the new series of Small Screen Science podcast, Karen and Emma explore the science hidden in the hit BBC television show “Traitors”. Listen as they pull back the curtain on Claudia Winkleman's Scottish castle of deceit to explore the psychological mechanisms that make "Traitors" so captivating. If you've been obsessed with trying to spot the liars among the faithful (haven't we all?), you'll love their scientific breakdown of what's really happening in those tense moments.

The Access Blog

3 minutes

by Emma Slater

Curriculum & Learning Expert

Posted 07/05/2025

Blog image Round Table Science _The hidden science behind Traitors.

The podcast episode tackles everything from how our brains process deception to the surprising science behind one of the show's most dramatic challenges. And yes, they even explore the secrets behind Claudia's impossibly shiny hair! Does being a psychopath or sociopath give you an advantage? How can we use psychology to spot a lie? What facial features make someone appear more trustworthy?

Watch…

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ka0hbd2EX0ZjvFBqnBDMU
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/small-screen-science/id1511181067

Fun fact

Did you know lying skills peak during young adulthood? The University of Amsterdam's Ig Nobel Prize-winning research shows our deception abilities follow a clear developmental curve - improving through childhood, peaking in our young adult years, and then gradually declining with age. So those twenty-somethings on the show? Statistically more likely to be effective liars!

Challenge

Listener challenge: We’re all intrigued by the psychology of deception in “Traitors”. Research contestant Charlotte from the show and discover why she faked a Welsh accent during her time on the series. Was this a good strategy? What does research tell us about the Welsh accent? What psychological advantage was she seeking?

Access GCSEPod Science Resources

Want to use this episode in your classroom? Here are some discussion points to explore with students:

How can understanding the science of deception help us be more discerning in everyday life?
What ethical considerations arise when we study and discuss sociopathic or psychopathic behaviours?
How do our biases about "trustworthy appearances" impact our judgment of others?
How do researchers design experiments to study deception in controlled environments?

Listen to the full episode of Small Screen Science wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ka0hbd2EX0ZjvFBqnBDMU
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/small-screen-science/id1511181067

Meet Emma, who is dedicated to supporting schools in their pursuit of digital learning excellence. 10 Years experience as a Lead Practitioner and Head of English in LEA and Trust run schools across SE London developed her passion for developing knowledge and skills rich curriculum. As a PiXL Associate working with 100’s of schools up and down the country and as an author of T&L resources for OUP, Collins and York Notes she gained a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the education sector.

Her dedication to education led her to a pivotal role as Director of Education at Access GCSEPod, where she merged her love for education with her publishing experience to pioneer a values-driven approach to EdTech. Emma championed the cause of providing diverse and inclusive learning content that delivers a rich curriculum in a form that supports all pupils to learn succeed.

Now, at The Access Group, Emma brings her skills and experience in strategy, education, and product development to oversee the growth and delivery of innovative 'big ideas' that support the education sector. Her passion for supporting schools in their curriculum journey is deeply rooted in her extensive classroom experience.