How Charlotte’s Fake Welsh Accent on The Traitors Highlights the Power of Accents in Shaping Trust and Credibility

Anyone NOT watching The Traitors?

Maybe, if you're reading this from outside the UK… but everyone else is.

Confession: I'm not… but I am now, because there's an accents angle (and you know what an accent geek I am).

If you can't get BBC programmes where you are, here's a quick primer on the show.

But you know what I'm talking about: it's a massive hit, with versions in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Spain, Poland, and the Netherlands.

In the latest season of the UK Traitors, 33-year-old business director Charlotte - from London (this is relevant) - has employed a unique strategy to gain trust: faking a Welsh accent.

She claims the accent makes her appear more credible and trustworthy.

This has sparked conversation not just among Traitors fans, but also in broader discussions about how accents influence perception in social and professional settings.

Why Did Charlotte Choose a Welsh Accent?

In an interview, Charlotte explained, “I’ve been putting on a Welsh accent because my mum’s from Wales; it’s one of the most trustworthy accents.”

Interestingly, her performance has even fooled fellow contestant Elen, a native of north Wales, who admitted, “I didn’t suspect Charlotte wasn’t Welsh at all.”

Why Are Welsh Accents Perceived as Trustworthy?

Research supports Charlotte’s theory. According to Dr. Mercedes Durham, a sociolinguistics professor at Cardiff University, the Welsh accent is widely regarded as friendly, approachable, and even attractive.

However, there’s a trade-off: the same studies indicate that while people find the accent charming, they don’t always associate it with intelligence or authority.

This perception taps into deeply ingrained stereotypes about accents and regions.

If you're familiar with British culture, you'll know that famous Welsh characters in TV and movies tend be to friendly, funny, comedic: Dafydd in Little Britain, Stacey's family in Gavin and Stacey, or Spike in Notting Hill (played by Rhys Ifans).

In popular culture, you don't meet a lot of police detectives, doctors, judges or superheroes with Welsh accents. This is how stereotypes develop. And like it or not, stereotypes do influence people's perceptions.

Accents and Their Impact on Credibility

Charlotte’s tactic underscores a larger truth: accents significantly affect how people perceive credibility, intelligence, and trustworthiness. Whether consciously or subconsciously, accents influence social interactions, hiring decisions, and even legal judgments.

I've written here about the recent study published in Evolutionary Human Sciences revealing that people from regions like Glasgow, Belfast, and Dublin are more adept at spotting fake accents than their southern English counterparts. This ability, thought to be rooted in cultural familiarity, suggests that accents carry signals about belonging and authenticity.

Meanwhile, in professional settings, accent bias can lead to discrimination. Mary Prior KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, has advocated for regional accents to be considered a protected characteristic under UK discrimination laws. Prior, who faced ridicule for her Stoke-on-Trent accent, noted that accents often act as a social barrier, particularly in industries that favour Received Pronunciation (RP).

The Importance of Authenticity and Confidence in Speech

Although Charlotte’s use of a fake accent may work as a temporary strategy in a high-stakes game like The Traitors, experts suggest that authenticity is key in real-life interactions.

Research from the Accent Bias Britain project (another of my favourite topics - click here to read more) highlights how confidence in one’s natural accent can mitigate negative stereotypes.

Speaking clearly and assertively, regardless of regional or cultural speech patterns, helps build credibility and trust. (Here's another interesting article if you can get behind the Financial Times paywall)

Elen from The Traitors, reflecting on Charlotte’s approach, remarked,

“In the context of the show, I don’t really see how faking a Welsh accent would benefit her. However, she’s doing better than me. I wish her luck.”

(At the time of writing, Elen was out and Charlotte was still in - that may have changed by tonight - Thursday 16th!)

Her response highlights an important takeaway: people are more likely to connect with those who project confidence and authenticity, regardless of their accent.

Having a certain accent doesn't define you: but your own perceptions of how you come across, based on your accent, might mean that you're feeling stuck, and lacking confidence.

Accents and Personal Impact: What Can We Learn?

Charlotte’s story on The Traitors offers a fascinating glimpse into how accents can shape perceptions of trustworthiness, but it also serves as a reminder of the power of effective communication.

Accents are a natural part of identity, and while they may influence initial impressions, it’s how you communicate—with clarity, authenticity, and confidence—that leaves a lasting impact.

If you want to make a strong personal impact, here are some thoughts:

1. Embrace Your Natural Accent: I do sometimes work with people who want to 'drop' their existing accent for a more mainstream, BBC English sound, but generally, people just want to build their confidence. Instead of hiding or altering your accent, you could think about focusing on owning it. There are plenty of things we can do around tone, pacing and focus, to give you confidence in your voice to make a bigger impression than you might be trying to fit into someone else’s idea of “correct” speech.

2. Speak Clearly and Confidently: Whether it’s a job interview or a social interaction, I can share with you practical techniques to help you find clear articulation and focus, so that listeners pick up on what you're saying, rather than the sounds you make as you say it.

3. Address Biases Directly: If you still feel that you need to take action on your accent, rather than waiting for the world to change - if you feel your accent is holding you back in professional settings - consider accent reduction coaching with me—not to erase your accent, but to fine-tune certain sounds, at the same time as working on how to generally enhance how you convey your ideas.

Find Your Voice, Build Your Impact

Accents are more than just a way of speaking; they’re a reflection of culture, identity, and personality. I don't want the work I do to reduce the richness and diversity of spoken English, at all.

But I do want to help people who, like me as a kid, feel unfairly judged because of how they speak.

 While Charlotte’s experiment with a fake Welsh accent may have won her some trust on The Traitors, it’s her ability to connect and strategise that will determine her ultimate success. (Will she be out by the time you read this???)

For the rest of us, the point is this: you can treat your accent is an asset, not a liability.

By embracing your voice and learning to speak with confidence, you can build credibility and leave a lasting impression—whether you’re playing a game of strategy or navigating the professional world.

Contact me if you would like to explore how to acquire that confidence and credibility.