A drama expert has analysed the hit BBC show The Traitors, explaining how authenticity and acting techniques help contestants deceive others and avoid detection.
Psychological strategies of a Traitor
Zara Wardrop, a drama expert and music teacher at Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow, shared insights into the strategies that make a Traitor convincing to the Faithfuls. In the current series, which began on New Year’s Day 2026 at Ardross Castle in Scotland, contestants navigate a high-stakes game where Traitors secretly murder players and must evade banishment to claim the growing prize pot.
Wardrop emphasises that the most successful Traitors avoid overacting. Wardrop notes: “People under suspicion tend to completely overact in order to try and come across more innocent, and it becomes too rehearsed. Being authentic is not the same as being perfect. Just because someone stumbles over their words doesn’t make them guilty, it just makes them human. Innocence isn’t always expressed through behaviour; it’s just a state of being when you’re innocent… or acting innocent.”
Wardrop cites Stephen from the ongoing series as an example. During a round table, Stephen voted to banish fellow Traitor Fiona, allowing visible emotion to surface. Stephen stumbled over his words and his voice broke, leading to tears in a confessional moment. This display convinced many Faithfuls of his vulnerability rather than guilt.
Acting techniques for deception
Wardrop recommends method acting, where Traitors fully immerse themselves in the role of a Faithful by internally believing the deception. “The best way to do this is by believing the lie. Have you ever told a lie that you’ve somehow managed to convince yourself was the truth? You start to live the lie, and it becomes much easier to appear Faithful.
The goal here is to convince yourself you’re innocent first, before you look to convince others. That way, you’ll come across as authentic as possible.”
However, Wardrop warns that subtle cues can betray a Traitor. Eye contact is particularly revealing: “The dead giveaway is eye contact all the time, or not at all. You can always see when someone is not being truthful. The eyes are the gateway to the soul, and that can be the first giveaway.”
Inconsistencies in behaviour also provide clues. Traitors may struggle to maintain their facade over time, forgetting to sustain their character or misreading others’ cues, which can reveal their deception.
High-stakes drama continues
The current series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, has featured intense moments of betrayal, including Fiona’s banishment after a confrontation involving Rachel and Stephen. With tensions high among the remaining players—including Traitors Rachel and Stephen, and Faithfuls Faraaz, Jade, Jack, James, Matthew, and Roxy—the finale is set for Friday, 23rd January 2026.
Wardrop’s analysis gives viewers a lens to examine the psychological layers of the game. Whether the remaining Traitors can use these acting principles to stay hidden or succumb to pressure remains to be seen.