Body language expert Judi James has said Maya Jama may have committed a "schoolboy error" and shown signs of "regret" in the new series of The Celebrity Traitors. The BBC programme returned to screens on Thursday evening, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, with a cast of well-known faces.
During the opening episode, Claudia selected her first two Traitors — Love Island presenter Maya and actor Richard E Grant. However, Judi believes Maya may have already slipped up in her new position.
'Schoolboy error' spotted
Sharing her analysis with Paddy Power Bingo, Judi commented: "Maya's choice of a plastic mac did suggest an air of self-protection."
"Her initial body language reaction to being tapped on the shoulder by Claudia was another schoolboy error spotted by almost every fan of the show," reports the Daily Star.
"She immediately changed her body language state by sucking her lips inward. This implied some regret despite her bravado, and it looked as though she'll enjoy the camera attention but not the pressure."
'Overkill rituals' analysed
Judi also noted that when Maya took off the blindfold, she stalled for time by "faffing with her hair with her eyes lowered to avoid performing a response." When she did pretend to scan the others, she did so "with a very obvious lack of eye focus," and there was "a huge tongue-poke to signal disgust or dislike before she applied a smug-looking smile."
Judi believed Maya needed to convince audiences she was comfortable in her role as a Traitor, despite her body language suggesting the contrary. The expert continued: "Maya's 'Tell' is her overkill rituals. When she spoke straight to camera she had to prove her pleasure at being a Traitor with two emoji-style gestures that in reality suggested she was actually rather worried or unhappy."
"First there was the 'claw' gesture to suggest rather than prove a desire to fight, then a double thumbs-up that hinted at acted bravado rather that actual bravery. Genuine emotions don't need to be mimed. The suggestion is that Maya feels out of her depth as a Traitor."
The Celebrity Traitors airs on Thursday and Friday nights at 8pm on BBC One.
