Sharon Rooney, the only Scottish contestant in this year's Celebrity Traitors, may hold a hidden advantage over her fellow players, according to a behaviour expert. The Glasgow-born actress made her debut on the BBC show on October 1, joining 21 celebrities at the Scottish Highlands castle.
Accent as an Advantage
Speaking to Betfair Casino, behavioural expert Darren Stanton suggested that Rooney's accent could help her appear more authoritative and confident. "Accent plays a powerful role in how people are perceived, especially in a setting like The Traitors, where trust is everything," he said. "A Scottish accent, like Sharon Rooney’s, often conveys a sense of authority and control."
However, Stanton also warned that this could make her a target. "Those who sound assertive can become targets simply because they appear to be directing others," he noted. He pointed to Isle of Lewis winner Stephen Libby, whose Scottish accent may have helped him deceive the Faithfuls in the civilian series.
Rooney's Own View
Rooney, 37, best known for My Mad Fat Diary, said before the show that she wanted to be a Faithful, and she got her wish. She admitted to having a terrible poker face and being a bad liar. During the opening episode, she said: "As a Glasgow girl I'm quite good at being nosey and I like to think I'm a good judge of character. But I think this show's going to really, really test that."
The confirmed Traitors this year are Maya Jama and Richard E. Grant, with a third member still undecided. Richard has already revealed his status to the rest of the cast. The Celebrity Traitors airs every Thursday and Friday at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
