How Celebrity Traitors Reveals the Body Language of Deception

The Celebrity Traitors (2025) has quickly become one of the UK’s most addictive shows — just ask the PepTalk team! The format is familiar: Faithfuls versus Traitors, lies versus loyalty, all set in a Scottish castle and hosted by Claudia Winkleman. But this time, it’s the familiarity of the faces that makes the deceit even juicier for audiences.

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We already know the contestants, or think we do. That’s what makes every raised eyebrow and hesitant smile feel loaded. Many of the cast are friends off-screen, which adds another layer of intrigue, for us and them. When someone like Alan Carr or Jonathan Ross is accused of lying, the stakes feel personal for them.

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Decoding Body Language

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This is where Martin Brooks, author of Body Language Decoder, comes in. In his video for The Standard, Martin analysed specific deception tells from two of the Traitors, subtle cues that the Faithfuls completely missed. His insights bridge TV and the real world: in both arenas, unnoticed deception can quietly cause chaos. As Martin explains, “we’re wired to assume honesty, even when the signs tell us otherwise.”

Martin Brooks’ six deception detection tactics:

1. ‍Eye blocking. Liars often avoid eye contact by looking down, looking away, or blinking excessively to hide their eyes.‍
2. Truth slips. When body language contradicts words. For example, nodding “no” while saying “yes.”
3. ‍Facial touching. A self-soothing behaviour. Liars may touch their face, head, or mouth to calm themselves when lying.‍
4. Duping delight. A fleeting smile or smirk that appears when a liar feels relieved or pleased their deception has been believed.‍
5. Forced eye contact. Overcompensating by holding too much eye contact in an attempt to seem honest.‍
6. Variance from baseline. Establish how someone behaves when telling the truth, then look for changes when they may be lying. (Kate Garraway did this with Cat Burns in episode one)

These six cues, drawn from Martin’s Body Language Decoder, are tools anyone can use to spot deception—whether watching The Traitors or navigating everyday interactions.

Martin also notes that the Faithfuls’ failure to spot the Traitors’ deception mirrors real life. In business, the same thing happens: when subtle signs of dishonesty go unnoticed, poor decisions and bigger problems follow.

If you want your team to read these signals more effectively, Martin delivers a keynote on deception detection and trust building; available to book through PepTalk.

Who will you book: a Faithful or a Traitor?

PepTalk works with speakers across the entire Traitors universe. Whether you want the sharp wit of a Traitor or the sincerity of a Faithful, we can secure anyone from the celebrity or original series; even if you don’t see them listed on our site. Here are just a few names who’ve captivated both screen and stage audiences:

• Alan Carr – Comedy legend, quick-fire humour, and now, one of this season’s most convincing Traitors.
• Jonathan Ross – The king of conversation and pop-culture knowledge, perfect for corporate hosting or fireside chats.
• David Olusoga – Esteemed historian, speaker, and broadcaster; a thoughtful Faithful known for exploring truth and perception in storytelling.
• Joe Marler – Rugby star turned leadership speaker, bringing honesty and self-awareness to any room.

You can also enquire about other stars like Claudia Winkleman, Tom Daley, Clare Balding, or others from the Traitors cast, PepTalk can handle the booking.

Celebrity Traitors proves that even the most charming personalities can mislead. In business, just as in the castle, the ability to spot deception is a competitive advantage. With Martin Brooks’ insights and PepTalk’s network of experts, your next event could teach audiences how to tell when someone’s bluffing; without ever needing a hooded cloak.