As TV show The Traitors UK fuels watercooler chat, Shane Duffy argues the castle is really a bias lab. From teachers to barristers, players are judged by their job title before they speak. Analysis shows who gets targeted, who survives and what workplaces can learn about trust, status and threat.
As the nation remains gripped by the latest season of The Traitors UK, Shane Duffy, Managing Director of serviced office brokerage Click Offices, warns that the hit BBC show offers more than just entertainment, it provides a fascinating look into how job roles and professional backgrounds trigger deep-seated biases in the workplace.
The high-stakes reality show often sees contestants cast suspicion on peers based solely on their professions. From the strategic prowess of marketing executives to the perceived trustworthiness of teachers, the ‘Round Table’ has become a reflection for the unconscious biases that still permeate office culture.
Click Offices analysed current and past seasons of the show and found that approximately 40% of early banishments and murders involve players from high-visibility or “strategic” backgrounds. In the latest series, Amanda (Retired Detective) notably kept her former career in the police a secret from her fellow players. Similarly, series three winner Leanne (former Soldier) chose to withhold her military background and pretend to be a nail technician until the very final moments of the game. This decision highlights a common workplace fear: that being “too qualified” or possessing disciplined, analytical skills makes others defensive or suspicious.
“Th fact that professionals like Amanda and Leanne felt the need to hide their backgrounds is telling.” says Shane. “It mirrors the way employees sometimes downplay certain skills or interests to fit into a specific office culture. In the castle, they feared their investigative skills would make them a target. In the office, people often hide skills because they fear being pigeonholed or viewed as a threat to the status quo.”
The burden of intelligence
Even traditionally trusted roles can face intense scrutiny if they are associated with high intelligence or observation. In series three, Kas (Doctor) was frequently suspected despite his logical and calm demeanour. His ability to piece together theories was often mistaken for a Traitor’s calculated gameplay rather than a Faithful’s dedication.
Similarly, high-level communicators are frequently targeted by Traitors who fear their ability to lead narratives. In the most recent series, players like Yin (Doctor of Communication) were murdered early because their professional expertise in human interaction made them too dangerous to keep in the game. Traitor Armani explicitly stated that Yin’s intellectual threat was the primary reason for her exit.
“What we see at the Round Table is a heightened version of what happens in meeting rooms every day,” Shane continues. “We often judge colleagues before they have even spoken. If someone is in PR, we might be wary of ‘spin.’ If they are in finance, we assume they are purely analytical. These biases can dictate who gets heard in a boardroom and who gets passed over for projects.”
The most ‘trusted’ professions
Certain roles benefit from a ‘Professional Halo’, where their background makes it almost impossible for others to suspect them.
Caregivers: In series one, Andrea (Retired) and Fay (Head of School) were rarely targeted because their roles suggested a lifetime of service and nurturing. In Series 2, Diane (Retired Teacher) initially enjoyed a similar level of trust before her vocal leadership style shifted the dynamic.
Creatives: Those in artistic or less corporate roles are often perceived as “too authentic” to be Traitors. In series two, Mollie (Model/Disability Advocate) was trusted implicitly by her peers, including Traitor Harry, partly because her professional image did not align with a “mastermind” persona.
Which careers survive the game?
The roles that successfully reach the final are often those that appear the least strategic on paper. Past winners have included an estate agent, a call centre agent and army engineers. Click Offices research found that:
- Over 60% of finalists across the three series have come from roles that require high organisation but low public performance, such as project managers, engineers or administrative leads
- Players in high-performance or ‘glamorous’ roles (actors, models or influencers) face a 35% higher risk of being banished in the first three episodes. The bias here is that their professional life involves “playing a part,” leading Faithfuls to assume they are naturally deceptive
- Traitors often come from roles that require high emotional intelligence (EQ) or customer facing roles. The ability to manage people’s emotions is a key skill. For example, Harry (British Army Engineer) and Wilf (Senior Fundraising Manager) both occupied roles that required maintaining composure under pressure and influencing others
- Those in more communicative roles such as barristers, actors or communications experts are three times more likely to be under scrutiny. Their professional “gift of the gab” is seen as a tactical weapon that must be neutralised before they can sway the group narrative
- Those in hands-on roles such as engineers or tradespeople are 50% more likely to be kept safe from early murder. Traitors often view these individuals as essential assets for physical missions, meaning their utility in building the prize pot provides them with a professional shield
“The winners are usually those whose job titles do not immediately scream ‘strategic mastermind,'” Shane adds. “In series three, we saw Jake (Project Manager) and Leanne (Former Soldier) take the prize. While Leanne adopted the persona of a nail technician to stay under the radar, it was her actual discipline and teamwork that carried her through. It proves that in the office, as in the castle, the most effective leaders are often those who build trust through consistency rather than those who try to ‘out-expert’ the room.” A full list of players job roles is online.
Season four contestants are shunning high-intellect professionals
As series four draws to a close, the Round Table bias has shifted from suspicion to an outright purge of highly qualified professionals. The Faithfuls are turning on anyone with a background in psychology, law or high-level academia, with these people being punished for their strategic mindsets.
“We are seeing a total breakdown of trust toward anyone who is trained to read or influence people. The exits of Ellie (Psychologist), Harriet (former Barrister and Crime Author) and Hugo (Barrister) show that the group is terrified of ‘expert’ logic. Jade, who has a PhD, is also under constant scrutiny. In a boardroom, you want a barrister to spot the flaws in a contract. In the castle, that same skill makes people think you are a master manipulator who is too clever to be trusted,” says Shane.
“Rachel is displaying a masterclass in managing workplace perception. She knows that in her line of work, being a ‘communications head’ could be linked with being a Traitor in the eyes of the Faithful. By initially downplaying her seniority and presenting herself as more of a creative marketer, she avoided the immediate ‘expert’ tag that sank the barristers. She is proof that in the castle, your real job is your biggest liability, and your ability to mask it is your greatest asset.”
Shane Duffy is Managing Director of Click Offices
