* Welsh named Britain’s most trusted accent, with one in four people saying it sounds the most honest.
* Geordie and Northern Irish accents complete the top three, while Cockney is trusted least.
* Two-thirds (67%) of people admit they judge someone’s honesty based purely on their accent.
* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site
As the nation remains gripped by the deceptive drama of The Traitors, a new study reveals which British accents we instinctively turn to for truth – and the results are music to Welsh ears.
The poll of 2,500 people by IllicitEncounters.com saw respondents asked to choose the one British accent they trust most from a broad list, with the Welsh accent crowned the UK’s most trustworthy (22%). The melodic tones of the Valleys clearly have us all under a spell, beating the friendly Geordie charm (16%) into second place.
Completing a podium of trustworthy tones, the Northern Irish accent took bronze with 15%, suggesting a lovely lilt goes a long way.
At the bottom of the league table, posh and West Country accents tied with a meagre 2% each. And in last place – with just 1% – sits the Cockney accent. Not because people dislike it, but because, as one respondent put it, “they sound like they’d sell you a watch and a story at the same time”.
The poll also revealed just how much weight people put on how someone sounds. 67% admitted they form an instant opinion about someone’s honesty based purely on their accent.
Meanwhile, 28% said they feel more at ease around people whose accent sounds friendly or familiar – even if they’ve only just met.
Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, says it’s hardly surprising. “Accents act like a shortcut for the brain,” she explains. “Some voices just feel safer or more sincere, even when there’s no real reason for it. ‘The Traitors’ has shown us that people often trust tone and delivery just as much as facts.”
She adds, “When forming relationships, that can be powerful. A voice that sounds warm and familiar can make someone seem more genuine – and a lot harder to doubt, even when you probably should.”
Results
Most Trusted British Accents
- Welsh – 22%
- Geordie – 16%
- Northern Irish – 15%
- Scouse – 9%
- Scottish – 8%
- Yorkshire – 6%
- Home Counties – 5%
- East Anglian – 4%
- Mancunian – 4%
- Brummie – 3%
- Lancashire – 3%
- Posh/Received Pronunciation – 2%
- West Country – 2%
- Cockney – 1%
illicitencounterspress.wordpress.com 