All three surviving Traitors in the flame-lit final episodes of the BBC’s Celebrity Traitors pronounced the word ‘traitor’ as ‘trai’or’. They’d been ‘recrui’ed’, for better or for worse, and had ‘had the hea’ pu’ on them’ at various times throughout the series. ‘This is the final murder and it’s really impor’an,’ said Maya Jama at midnight in the turret. ‘I’m not goin’ down wivou’ a figh’. I’m ge’in’ shivers,’ said Kenny.

The habitual dropping of the ‘t’-sound is an affectation, even if a subconscious one

The habitual dropping of the ‘t’-sound is an affectation, even if a subconscious one

To me, the lack of a ‘t’-consonant really lets these celebrities down. Of course, they can and sometimes do pronounce the letter ‘t’: they always say it at the beginning of any ‘t’-word. But among a large swathe of this country’s celebrities (‘celebri’ies’), the glottal stop now comes as standard mid-word or at the end of a word. And it’s not pretty. Maya looks serenely beautiful, and I expected an elegant voice to come out of her, worthy of her regal appearance. But, over the final breakfast, she said, ‘We go’a for-ge’ our friendship for a momen’. It’s an open ba’lefield.’

Long after the show is over, the ‘t’-less words will be ringing in my ears. I’ll hear Leigh-Anne saying, ‘I had a feelin’ the boys were going to vo’ me........

© The Spectator