From Shere Khan in the Jungle Book to Alan Rickman in Die Hard, British villains have long been terrorising victims on the big screen.

And now the reason behind why they make such effective baddies has emerged; they speak with the right accent.

Actors who use Queen’s English are more likely to appear untrustworthy, experts have suggested, as it immediately suggests that they are from the upper classes.

They also come across as more intelligent, making it more likely for an audience to believe their complicated revenge plans.