What is a typical corporate investigation instruction?
Inside the Festive Season’s Most Painful Suspicions
As Christmas party season gathers pace across the UK, so too does a quieter, more painful trend: a spike in suspicions about cheating partners. In the latest episode of Titan PI TV, host and Managing Director of Titan Private Investigation Ltd, Simon Henson, lifts the lid on how office parties, free-flowing alcohol and blurred boundaries can become the starting point for infidelity – and what signs you should be looking out for.
Broadcast from Titan’s Derby head office – one of 10 offices across England, stretching from Truro in the South West to Manchester in the North West – the episode explores the link between workplace social events and affairs, drawing on both industry experience and eye-opening statistics.
Listeners who prefer audio can also access the content via the Titan PI TV Podcast, available wherever you usually download your podcasts.
Affairs at Work: The Numbers Behind the Fear
Setting the scene, Henson cites a recent poll carried out by infidelity website Ashley Madison, involving 23,455 respondents. The findings underline just how vulnerable workplace relationships can become, particularly around major social events like Christmas parties:
- 46.1% of men and 37.4% of women admitted to having had an affair with a co-worker.
- An even larger proportion – 89.1% of men and 83.2% of women – confessed that they had at least thought about having an affair with a colleague.
- Most striking of all, one in three respondents said their affair began at a Christmas party. That equates to almost 8,000 individuals in this single poll.
“These figures are quite staggering,” Henson notes. “When you consider that one in three of those questioned started their affair at a Christmas party, you begin to understand why this time of year is one of the busiest for private investigation agencies.”
Eleven Warning Signs of a Cheating Partner
Drawing on years of operational experience at Titan, Henson outlines 11 common behavioural indicators that may suggest a partner is being unfaithful. While each on its own may not be conclusive, patterns of several together often trigger clients to seek professional help.
1. Sudden Changes in Appearance
A classic early sign is an unexpected and sustained focus on personal image.
“Your other half starts buying new clothes, having their hair cut more frequently, going for facials or grooming treatments – they’re suddenly very bothered about their appearance in a way that’s different to normal,” Henson explains.
While people do sometimes decide to improve their appearance for innocent reasons, a dramatic and unexplained change can be cause for concern, particularly if it coincides with new social circles or work events.
2. A Shift in Attitude Towards You
A cheating partner’s attitude can swing sharply in either direction.
- They may become short-tempered, irritable or dismissive, showing far less patience and warmth.
- Conversely, they may become unusually affectionate or attentive, sometimes as a result of feeling guilty.
“That over-affection can be guilt-driven,” Henson points out. “They may be trying to compensate for what they know they’re doing behind your back.”
3. Growing Emotional Distance
Often, emotional withdrawal follows. A partner who was once engaged and involved may appear distant, disinterested or detached.
“They no longer want to do anything with you,” says Henson. “They’ve got a new flame, and their emotional energy is being directed elsewhere.”
Shared routines – from watching television together to planning weekends – may start to fall away, replaced by excuses, distractions and a reluctance to commit to joint plans.
4. Guilty Behaviour and Gaslighting
One of the more insidious signs is gaslighting – where the unfaithful party turns the suspicion back onto the innocent partner.
“They might start accusing you of having an affair,” Henson says. “It’s a way of deflecting and easing their own guilt.”
This projection can leave the faithful partner confused and emotionally destabilised, doubting their own instincts and even apologising for behaviour they have not engaged in.
5. Increased Secrecy and Unexplained Behaviour
A marked rise in secrecy around phones, messages and day-to-day movements can be a strong warning sign.
“They become secretive or display unusual and unexplained behaviour,” Henson explains. This might include:
- Hiding or changing phone passcodes
- Keeping screens tilted away
- Clearing message histories
- Offering vague or inconsistent accounts of where they have been
It is often the change from previous openness that signals trouble.
6. Never Around: Overtime and New Social Circles
Another frequent trend is a sudden surge in “overtime” or after-work socialising.
“You never see them anymore,” Henson says. “They start doing loads more overtime, going out with work after work, or socialising with other groups of people instead of you – and it’s not normal behaviour for them.”
While work can demand seasonal late nights, particularly in December, repeated unexplained absences – particularly when combined with other signs – can be a red flag.
7. Frequently Unavailable or Unreachable
A once-responsive partner becoming mysteriously unreachable is another common pattern.
“They might turn the phone off because they’re with someone else,” Henson explains. “Or they let it ring out because it’s on silent – and being unreachable is not a common trend for them usually.”
Sporadic communication, long periods without replies and flimsy explanations can all feed into mounting suspicion.
8. Your Gut Tells You Something Is Wrong
Arguably the most important indicator is the one many clients mention first: instinct.
“So many times, we have clients come to us because they’ve got a suspicion,” Henson says. “Their gut reaction is right – but the outcome they’ve jumped to isn’t always correct.”
He recalls a particularly poignant case where a client was convinced their partner was having an affair, based on noticeable behavioural changes. Titan’s investigation, however, uncovered a different – and heartbreaking – truth:
- The partner had lost their job.
- Overwhelmed with shame, they were unable to admit it.
- Instead, they spent the day sitting in a library, pretending to go to work.
“Gut reaction was right – something wasn’t right,” Henson explains. “But it wasn’t an affair.”
Even with exceptions like this, he estimates that in around 98% of cases, the client’s instinct that “something is wrong” proves to be 100% correct in principle, if not always in detail.
9. Sexual Relationship Changes Dramatically
The couple’s sexual connection is another area where change often appears.
“Sex suddenly changes,” Henson notes. “It’s either more frequent, because they want more, or it becomes non-existent because they’re getting what they want from somewhere else.”
Either extreme – a sudden spike or a complete drop-off – without a clear explanation can be significant, particularly in combination with other signs.
10. A New “Friend” Keeps Coming Up
In many cases, the person involved in the affair begins appearing in conversation long before any physical line is crossed.
“A new lover enters the picture,” says Henson. “You’ll find they talk about someone in particular more often as a ‘friend’. Their name keeps cropping up and cropping up.”
What is initially framed as a harmless workmate or social acquaintance can, over time, become a central figure in the partner’s life – and an emotional doorway to something more.
11. Overt Defensiveness
Finally, a partner who reacts defensively or aggressively to reasonable questions can raise serious concern.
“They’re overtly defensive to any questions you may ask,” Henson explains. Simple, calm queries about plans, colleagues or phone use can spark disproportionate anger, accusations or stonewalling.
Henson advises caution at this point: “Rather than escalating things and raising suspicions further by repeatedly asking questions and getting no real answers, this is often the stage where it’s better to bring in professionals to investigate quietly and objectively.”
How Titan Investigations Handles Christmas Party Surveillance
With the festive season now in full swing, Titan Investigations is already advising clients who fear their partner may cross a line at a company Christmas party.
“If you think this Christmas your other half is going to be cheating at a Christmas party, speak to us in the first instance,” Henson says. “We can put a structured plan in place.”
Surveillance Tactics and Costs
Typically, Titan deploys two surveillance operatives for mobile assignments.
- Two operatives are essential when following someone as they move from one location to another – for example, leaving a party venue and travelling on to a hotel, bar or private address.
- In some static scenarios, such as simply monitoring behaviour inside or around a single venue or hotel lobby, one operative may be sufficient.
Henson is transparent about the costs involved:
- Each operative is charged at £60 per hour plus VAT, totalling £72 per hour.
- There is a minimum deployment of five hours.
This means:
- One operative for five hours: £360 including VAT.
- Two operatives for five hours: £720 including VAT.
While not an insignificant outlay, Henson stresses that many clients find the clarity – whatever the outcome – invaluable for their emotional wellbeing and future decision-making.
Professional Help vs. Confrontation
The emotional turmoil of suspected infidelity is intense, made worse by the heightened expectations and pressure of the festive period. Henson cautions against confronting a partner repeatedly without evidence.
“What I suggest is you come to us and let us investigate it,” he says. “Rather than raising suspicions by asking lots of questions and not getting the answers you want.”
A discreet, professional investigation can:
- Confirm or dispel suspicions with factual evidence.
- Avoid explosive confrontations based on assumptions.
- Protect the client’s safety and emotional state during an already stressful time of year.
Titan PI TV: Raising Awareness and Offering Guidance
The Titan PI TV channel is designed to give the public an insight into “the inside workings of a live operational investigation agency”. From the Derby-based head office and nine additional offices across England, Titan offers nationwide coverage for individuals and businesses seeking answers.
In this latest episode, Henson signs off with a mixture of professionalism and empathy.
He invites viewers to:
- Give the video a thumbs up if they found it helpful.
- Subscribe to the Titan PI TV YouTube channel to avoid missing future episodes – a step that is, as he emphasises, completely free.
“I hope this isn’t happening to you,” he says in closing. “But if it is, please get in touch – and until next time, stay safe.”
If You Are Worried This Christmas
With one in three workplace affairs reportedly beginning at Christmas parties, the risk is far from hypothetical. If you recognise several of the warning signs Henson outlines – from sudden image overhauls and secretive phones to unexplained absences and gut-deep unease – it may be time to seek advice.
Titan Investigations offers:
- Discreet, professional surveillance tailored to your circumstances
- Clear pricing and transparent methods
- Nationwide coverage from Truro to Manchester
And for those wanting to understand more about how modern investigations work – and how to protect themselves from deception – the Titan PI TV YouTube channel and Titan PI TV Podcast provide regular, expert-led content.
This Christmas, while many celebrate, some will quietly confront one of the hardest questions a person can face: “Is my partner being faithful?”
If that question is weighing on you, you do not have to face it alone.
What’s Next on Titan PI TV?
Titan PI TV continues to grow steadily, with 3,060 subscribers and counting—a testament to the appetite for straight-talking guidance in a complex field. If you found Simon Henson’s insights useful, subscribe to the channel to catch future episodes. New content drops every Friday at 3:00 pm, offering grounded advice for investigators, agency owners, and professionals who work with them.
Thank you for reading, watching, or listening to this week’s blog post on Titan PI TV. For more expert advice and behind-the-scenes insights, subscribe to Titan PI TV on YouTube or download the Titan PI TV podcast wherever you get your podcasts. If you found this information helpful, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to our channel. Stay tuned for more insights into the world of private investigations. Until next time, stay safe and keep learning!
Titan PI TV: Uncovering the Truth, One Investigation at a Time.
