The Responder- Accents

[RFCbluenose]

Hi all. The wife and I have been watching the new BBC police drama The Responder, which is set in Liverpool for those who haven't seen it. It's not a bad show, in my opinion, but I'm wondering about the accents of the actors in it. I'm not expert to say the least, but the scouse accents in it don't seem very accurate, especially Martin Freeman's. But I could be totally wrong and wanted to know what you guys thought. For anyone that's seen it, are the accents accurate?

 

[tommye]

Dafuq lad?

 

[tommye]

Only proper scousers can do a scouse accent.
Any attempt to imitate is usually massively overplayed and just sounds crap

 

[AsiaAsia82]

Creasehead tries to sound scouse but is still born a wool

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

Proper scouse would need subtitles.
A bit like Rab C Nesbitt.

 

[RFCbluenose]

Only proper scousers can do a scouse accent.
Any attempt to imitate is usually massively overplayed and just sounds crap

Thought that might be the case. I'm Scottish so can understand that. I've spent my 42 years on this planet listening to actors mangle my accent with various ridiculous attempts.

 

[Charro]

They're fine accents.

People outside of liverpool still think we all speak like Cilla Black and Harry Enfield characters.

Thing with Liverpool is there's a massive difference between an accent from walton to an accent from Allerton so it's hard for anybody to nail but they've done as well as they can on this show.

 

[RFCbluenose]

Creasehead tries to sound scouse but is still born a wool

Pardon my ignorance mate, but what's a wool?

 

[RFCbluenose]

They're fine accents.

People outside of liverpool still think we all speak like Cilla Black and Harry Enfield characters.

Thing with Liverpool is there's a massive difference between an accent from walton to an accent from Allerton so it's hard for anybody to nail but they've done as well as they can on this show.

Fair enough. I thought I might be basing this on over exaggerated stereotypes. Wasn't sure though, that's why i thought I would ask the experts.

 

[kev]

Hi all. The wife and I have been watching the new BBC police drama The Responder, which is set in Liverpool for those who haven't seen it. It's not a bad show, in my opinion, but I'm wondering about the accents of the actors in it. I'm not expert to say the least, but the scouse accents in it don't seem very accurate, especially Martin Freeman's. But I could be totally wrong and wanted to know what you guys thought. For anyone that's seen it, are the accents accurate?

I haven't seen it, but according to Wiki, Martin Freeman was born in Aldershot and went to school in Surrey . . . so my guess is NO

 

[grandjoeblue]

I think Freeman's effort isn't bad at all. Some of the other characters are a bit off but the accent can vary quite a bit depending on area. Older people often don't sound the same especially in south Liverpool.

 

[Kurt.]

Who would intentionally want to sound scouse ?? Just the thought of it makes my teeth itch. Awful cackling and clearing your throat sounds … disgusting to be honest.

 

[Sweeneytoad]

I'd say Freemans is one of the best attempts at a scouse accent that I have seen on TV from a non-scouser. The actress that plays his wife in the show though, hers is awful.

 

[RFCbluenose]

I saw Alan Sugar's comment today saying that he doesn't get why the actors have scouse accents (despite it being set in Liverpool) as he can't understand anyone. He seems to be one of these characters that thinks that everyone in the UK should speak like they're from Landan.

 

[RFCbluenose]

I think Freeman's effort isn't bad at all. Some of the other characters are a bit off but the accent can vary quite a bit depending on area. Older people often don't sound the same especially in south Liverpool.

Good shout. That makes sense. I suppose it would be similar to someone being from the West end of Glasgow (the posher part) sounding different than someone from the East end (the not-quite-as-posh part).