A A Gill on James Nesbitt playing Dr Jekyll, in the Sunday Times

[devi]

"I suspect the Irish accent has a lot to do with the success of his characterisation. It is a Jekyll-and-Hyde voice. He's blarney and craic and Terry Wogan, but also the voice from behind the balaclava, the code-word warning and sectarian bile."

Wait, what?

Comments

[juggzy.livejournal.com]

Hey. It's all about fighting the good fight against the forces of imperial darkness.

Now, despite Rob wotsisname, the Welsh accent is still seen as a signifier of slightly naff, singing far too often, etc, and although "taffy was a Welshman" would be frowned upon these days, the idea that the Welsh are small, dark, and larcenous still prevails. It's a bit like a Brit in Hollywood.

Oh yes. My lot is far more picked upon than your lot.

At least we can both look down on the Scots.

Thank God for Charlotte Church, say I.

[bluedevi.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, and there are all those lazy cheap shots about dubious relationships with sheep. I'd still be surprised to see that in a supposedly serious Sunday paper, though, with the larcenous bit especially emphasised.

And OK, it's AA Gill, he has a reputation for being poisonous, but I thought he was usually poisonous at individuals rather than whole countries...

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

And OK, it's AA Gill, he has a reputation for being poisonous, but I thought he was usually poisonous at individuals rather than whole countries.

I have a suspicion that many of these writers who pretend to be unpleasant actually are unpleasant. Writing just gives them a socially accepted outlet for it.

[khalinche.livejournal.com]

Oi!

I thought we were all supposed to unite in hating the English, id only in the hugging-and-cups-of-tea way outlined below.