There was a time when I genuinely thought that an RP accent meant sounding like Robert Pattison when he tries to sound distant, stroppy and American for four Twilight movies. It wasn’t until coming to uni that I realised it stood for something else, when it was pointed out that I was an RP minority in my new friendship group. Now, I enjoy a joke over the pronunciation of words such as ‘bath’ and ‘last’ as much as the next Southern person, but reading an article today about a case of accent prejudice made me think a little more deeply.
This week it was revealed that Stephanie McGovern, the main business presenter for BBC Breakfast, has received numerous prejudiced letters, emails and tweets concerning her accent. Some viewers even went as far as to tell her that she belonged on a council estate rather than on television. What is more appalling is the fact that one senior BBC employee told her that he “didn’t realise people like you were clever”. Insinuating that somebody is or isn’t clever because of the way they speak, rather than listening to what they’re saying, is just plain rude.
I would wholly support the polite letter that one viewer sent to McGovern suggesting she should have some correction therapy sessions if, every time she opened her mouth, a stream of incomprehensible noise came gushing out, followed by awkward silence from other presenters. Of course this isn’t the case and McGovern’s speech is perfectly recognisable. The reality is that she says ‘France’ not ‘Frarrrnce’ when she reads her autocue.
Personally, I have always been stereotyped as a posh person, because I have one of those voices that you would expect to find broadcasting on the radio in the 1950s. To say the least, it somewhat irks me that I’m branded as some sort of out-of-touch, middle class woman when the reality is actually very different, so I can imagine how frustrating it must be for McGovern to be told she seems too common for television.
Acutely aware that I may sound like the next Katie Hopkins, I believe that there is a small case for defence buried somewhere beneath all this arrogance and it comes in the form of the North-South divide. Think of every Northern stereotype you possibly can – I’m talking flat caps, tweed jackets, mushy peas – the lot. And now think of every Southern stereotype – rich, unfriendly and a little stuck up (well, you only need to hang around the Canary Wharf tube station long enough to prove that one correct actually). The point is that the problem isn’t that people can’t understand McGovern’s accent when she explains the Eurozone crisis, nor is it that she isn’t clever enough to do so. The problem lies in the perceptions of the UK population which alter their idea of what Northerners are like – less cultured or well educated than somebody south of Peterborough for example.
The socio-economic divide between the North and South isn’t something that can be changed overnight and perhaps it never will, seeing as the political and financial capital is in the South East. Certain prejudices and stereotypes will undoubtedly continue to exist between different regions. However, what BBC viewers (and bosses) need to realise, is where to draw the line between playful banter over ‘correct’ pronunciation and what can be considered disparaging and spiteful complaints.