My original post was just to point out that some people in Essex do actually talk like that. Admittedly in retrospect looking at where Claverley is and where he went to school I think it's unlikely that Jamie is not putting it on to some degree. But it doesn't bother me, as I said it's part of the sales pitch. I am, I have to be honest, suspicious of prejudice on the basis of how someone talks because it is just that, a prejudice. Is he a nob for talking like that? Well, it works for him. I think I would come undone in criticising him since my own accent and original vocabulary isn't a million miles away, but not in the 'pukka' league I'll admit.
I don't think he will be the first person to modify the way he talks whilst on television. I would be interested to know how many of his critics though are actually from the South East or Essex - is there not an element of regional snobbery going on here? How different would it be if I criticised Jimmy Nail for his use of colourful regional language for example?
