Marian Keyes was ‘corroded with pain’ by terrible Irish accents in TV dramas

Marian Keyes has bemoaned terrible Irish accents in TV and film, saying that watching the new Netflix drama Bodkin left her “corroded with pain”.

The Irish author has just signed a deal with Netflix for the adaptation of Grown Ups, her novel published in 2020. She will be an executive producer – and said one of her key requests on the production will be for authentic accents.

“We’re going to be filming in Ireland, which is always nice with an Irish book.

“It would be so, so nice if they used people who could do Irish accents properly,” she told an audience at the Hay Festival.

She joked: “Have you watched that show, Bodkin? The accents – I weep. I’m corroded with pain. The fact they have 32 counties’ accents in this tiny area of West Cork… So if I really am executive producer and it actually means anything, I’m going to make a plea for the accents.”

Bodkin is about two US podcasters who team up with a journalist to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three people in a quaint town in West Cork. Most of the townspeople are played by Irish actors, but that is no guarantee of an authentic regional accent.

Jamie Dornan, who was born in Co Down, Northern Ireland, was ridiculed for his accent in the Hollywood film Wild Mountain Thyme, in which he co-starred with Emily Blunt. The Twitter account for Dublin Airport said: “There’s fashion police. Grammar police. We even have airport police. Is there such a thing as accent police? If so, somebody better call ‘em.”