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I'm a journalist, ex-national papers, now working in what we call "new" media.
SUPPORT NEIL NUNES
So Radio 4 has hired a continuity announcer with a Jamaican accent and Middle Britain - or parts of it - is not too happy. Listeners with names like Christopher Robins and Timmy Wren have been visiting the BBC's site to say things like "The tones, modulation and pronunciation are just very uncomfortable for Radio 4," and "His voice was American-ish but grating, difficult to understand and not at all pleasant to listen to," and "A hard-edged American note also enters the mix from time to time. I suspect Caribbean origins".

Only Timmy, Christopher and their chums can tell us why they find a Jamaican accent so objectionable but I hope the BBC reacts appropriately - perhaps by giving Neil his own show, preferably at prime time.

6 comments:

pigatschmo said...

As an American living in California, my perspective is completely different. I thought he sounded either Scandinavian or Continental European. But that's great that he's Jamaican. I think regardless of where he's from the voice is reshreshingly different.

HotJon said...

The problem for me is not that he sounds Jamaican, but that he sounds so clipped and disjointed, like a 1950s Jamaican straight off the Windrush trying to get a job at the Home Office...JUST TALK NATURALLY!

Anonymous said...

Ethnicity doesn't have anything to do with it. His voice is distracting, forced and sounds like a bloke who's trying to talk posh. Get him off!

Anonymous said...

I have just heard Neil Nunes trying to read the news on the BBC World Service. He tripped over words on at least two occasions. Even more irritatingly, he delivers each word like a primary school pupil learning to read. I can think of few people less qualified to perform this function.

Anonymous said...

I have just heard Neil Nunes trying to read the news on the BBC World Service. He tripped over words on at least two occasions. Even more irritatingly, he delivers each word like a primary school pupil learning to read. I can think of few people less qualified to perform this function.

Anonymous said...

I think he sounds like the devil, so I'm a big supporter.