My northern accent got complaints on Radio 3!
TO MANY, she’s the bright and breezy breakfast presenter on Saturday morning radio.
But some snobby Radio 3 listeners have complained about Elizabeth Alker’s northern accent.
The host of Unclassified and the Breakfast show is from Rochdale in Lancashire, and lives in West Yorkshire.
And she admits her voice has upset some who tune into the BBC’S classical music station.
Elizabeth, 42, revealed: “Everyone in the public eye gets trolled, but one listener told me, ‘Working-class accents don’t belong on Radio 3’.
“There’s so much to unpack in that statement.”
She added: “Yes, some people do find it quite jarring, thinking it doesn’t feel natural. But I think it’s based on an historical association. If you think about a northern, female voice, there’s not that much power associated with that. I just feel even more galvanised to change people’s perception.” Both of her parents were music teachers and growing up she learned the recorder, clarinet and piano, although she was not encouraged to pursue a soloist career.
She said: “I was more interested in music journalism and mostly from the writing side.”
The rising star of BBC radio, who started her presenting career on 6 Music, admits to having been on a “journey” with her northern tones.
“It is a Lancashire accent, not a Yorkshire accent but I’m living in West Yorkshire, and I’m married to someone from Yorkshire. I’ve completely sold out now.”
Asked if she had altered it to talk about classical music, she replied: “Well, it has changed, yes. I had to find a way to talk about classical music with my accent and in the way that I would naturally speak. When I was growing up we weren’t always talking about Haydn quartets, or similar.” But she added: “I try to throw in very northern turns of phrase and mix those with an explanation of a classical piece. The aim is making it inviting to listen to and welcoming to everybody.”
Elizabeth is excited by the upcoming Gateshead Prom, which announced its new season last week.
She said: “It’s just been such a successful move to go up there and it really feels like Gateshead and the Glass House, as the venue is called, have been so welcoming and embraced the whole Prom.”
Elizabeth will present Unclassified Live at London’s Southbank Centre on Wednesday at 8pm.