Awful Scottish accent? But he really is a Scot...
FANS of new BBC drama The Nest have criticised the ‘ unbelievable’ Scottish accent of one of its stars – even though he was born and raised near Glasgow.
In the new BBC1 drama, Martin Compston – best known for playing Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott in Line Of Duty – stars as Dan, a wealthy Glaswegian who hires a surrogate to provide a baby for him and his wife, played by Sophie Rundle.
However, some viewers were unconvinced by his accent and took to social media to complain. ‘Why is Martin Compston putting on that ridiculous
Scottish accent?’ asked John Joyce. Carole Fletcher agreed, tweeting: ‘Loving the new show The Nest but the accent I can’t take seriously.’
Dale Meachan thought Compston’s voice undermined the drama, writing: ‘Thoroughly enjoyed The Nest although someone needs to tell Martin Compston that his Scottish accent isn’t believable.’
And Keith McIntosh, added: ‘I did feel that the Scottish accent was sl i ghtly forced and maybe not authentic for the part you were playing! But good effort though.’
But Compston, 35, was born in Greenock, a town just 25 miles northwest of Glasgow, and as a teenager even played professional football for local Scottish Third Division side Greenock Morton.
And he has spoken warmly of being able to use his real accent in the series. ‘We’re at a point now where people are being a lot more openminded to what we would term as “regional dramas”,’ he said.
‘It was very liberating to be on a set and not be worried about someone saying, “Could you just clip the T on that?” or “Can you change that?” or “What does that mean?” That’s very freeing as an actor.’
The confusion may have come about because Compston is so closely associated with Line Of Duty’s DS Arnott, a Londoner. For that role, he has spoken of how he maintains the accent for the full duration of filming, admitting: ‘Living for three months as an Englishman can start to mess with your head a wee bit.’
Compston now lives with his wife Tianna Chanel Flynn, an American actress, in Las Vegas.