The BBC crime drama This City Is Ours returned to screens on Monday night (November 2) with a brand new episode, but viewers were left distracted by some of the cast's Liverpool accents.
The Liverpool-based series, which has been hailed as a masterpiece within the genre since its first series aired in 2025, stars Mike Noble, James Nelson-Joyce, Laura Aikman and Hannah Onslow. The second series follows Michael Kavanagh as he is drawn back into the Phelan criminal empire, its operations and violence.
Viewers Question Scouse Accents
In the fourth episode, Michael struggled to maintain control while Ozzie manipulated Freddie down a dark path. However, fans at home could not help but be distracted by some of the accents on screen.
One viewer questioned the accents of characters Diana, Rachel and Cheryl, posting on X: "Surely they could have had Scouse actresses play these parts!!" Another replied: "Pains me as a Scouser hearing it Scouse girls don't sound like that." A third added: "Same! It goes right through me!"
Another fan wrote of the character Diana: "Diana having such a big part in this series was a mistake. The goody-two-shoes act ruined the storyline. Her 'Scouse' accent is somewhere between Derby and Nottingham." A fifth commented: "Cheryl's accent. She sounds like a terrible Cilla Black."
Mixed Reactions and Praise
Not all feedback was negative, as one viewer wrote: "Julie Graham's accent though is really f****** good!! She needs to give lessons!" Another added: "Their accents seem to be better this series ngl."
Meanwhile, in a recent interview with the ECHO, James Nelson-Joyce shared what it is like filming in Liverpool. The actor said embracing the personality of the city has been key to the show's success.
He said: "It looks very filmic. When the show came out, places we shot in like The Quarter were all fully booked up because people want to come to Liverpool and experience it. That's what we want, isn't it? We want people to come to our city, to visit and experience it."
"I think the beautiful thing about this show is that we have an opportunity to showcase Liverpool. The tourism that we've brought in is only a good thing, isn't it?"
This City Is Ours airs on BBC One and is available on iPlayer.
