Birmingham Accent Ranked Most Hated in BBC's Secret Table

Veteran BBC correspondent Kate Adie revealed the existence of an unofficial BBC league table ranking British accents, where the Birmingham accent was the most disliked. Despite the Birmingham accent's unpopularity, Adie noted that accents are a complex matter in the UK, with perceptions varying widely. The Geordie accent, by contrast, was generally well-liked. Adie's disclosure was made during an event at the University of Sunderland, where she also discussed her career and an archive documenting her work. The preference for received pronunciation (RP) remains prevalent in UK broadcasting, illustrating an ongoing accent bias in media. Adie highlighted how this bias has historically led to complaints when regional accents were used in news broadcasts, underscoring societal attitudes toward different accents.