In the 1940s, Wilfred Pickles became the first newsreader on the BBC with a regional accent.
Why did the BBC choose a regional newsreader at that time?
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Presumably to confuse Ze Germans who were listening in.
That’s a good guess. Ze Germans might struggle with a Yorkshire accent. But it’s not that.
Though it is related to the Germans.
As a counter to William Joyce AKA “Lord Haw Haw” who had a snooty accent and was doing the German propaganda. They wanted their announcers to seem more like real working people.
That wasn’t quite it either.
We’ll tell you.
They figured it would be tougher for the Germans to fake a Yorkshire accent.