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Sun, 23 Aug 2026

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 'I didn't speak the Queen's English': Why people worry about their accents

A survey on attitudes towards accents suggests that so-called "accent bias" is still an issue in many workplaces.

* One in 10 people in Britain feel anxious or self-conscious about their accent in high-stakes professional settings.
* Accent-related anxiety is highest among Geordies (19%), followed by those with an east London/Cockney accent (18%) and Welsh accents (17%).
* Around 5% of respondents believe their accent has cost them a promotion, pay rise or senior role.
* Brummies (people from Birmingham) are the most likely to feel this way, at 13%.
* West Country accents are often mocked or criticised by colleagues (15%), followed by Geordie accents (13%).