by Andy Gibbons

I’ve just heard Mark Lawson’s interview with Russell Crowe in which the BBC man suggests that Crowe’s accent in Robin Hood has a certain Irish tilt. Crowe – who’s not known for taking criticism well – takes great offence at Lawson’s claim, insisting that presenter has ‘dead ears’, then he swears a bit before eventually walking out.

I have to say that as much as I liked Robin Hood, I think Lawson is being generous as anyone who’s seen the film will know that Russell doesn’t just sound a bit Irish, he goes on a full on regional tour. I’m sure I picked up a West County twang, Irish brogue and Geordie timbre before Crowe settles somewhere north of Coventry. 

I think the reason Crowe got a bit moody is that the penny has dropped that the accent hasn’t quite worked as he intended and instead of laughing it off, super serious Russ has got his tights in a twist.