EXCLUSIVE Sarcastic Hull locals question Wonka star Timothy Chalamet’s praise for the way they speak, declaring ‘I think he was obviously joking’
- READ MORE: Timothée Chalamet reveals the British accent he thinks is sexy
- MailOnline visited Humberside city for reaction to Wonka star’s comments
Sarcastic residents in Hull have questioned the sincerity of Willy Wonka star Timothee Chalamet’s claims the city had the sexiest accent in the UK.
In an interview with LadBible, the actor was asked by Keegan-Michael Key about which accents he is attracted to.
Chalamet replied: ‘I like the Hull accent.’ When the audience burst into laughter, he said: ‘Why is everyone cracking up? Hull is sexy.’
The French-American performer also revealed he loves the vocal tones of people from Essex and a ‘middle-aged northern accent’.
MailOnline visited the Humberside city for their reaction to Chalamet’s comments and found a mixed bag of opinions.
In an interview with LadBible, Timothee Chalamet’ was asked by Keegan-Michael Key about which accents he is attracted to, to which he replied ‘Hull’
Some gave a positive response to the celebrity’s views. Born and bred in Hull, Ellie Johnston, 18, was delighted her local accent had got world wide recognition.
She said: ‘I am very happy with it. He is not wrong. I was not sure it was a sexy accent until he confirmed it. But it is recognition for us all.
‘It is a bit specific coming from someone who is not from Hull. I went to see Wonka last night and was looking out for anyone with a Hull accent.
‘Or someone who was at least from Hull. It must have been someone on the set he overheard speaking.’
Others confessed they hated the way they talked and believe the Hollywood A lister’s remarks were part of a running international joke at the expense of their home city.
Born and bred in Hull, Ellie Johnston, 18, was delighted her local accent had got world wide recognition
Holly North, 31, said: ‘I grew up here apart from a small stint in Sheffield. I think he is joking to be honest. We have been told our accent has been terrible for so long.
‘Being paired with the Essex accent is not that great. If he means it genuinely I will take it as a complement but I don’t know if I believe it myself.
A number of locals questioned when and where Chalamet would have heard the accent.
Ms North continued: ‘Also, when did he hear the Hull accent. I feel he has just seen on line people make fun of it and is joining in the joke, but I don’t know.
‘My voice never works on my phone. So they still need to fix that. I need to put on a posh accent to make it work.
‘It is nice to know he knows Hull exists. I was quite shocked to hear Hull come out of his mouth.’
Holly North, 31, questioned when and where Chalamet would have heard the Hull accent
Sofie Bentley, 31, working on the Bagel Factory stall in Hull city centre, said she ‘cringed’ every time she heard an accent from the Yorkshire port city on TV.
READ MORE: Hull locals jokingly warn Willy Wonka star Timothee Chalamet he will be ‘savaged by middle-aged women’ if he ever visits
She said: ‘I think it is ridiculous. I have been here 31 years since I was eight. I lived with a mate who had a very thick Hull accent so I soon picked it up and never got rid of it.
‘Now, I have a five year old and she has a right dirty Hull accent. When you hear it on TV it makes you cringe. I don’t mind it – but I would not say it was sexy.’
Roxy Lebedynska agreed and added: ‘I think he was obviously joking as well. Even local series like Hull-raisers do not get it right – the accent on the show is more Leeds.
‘When I was in Germany recently they could not understand what I was saying to them. They spoke English so I apologised “It’s just my accent I promise you”,
‘My partner is from down south and he mimics me all the time. I don’t like my accent. When you hear it on video it makes all the girls sound like blokes.’
Sofie Bentley, 31, working on the Bagel Factory stall in Hull city centre, said she ‘cringed’ every time she heard an accent from the Yorkshire port city on TV
Roxy Lebedynska said no one could understand her when she travelled to Germany recently because of her accent
Lucy Beaumont, who is from Hull originally and wrote the sitcom ‘Hullraisers’, said she was baffled as to why he would find it attractive.
Facts about Kingston Upon Hull: Aka Hull
- The city is home to ‘England’s smallest window’ at the George Hotel. The window is 10″ x 1″ and is said to have been used by the gatekeeper of the Hotel
- Beverley Gate: The remains of the Beverley Gate are where in 1642 Sir John Hotham refused Charles 1 entry in an act of defiance that is widely considered the spark that ignited the English Civil War
- White Telephone Boxes: Hull is the only place in the country not to have BT provide its telephone services. The Hull Telephone Department was launched in 1904, later becoming Kingston Communications.
- Founding member of the FA 1862 Ebenezer Cobb Morley was born and lived in the city. He drafted the original rules of the game.
- The city is home to the Humber Bridge, the world’s longest leisure bridge
Speaking to BBC Radio 5Live, Beaumont said: ‘I think he’s on drugs.
‘I’ve had this accent for 40 years and no one has ever told me it’s sexy.
‘He looks like a very lovely young man and he should stay away from the region or he’ll be savaged by middle-aged Hull women.’
A number of locals concurred with the writer from their home city. Esne Stagg, 31, said: ‘A lot of people do not think anything to do with Hull is sexy let alone the way we speak. But I like the accent so I agree with him.
‘It was a very strange thing to say though. But whether he was joking or not the recognition we are getting is wonderful.’
Charlotte Wardle, 23, added: ‘Personally, I don’t think it is sexy. I don’t know why he said it. I feel Hull does get forgotten about. It is kind of normal to me so I don’t take a lot of notice of it.
‘I have always been in Hull so I have never had problems with people understanding me.’
In the bustling St Stephen’s shopping centre, some women confessed they were actually ashamed of the way they spoke.
One mum added: ‘My daughter struggled when she moved to Leeds because she kept getting the Micky taken out of her about the way she said things. I don’t know where he gets sexy from.’
Leonie Fawms, 21, said: ‘I think it is bland. It depends on what part of Hull your are from. I am from Orchard Park (a large local council estate) and I sound chavvy. My boyfriend talks a lot nicer.
‘I am typical Hull – I miss out my ‘h’s. When I say ‘I-am-off-ome’ it comes out as all one world. I can’t imagine him and Carly Jenna having a conversation about Hull.’
Chalamet was supported by his girlfriend Kylie Jenner on Sunday night as she attended the Los Angeles premiere of his new film Wonka.
Kylie and Timothee, 27, were first romantically linked in April after reportedly hitting it off at a Paris fashion event months earlier
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