‘You sound like Del Boy!’ The Serpent viewers poke fun at Jenna Coleman’s French accent after she learned to speak Quebecois for the role
She plays serial killer Charles Sobhraj’s love interest and accomplice Marie-Andrée Leclerc in BBC crime drama, The Serpent.
Yet viewers claimed they couldn’t get to grip with Jenna Coleman’s new accent, after she learned French-Canadian language, Quebecois, for the starring role.
The Serpent follows the horrific story of Sobhraj, who preyed on and murdered Western tourists throughout Southeast Asia during the 1970s.
Not loving it! viewers claimed they couldn’t get to grip with Jenna Coleman’s new accent, after she learned French-Canadian language, Quebecois, for the starring role in The Serpent
Fans drew comparison between Coleman’s French-Canadian accent and Only Fools and Horses icon Del Boy’s ‘dodgy’ version of the French language.
Other viewers noted that she pronounced Kashmir’s Dal Lake as ‘Dalek’, as they referenced her time as Dr Who’s companion Clara Oswald.
The Sun reported that the subtitles translated the line, ‘I’m giving you lots of big kisses’ as ‘I’m sick of Quebec’.
Plot: The Serpent follows the horrific story of Sobhraj, who preyed on and murdered Western tourists throughout Southeast Asia during the 1970s
One viewer tweeted: ‘Jenna, I love you but you sound like Del Boy doing his French accent in Only Fools and Horses. Please don’t speak again.’
They continued: ‘Might just mute this I’m not following along and the voices are painful I’ll simply enjoy Jenna’s face #TheSerpent.’
While another added: ‘Her fake French accent in English, and English accent in French, are appalling. Did BBC One not think us bilinguals would notice? Ruined The Serpent.’
A third said: ‘@JennaColeman just say ‘#Dalek was not even my boyfriend’. At leas it sounded very similar #TheSerpent #DoctorWho.’
One viewer tweeted: ‘Jenna, I love you but you sound like Del Boy doing his French accent in Only Fools and Horses. Please don’t speak again’
Opinion: Fans drew comparison between Coleman’s French-Canadian accent and Only Fools and Horses icon Del Boy’s ‘dodgy’ version of the French language
However not everyone believed that Jenna’s accent needed work, as some viewers complemented her on her skills and even asked if she spoke fluently.
One person said: ‘@EllieBamber The Serpent best thing I’ve watched for years @Jenna_Coleman.. do you both speak Dutch/French or have to wing it?’
A different social media user wrote: ‘Does @Jenna_Coleman speak fluent French? She’s b****y great in The Serpent. #bingewatching.’
Loved it! However not everyone believed that Jenna’s accent needed work, as some viewers complemented her on her skills and even asked if she spoke fluently
Jenna previously spoke of taking on the challenge of learning the language for the new role.
She told Virgin Radio’s The Chris Evans Breakfast Show: ‘It’s one thing being an English person speaking French but to convincingly be so among French actors was insane.
‘I had an incredible coach. He taught me the English-French and also French-Canadian.
‘It’s all different pronunciation which apparently to French people sound very different.’
Tricky: Jenna previously spoke of taking on the challenge of learning the language for the new role