VIEWERS of BBC hospital drama Casualty were left bemused by Pat St Clement’s accent when the former Eastenders starred as Irish patient Sally Hodge.
St Clement last appeared as the much-loved Pat Butcher in Eastenders in 2012.
In the latest instalment of Casualty, the 74-year-old actress appeared on Saturday night as an elderly Irish woman involved in a dramatic car explosion.
But it wasn’t the explosive nature of the episode that got viewers talking – rather St Clement’s attempt at an Irish accent.
I'm offended by Pat Butcher's fake Irish accent and I'm not even Irish #casualty
— Chris Lent (@MrChrisLent) March 11, 2017
#Casualty why oh why with the vast array of Irish actors of all ages out there do they have Pam St Clement faking an Oirish accent
— eileen cumiskey (@eileencum55) March 11, 2017
Pat Butcher's Irish accent on Casualty is nothing short of offensive ?
— Gavin (@GavLawler) March 11, 2017
One fan tweeted: “I’m offended by Pat Butcher’s fake Irish accent and I’m not even Irish.”
“Is Pat Butcher meant to be Irish or Welsh? I can’t tell,” said another.
*sigh* Is Pam St Clement trying to put on a foreign accent or a Welsh one? Either way it’s unconvincing. #Casualty
— Matthew Smith (@indigojo_uk) March 11, 2017
Pat Butcher is murdering an Irish accent on #casualty
— Noel McLoughlin (@Noeler87) March 11, 2017
Pat Butcher with a (dodgy) Irish accent is more than I can cope with today. It's fucking weird. #casualty
— Kate (@KT_Marsbar) March 11, 2017
Another horrified viewer wrote: ““Pat Butcher's character is off home to Newcastle. Erm, Wales, sorry. Maybe Dublin. Or Bristol. Anyone know where she's from?”
St Clement’s attempt at the Irish brogue was even compared to Robin Williams’ crime against the Scottish accent in the film Mrs Doubtfire.
“Old Pat Butcher sounding like Mrs Doubtfire,” read one tweet highlighting the similarity. “Her (dodgy) Irish accent is more than I can cope with today. It’s f****ng weird.”
