Martin Freeman spent 'all day' talking with Liverpool accent for The Responder role
Martin Freeman has recalled speaking in a Liverpool accent "all day" to perfect his character PC Chris Carson's voice in BBC drama The Responder.
Martin Freeman stayed in a Liverpool accent "all day" while filming The Responder.
The 54-year-old actor was praised for his portrayal of troubled PC Chris Carson in the acclaimed BBC series and explained that he left no stone unturned in his attempts to nail his alter ego's Scouse accent.
Speaking on Friday's (16.01.26) episode of The Graham Norton Show, Martin said: "The acid test is pleasing people from that place and as long as no one wants to hurt me because it is bad, I am happy.
"I'm not a w**** actor, but I actually stayed in the accent all day. It's a muscle and very physical and I didn't want to watch it in a year's time and be thinking, 'I could have worked harder.'"
Despite Martin's acclaimed accent, it was revealed last year that The Responder – which was created by former Merseyside Police officer Tony Schumacher - won't be returning for a third series any time soon as it was rested by the BBC due to scheduling issues.
An insider told The Sun newspaper's TVBiz column: "The BBC are really invested in the series but due to schedules the show has had to be put on ice.
"Tony is currently working on another project but there is hope a third series will be made at some point in the future."
Freeman had previously suggested that he would be willing to reprise the role for a third series if it was "an artistically good idea".
The Office actor told Collider: "The show feels like something outside of us now. It's something we wouldn't want to mess up, as a separate entity from ourselves, almost.
"But as Tony said, I think if it was absolutely right and genuinely an artistically good idea to do more, then absolutely."
Meanwhile, Martin plays the role of Superintendent Battle in Agatha Christie's Seven Dials and had "great fun" starring in the 1920s-set Netflix mystery series.
The Sherlock star said: "I didn't know these characters as they are from the early novels. The story is set in a weird place in time. It is the Roaring Twenties, which was mired in the grief and loss of World War I.
"It has an authentic '20s voice that still feels good to our modern ears. It is funny and moving and was great fun to do."
The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One and iPlayer on Friday 16th January at 10.40pm.
