On pronunciation and posh accent

[Sylph]

He is a national treasure, but is certainly posher than the Queen. This is more typical of him, though he is completely engrossing when he discusses art history. I have him explaining the decoration and purpose of Saint Chapelle in Paris; a masterclass given in cut-glass. However, it does not seem to be on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq9IInCfNrs&feature=fvw

Mike

You mean this?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7824368847023388682#

[knight66]

Thanks for trying; but it tells me the video is not available.

Mike

[Sylph]

I just simply googled it. It works for me, I don't know why it doesn't work for you.  Perhaps try to search for The Naked Pilgrim using Google Video.

[bwv 1080]

Shelby Foote, definitely

http://www.youtube.com/v/gBghmvRMluY

[Sylph]

http://www.youtube.com//v/-tlBMcfphtA

[Sylph]

Watch Sewell call Palazzo Pitti "an ugly, heavily rusticated prison of a palace":

http://www.youtube.com/v/PuaesbfBEoQ

[knight66]

He is a national treasure, said to be more posh than The Queen. I thoroughly recommend his preceding TV series; 'The Naked Pilgrim.'

Hr detested the director of this second series, 'The Grand Tour'. He said the man was so literal, any scripted item had to be illustrated visually, so if dancers were mentioned, the director insisted there be dancers all dressed up for a 15 second clip. He said he was made to do lots of things he did not want to. The earlier series is more relaxed and discursive. He really makes me want to visit the places he loves.

He is great fun and often ruefully pokes fun at himself. He is also a really distinguished art historian and his comment on the exterior of the Pitti was apt.

Mike

[Sylph]

He is sensational!

The "only man who makes the Queen sound common" comment comes from John Humphrys' book Lost for Words. And it's true, especially since her pronunciation changed so much in her 50-year reign.

I didn't know he hated the director? Where did he say that?! I remember the two of them chatting in his Mercedes in one episode and Brian saying how a lot of those TV directors are idiots or something like that. And then the camera guy (the director?) said: Do you think the director of this documentary is an idiot too? It was weird.

Yes, the Pitti palace is hideous.

[knight66]

He was interviewed on radio. He is of an age and frame of mind to say exactly what he thinks. I got the impression it had been such a trial to him that he was unlikely to agree to any further series.

Mike

[Herman]

He is a national treasure, said to be more posh than The Queen. [...] He is also a really distinguished art historian

Looks to me Sewell is not an art historian, but an arts journalist, with titillation and voyeurism as two main ingredients.

and as to his ridiculous accent: the queen has indeed been on the record for 50 years, and so people say she's changed. But I'm pretty sure Sewell has been laying it on rather more thickly  over the years ("hia" = "here") because it sells more shows.

he's the familiar British figure of the sellout (pseudo)aristocrat

[knight66]

Perhaps try reading him. He  held a post at the Courtauld Institute at the same time as Anthony Blunt. He was an expert and carried out the required research. He was also employed by Christies as an expert in old masters.

Of course, you don't have to like him. But his art history credentials are genuine. He is not merely a commentator.

Mike

[Jay F]

I was wondering whether the GMG members could tell me whether they have a person who they associate with posh, upper received pronunciation (UPR) accent, someone whose pronunciation they especially admire together with the timber of his or her voice? Any actors, news readers, voice-over artists, politicians, celebrities...?

Obviously, I mean British people.

You Dahncy.

Of course, I am American and require CC to watch anything in English English.

[Grazioso]

Mrs. Slocombe from Are You Being Served? discussing her cat, of course

http://www.youtube.com/v/Wwo1mXZTZgI