Jane Austen Characters Didn’t All Speak Posh, Says TV Producer Jane Tranter

1 June 2025

Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in the 1995 TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Producer Jane Tranter has called on actors to stop automatically adopting ‘posh’ accents in period dramas. Photograph: Moviestore Collection Ltd/Alamy

At the 2025 Hay Festival, veteran British television producer Jane Tranter sparked conversation among literature and film lovers alike by challenging the conventional portrayal of speech in period dramas. Tranter, whose impressive résumé includes producing acclaimed series such as Succession, His Dark Materials, and Industry, called for a fresh, more authentic approach to the voices we hear in adaptations of historical fiction especially those set in the world of Jane Austen.

Speaking to a packed audience, Tranter pointed out that not every character in Austen’s era would have spoken with what we now consider a "posh" accent. According to her, the tendency in British television and film to default to upper-class mannerisms and receive pronunciation when depicting the past is both historically inaccurate and emotionally distancing. "It creates a kind of false wall between the viewer and the character," she said. "We forget that these were real people with regional accents, varying education levels, and different ways of expressing themselves."

Tranter argued that Austen's work, often associated with a genteel and elegant version of English society, has been boxed into a stereotype that doesn’t reflect the nuanced range of voices and perspectives Austen actually portrayed. “Just because it's Austen doesn’t mean everyone in it spoke like they were from Eton,” she joked. Austen herself was a keen observer of human behavior and class dynamics, and her novels are filled with characters from a variety of backgrounds, not just the nobility.

Tranter’s latest project is a BBC adaptation of The Other Bennet Sister, a novel by Janice Hadlow published in 2020 that reimagines the life of Mary Bennet, the oft-ignored, bookish middle sister in Pride and Prejudice. Rather than relying on the usual tropes of costume drama, polished accents, polished silver, and stifling formality this adaptation will bring more emotional realism and accessibility to the story. Tranter explained that the team behind the show wants to give Mary her voice in a way that feels true to life and emotionally authentic, not staged or overly stylized.

Set in the breathtaking Lake District, the adaptation will also incorporate the atmosphere and ideals of the Romantic period, drawing influence from poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge. Tranter emphasized that this natural and emotional landscape was important in shaping Mary Bennet's growth, and the production will use these elements to bring new depth and richness to her story.

The project also aims to challenge the “fetishizations of the period,” as Tranter put it. She argued that too many period dramas focus more on corsets and candlelight than the complex emotional and social experiences of the characters. “We’re not just dressing actors up and having them speak in stiff tones,” she said. “We’re telling a human story.”

This isn't the first time Tranter has pushed for change in the industry. As one of the most influential figures in British television, she has often advocated for more diversity in casting, writing, and production. With The Other Bennet Sister, she hopes to continue this effort by making the world of Jane Austen feel more real and more relatable to contemporary audiences.

In a world where period dramas are increasingly expected to reflect modern values while staying true to history, Tranter’s remarks serve as a timely reminder that authenticity doesn’t mean elitism. Sometimes, it means daring to give characters the voices they might have actually had.