Martin plays Welsh farmer Nathan in the drama (Image: ITV)
ITV’s new drama Out There, featuring Martin Clunes as Welsh farmer Nathan Williams, has made its debut.
The gritty series premiered on Sunday 19 January, immediately captivating ITV audiences with its raw depiction of county lines drug trafficking and the challenges faced by Nathan in his rural community.
However, Martin Clunes’ attempt at a Welsh accent has not gone down well with viewers, who were quick to voice their opinions on social media after the show aired.
“As a Welsh person, this welsh accent is poor. Martin, you’re great but the accent is really off putting. I can’t watch it #OutThere,” one viewer expressed disappointment on X.
Another chimed in: “I mean, there are a number of distinct Welsh accents but this is none of them. #OutThere,” while another remarked: “Martin Clunes Welsh accent is bad but not bad like Stephen Graham’s in White House Farm #OutThere.”
Viewers criticised the actor’s peformance (Image: ITV)
One frustrated fan pointed out: “#OutThere The thing that most annoys me about the accent is that it’s the only thing people are tweeting about.”
Yet, some came to Martin’s defence, with one Welsh viewer stating: “I’m Welsh. I have no problem with it. There are so many different accents in Wales.”
Beyond the accent controversy, the show’s opening episode also left viewers reeling from a particularly gruesome scene, reports .
Nathan, after a harrowing phone call, rushes to locate a woman named Gwen (Sharon Morgan), who is frantically yelling and gesturing towards a sealed barn. Inside, he finds an old man barricaded with a shotgun.
Certain scenes left fans distressed (Image: ITV)
Attempting to negotiate with the man through a small opening in the door, Nathan’s efforts are cut short by the sound of the shotgun firing, followed by visuals of the barn splattered with blood.
Viewers, taken aback by the intense scene, took to X, the platform that has taken over from Twitter, to voice their reactions. One viewer remarked, “I know they advertised this as ‘gritty’ but this is depressing,” while another commented, “Think this might be too stressful #outthere.”
Out There episode two airs on ITV1 on January 20 at 9pm, with the full box set also available to watch now on ITVX