Charlie Haycock Digs out his anecdotes

Posted on 22nd June 2024

After Charlie Haycock’s hugely entertaining talk on dialects back in April, it came as no surprise that he, once again, enjoyed a full house for his return visit to the Corn Hall, regaling his audience with tales revolving around the making of The Dig, particularly his dealings with Ralph Fiennes, as the movie star grappled with the notoriously difficult Suffolk accent.

Determined to avoid sounding like a West Country pirate, Fiennes sought out Haycock’s help based on a YouTube video examining the history of spoken English while researching his role as Basil. What started as a two week contract went on for months, which Haycock recounted with humour and self- depreciation. We got to learn of their japes in local pubs, as Fiennes attempted to acclimatise himself to the accent and manners of the county. While care was taken to limit dialect in deference to an international audience this was as close to Basil Brown as anyone was going to get. Also revealed, though never expressly said, was the bond that obviously developed between the two men, Haycock’s admiration for the actor, and what jolly good fun Fiennes is.

We were treated to all manner of juicy anecdotes and a repeat performance of Haycock’s whistle stop accent tour of the country, but the highlight of the show was always going to be Haycock’s skill as a raconteur. My guess is that any subject he turned his hand to would be presented in a way that was engaging, humorous and educational. His audience having blown him one last kiss while trying to say cheese the Suffolk way, it only remained for them to form an orderly queue to buy his book. The only reason I didn’t join them was because I had already bought it last time.