I've been watching the earlier episodes on i-player, and don't know if I'm going mad, but she sounds more american in the first few episodes, then american and her normal, then just normal

Don't you mean Irish, rather than American? But yes, you're right, the Irish accent is very clear at some points, but not at others.

I've lived in quite a few places and my original accent comes and goes quite a lot. I don't really notice it changing.

Some people's accents are very fluid. John Barrowman is a great example. He is entirely Scottish when talking to his parents and entirely American when talking to everyone else.

apparently she lived in Ireland for quite a while and her Irish 'twang' does come through - it seems when she is in a more casual or relaxed situation. There is a thread somewhere with a link to her having a conversation in the car where she suddenly has a strong Irish accent.

Sometimes it sounds as if she's just putting it on, it's not there one second and the next it is :s

Just is speaking Irish just now!

It totally amused me just then!

i was hearing it during the interviews and it took me by surprise, her mouth was moving, but surely it must have been someone else talking!

Tonight's shows are the first time I have ever heard an Irish twang!

in one of the interviews she spoke purely in an Irish accent then when she came out it and sat with the others it was almost cockney!

Yes ... that was so bizarre in the interviews how she suddenly went completely Irish ... I think it must be a nervous thing ...

I have been noticing this for ages! I think it is a nervous thing, i first noticed it in the shopping channel task.

In The Final Five, we met her parents who are Irish and whose accent was quite strong.

I must say I'd never noticed Lorraine's Irish twang before tonight.

I agree its probably a nerves thing, although I am pretty sure she was 100% Irish throughout the first 3 or 4 episodes.

I noticed she started slipping into an American accent as well.

Yes, she did use her (natural?) Irish accent during some of the interviews and yes, I agree with people that there was a touch of American in there too! LOL Maybe nerves got hold of her and she couldn't control her accent. It was rather amusing to hear.

I thought it was more Irish coming out of her. Maybe she does her Irish voice when in a tense situation.

she went irish a couple of times in youre fired
I found it really surprising, I had never heard it before

I didn't like it really. And it's hypocritical of me because at one time I was like that too. Some people didn't know which part of the country I was from because of my different accents. I'm alright now though. I stick with my 'ampshire' accent.

I only noticed her Irish "brogue"tonight.
i thought she looked so much better on YF and came across very well..in fact all three of them did.

It was really starting to freak me out - she flips from normal (which I can't place) to Irish to American.

It's weird, but also a bit funny.

Guess it happens when you move about.

It's not as bad as Kate's fake forced accent

Why would anybody fake a Brummy accent?

She looks very attractive without the glasses.

you say you have noticed the accent thing for ages, then say you first noticed it in the shopping channel task, you do realise that was only last week

I did notice her accent changing a couple of times yesterday. Just for the duration of about one sentence!

It sounded american to me too but I'm really rubbish at identifying accents.

The 'r' is emphasised more with an American accent, as it is too with an Irish one. Come to think of it, I have a Hampshire accent and my 'r' is emphasised, as is a pirates or a Farmer. Very difficult accent there that Lorraine showed, it's not anything one can identify with really.

I noticed this too! She suddenly leapt into an Irish accent - quite amusing But it suited her