So are the beeb now saying it wasn't a technical fault - as they said previously - but the actors fault? Which would mean what they said about the technical fault was an - errm - 'error' on their part, there was no fault?! Odd though considering the sound was better the second day.
I frankly think it's very bad form to blame the actors. They don't have control over the finished article that's down to the directors and producers - if they were mumbling during filming - and one at least was - then the director should have sorted it out or got another actor instead. It's down the the production company and the BBC who decided that was how they wanted the finished article to be.
Sadly it's turning into a farce. I feel sorry for all the actors involved as they are the names that will be associated with it. I think - personally - the best thing is for it go back and be recut so its at least an hour shorter. With the sound improved etc I really think that would make all the difference.
I hope tonight the writer stuck to the book and the it moves along at a cracking pace - if so it will at least end well!

I just spent a blissful three hours watching the 1983 HTV version - it only served to underline how appalling this BBC production is! Patrick McGoohan TOWERED over everyone (in every sense! He really did seem incredibly tall, so they got that part right!) and even when he was slurring drunken confessions at Mary, he enunciated! The exquisite score was recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - and boy, what a difference it made to listen to such stirring, romantic strains while watching ACTUAL CORNISH SCENERY! I can't recommend this version highly enough to anyone disappointed by the BBC's effort!


WOW! That's telling them! Good for him!

Well I'll be tuning into this thread tonight for the final instalment, while watching something good on Netflix probably. Think I'll give this Jamaica Inn a miss.

I'll be watching the drivel and giving comment here tonight.

I feel the whole debacle over this will harm the careers of the two leads and make production companies wary of allowing an Emma Frost adaptation to get greenlit in the future.

I think after last nights episode it's pretty clear that this was an artistic decisison, I think they were trying to sound natural. But there has to be a balance between natural and coherent. I don't know how they missed this in all the screenings, they should have had some actors back in and re dubbed the dialogue.

As for the drama itself, it's a bit meh for me. It's not awful but not exactly good either. There doesn't seem to be much of a plot, just people looking angsty in mud. I've ordered the book so I will see what it is supposed to be like soon enough.

I would not go so far as to say that, but it has grown on me a bit and I will certainly be watching tonight.
The only person I really don't like is Sean Harris, I keep thinking of him as Ian Brady..

That's the trouble - he's very good as that kind of villain (creepy little scumbag), but he's hopelessly cast as a big hulking Joss - just utterly wrong for the part in every way. I just cannot imagine what the casting director was thinking about?!

I've just seen Ben Stephenson on the news - he looks about 12 but was less coherent than most 12-year-olds I know. He tried to pretend it wasn't just about the actors but then effectively blamed their performances. Gobsmacking. Who directed them, then? Who watched the rushes? Who viewed edits of the episodes? And who did the post-production? And yes, Ben, which department oversaw it? Yours!

And yet Mr Stephenson and his cronies at Origin Pictures fail to take any responsibility.

I really hope Equity are going to weigh in here. They certainly should.

Oh do let us know what the good thing is you watch on Netflix.

Meantime I will be watching and enjoying the final part of Jamaica Inn!

Just thinking - I reckon Sean Pertwee would have made a good 'modern' Joss. (He's 6' and can do evil & gravelly very well these days.) He could have brought suitable menace to the role, plus a touch of dark sexiness (something SH could never do!). This is a man who can hold Patience in his complete power - I wouldn't argue with him! (Whereas if SH tried it on, I'd just tell him to sod off, and probably kick him in the nuts if he didn't go away, lol. )

What do others think?

That made me laugh but you are so right! I just checked out Sean Pertwee and he definitely looks more Joss than the one they got - who is woefully miscast.
Is it my imagination or are there no 'big' names involved? I don't know a lot of the faces - but have never watched Downton Abbey and don't watch soaps so are they mostly from there?

I haven't read the book, so i'm going off people's descriptions on here, maybe someone like Ciarán Hinds?

Joanne Whalley and Ben Daniels are quite big names.

Its on BBC News right now.

Yes, modern tv's, mumbling actors and the neglected art of sound recording. Bit of a "perfect storm" for Jamaica Inn it seems.

Acting technique - mumble quietly and everyone will listen to you. No! They will take the p*ss out of you, you moron.

That should increase the viewing figures .Everyone tuning in to see what all the commotion is about.

On the sound, it seems someone made an 'artistic' decision and wouldn't listen to advice from people who knew it would sound crap.

Maybe the people who oversee this kind of thing (remember the Doctor Who sound problems?) don't pay enough attention to basic quality issues and concentrate on budgets, reputations of producers and writers and whether 'big' named actors are involved.

The most basic things they need to check are whether ordinary people with ordinary eyesight and hearing and ordinary TV equipment in ordinary houses will actually be able to see the footage and hear the dialogue. If not, someone's cocked up and their reputation needs to take a big hit. I bet those responsible are young-ish and check the footage using the best, most expensive equipment under ideal conditions. They need listening panels of normal people with imperfect hearing and older equipment to judge acceptable minimum quality.

I Clavdivs never had this issue.

BIB - it's Mary, but some people are calling her Sybil or Lady Sybil due to the actress previously playing a role in Downtown Abbey with that name. No idea why they just can't refer to her as Mary - the name in this programme.


It's grown on me too. I had less problems with the volume last night although I made sure I put the subtitles on from the outset anyway. I have to agree that the main issue is when Sean Harris is speaking. The darkness of some scenes was more an issue to me than the sound, there were a couple scenes where I couldn't see much going on!!

As someone else said it was still a bit slow, but the story gathered a bit more pace. I'll definitely be watching the finale tonight.

Yep - he would work too! (Not sure how old Joss is meant to be?)

a simple case of the production company NOT RE-DUBBING, with the examples i heard is unforgivable!

no need for "an investigation", as if it's that important, just realise your mistake and get it done!

It's been a while since I read the book, but OOOOOOOOOH Ciaran Hinds would be fabulous. I do love him so.

I thought the first two episodes were ok. Not awful, not great. Entertaining enough for a bank holiday weekend, and it has made me want to read the book again, and Jem is pretty. But it hasn't been earth shatteringly good either. The casting hasn't been great, from what I remember of the books. I don't think the vicar is right - isn't Francis Davey meant to be an albino? I would have liked him to be far more charming....

Apparently Tony Halls wife was an unhappy viewer, methinks Ben & Dan better stop making excuses and seek the entire production costs back from Origin pictures.

Also heard that Emma Frost is very unhappy with the criticism of her script, tough luck to her then and the message is don't write shoddy material.

Yes Francis Davey is an albino but Frost went PC for reasons only known to her.