Martin Clunes shed his reputation for cozy drama and comedy on Sunday night when he starred in the lead role of new drama series Out There. The six-part ITV series follows Clunes as Nathan Williams, a farmer who must take matters of his family's safety and wellbeing seriously when his son becomes embroiled in a county lines drug operation. The trailer teased explosive storytelling and plenty of action, but viewers who settled down to watch the first episode were taken aback by one thing—Clunes attempting to deliver his lines with a Welsh accent.
The show was primarily filmed in the Carmarthenshire area of Wales, which necessitated Clunes, who hails from Surrey, to channel his best Welsh tones to fit the setting. Viewers were divided, with some expressing skepticism about his accent. "Martin Clunes with a dreadful Welsh accent? Everyone should have seen this coming," one viewer commented on Bluesky. Another stated bluntly, "I can't say I'm convinced by Martin Clunes' Welsh accent," highlighting the challenge some faced in accepting their beloved actor as an action lead.
While many focused on Clunes' attempt at his character's speech, comparisons were drawn to Charlotte Berman from The Traitors, who has also been criticized for her accent on the show. "Martin Clunes should enter Celebrity Traitors and do a Welsh accent based on his new drama," joked one user on social media.
Welsh actor Sian Reese-Williams defended Clunes, asserting on Twitter, "The criticisms of the Welsh accents in Out There are mostly coming from English people who clearly think there’s only one Welsh accent. I lose my mind at bad Welsh accents, and there have been SO MANY. So for the record, they’re pretty good. Louis Ashbourne-Serkis especially." She clarified, "He’s doing a mid-Wales borders accent. It’s subtle and he’s obviously done some research. This makes for a nice change. My ears are not bleeding for once, and that's nice!"
Critics and viewers alike have shared their impressions of Out There, with opinions on Clunes’ Welsh accent bringing about mixed reviews. Despite the accent controversy, the show's storyline has garnered attention for its emotionally charged themes. Rebecca Nicholson from The Guardian referred to the series' pacing as "moody, emotionally fraught, and quietly chilling," reflecting the tension evident within Nathan's tumultuous experiences as he navigates protecting his son from the criminal world.
Vicky Jessop from The Standard praised Clunes’ performance and noted how the slow unraveling of the plot adds to its emotional power. "The action unfurls slowly, layers of the story peeling back like the petals of an onion. There’s a meditative, hypnotic element to the storytelling, which makes the moments of violence all the more shocking," she argued, maintaining the tension as he confronts the impacts of county lines drug dealing on his community.
Conversely, Nick Hilton of The Independent criticized the series as "rambling" and tough to enjoy, leading to frustrations such as, "It’s always disheartening to see something occupying precious primetime slots which feels like merely the first draft." He felt the simplistic premise could have been stronger without the extraneous plots overshadowing the central narrative thread.
Nonetheless, Out There has intrigued audiences with its examinations of county lines drug trafficking, demonstrating the far-reaching consequences this insidious criminal enterprise has even within rural spaces. Acclaimed screenwriter Ed Whitmore pointed out the serious societal issue at hand, emphasizing the narrative's urgent relevance. "County lines is a particularly vicious and ruthless wave of drug dealing...It has emerged as both widespread and increasing across the UK, making it important and timely to tell this story," he noted.
Many viewers have expressed their intentions to stick with the show, citing the immersion achieved through its gritty depiction of the drug trade. One user tweeted their impression with enthusiasm, stating, "So far so good...#OutThere," indicating the broader appeal beyond the criticisms. The slow build of Out There has left some feeling impatient, though. Viewers shared their sentiments on social media: "This is proving hard to become invested in, I can't see myself watching the other episodes," voiced one disappointed audience member, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the show’s future engagement with viewers.
Still, defenders of the series argue, "Slow burners always work out. People are so desperate for everything to go go go from the off." Another added, “It gets even more captivating; I just watched the second episode on ITVX.” The layered performance of Martin Clunes, alongside gripping narratives, seem set to cultivate viewer engagement as Out There develops.
The initial episode aired on Sunday, January 19th, with the complete series available for immediate streaming via ITVX. The narrative will continue on ITV1 Sundays at 9pm, with the second episode scheduled for January 20.