Yahoo News SS-GB viewers complain over ‘mumbling’ and ‘muffled sound’ in BBC drama
Viewers of the BBC’s latest big Sunday night drama SS-GB have hit out at the show over the ‘mumbled’ dialogue.
The show imagines an alternate history where the Battle of Britain was lost, and the UK became occupied by the Nazis.
While the series boasts an impressive cast including Sam Riley and Kate Bosworth, it seems some weren’t able to hear what they were saying.
One viewer pleaded with the BBC to ‘sort the sound out’ and said it was ‘muffled’, while another said it was a ‘mumblefest’
Dear @BBCOne
Please sort the sound out on SS-GB. You cannot hear what the cast are saying. Muffled and low pitched. #ssgb— Auriel Petrie (@auriel1977) February 19, 2017
@BBC Sorry going to have to give up on #ssgb can't understand a word anyone is saying #mumblefest
— Jamie Malley (@JamieLichtie) February 19, 2017
The BBC has to do something about the actors in their dramas. Mumbling and muttering seems to be an all too common occurrence. #SSGB
— Hinna (@hinnac) February 19, 2017
Checked in to see what people were saying about #SSGB, nice to see it's not just me who can't hear what they're saying.
— Matt Knight (@maktheknight) February 19, 2017
Really poor sound quality on #ssgb so much so, subtitles are needed !😡
— Liddy (@SALiddy) February 19, 2017
Some were quick to make jokes about the low volume of the dialogue in the show
#ssgb "Listen very carefully, I will say this only once..............mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble etc etc".
— David (@Spikeyorks) February 19, 2017
It was really clever. I felt like an actual German who couldn't understand anything the English people were saying. Well done BBC. #SSGB
— Rich Swainson (@Swaino) February 19, 2017
Missed the first episode of #SSGB?
Here's what you need to know:
"Grmbrmgrbhr RESISTANCE"
"mmbgrbrrrmbr Gestapo grmbrmgrm Supreme Leader"— Jonathan Birch (@jdwbirch) February 19, 2017
Are they having to whisper in case the Germans hear them? #ssgb
— Ian (@amgrumpy) February 19, 2017
Others suggested that those with sound problems should get a better set of TV speakers – as viewers resorted to subtitles
If you couldn't hear the dialogue on #SSGB then you need a decent AV amp and ditch the TV speakers.
— Matt Hawkins (@MattScript) February 19, 2017
No idea why people are moaning about the sound, crystal clear on my @BoseUK speakers #SSGB
— Richard Pentney (@richardpentney) February 19, 2017
Had to put subtitles on #SSGB despite it being in English. Is it the same sound person as Jamaica Inn? #BBC
— Lyndon Roberts (@LyndonRoberts) February 19, 2017
Why do @bbc insist on making dramas with mumbling dialogue. #SSGB is the latest example. We had to set subtitles to keep up with it. Rubbish
— rockyrog (@rockyrog) February 20, 2017
Had to resort to subtitles despite volume at max because of #SSGB mumbling and dreadful sound quality. Such a shame.
— Maura O'Neill (@MauraONeill1) February 19, 2017
While SS-GB features a similar premise to Amazon’s adaptation of The Man in the High Castle, the show’s creators have been keen to delineate the two.
“I would make a distinction from The Man in the High Castle, which is more sci-fi and less close to what happened,” says producer Robert Wade.
“In SS-GB, the British are living through the Occupation. The game is still not over. History is alive – and that’s what’s particularly clever about this story.”
The show continues on Sunday nights.
BBC One, 9pm
