Mancunian has now become the UK’s ‘most desired’ accent
The Manchester city centre skyline at sunset / Credit: Mylo Kaye (via Unsplash)
Mancunian has now taken the crown as the ‘most desired’ accent in the UK, according to a new analysis.
You may remember that in recent years, the findings from two separate shocking surveys revealed that the Manchester accent is considered to be one of the ‘least respected’ nationwide, especially within the corporate world of work, and that northerners with strong accents are considered ‘less intelligent’ than their southern counterparts.
But now it seems like the tides have shifted slightly.
That’s because a new analysis by The Hearing Care Partnership revealing which regional voices are ‘turning heads’ in 2025 has seen Manchester take the top spot.
Last year in the hearing care company’s study, Essex topped the list as the UK’s most desired accent, but in 2025, Manchester came up to first place with a huge 127% increase in searches, pushing Essex down to the second spot.
The company claims the long-awaited Oasis reunion could be the ‘driving force’ behind the nation’s new curiosity towards Manchester’s tone.
“It’s interesting to see how the Manchester accent has become popular all of a sudden,” Ashish Shah, who is an audiologist at The Hearing Care Partnership, commented on the findings.
“Cultural events can really change how people feel about certain accents, and Manchester’s up-and-coming vibrant music scene, lively nightlife, and sports achievements might explain why so many people are interested in it now.
“Last year, Manchester wasn’t even in the top five, so jumping to number one with a 127% increase is really impressive.”
Top 10 ‘most desired’ UK accents
- Manchester
- Essex
- Welsh
- Yorkshire
- Geordie
- Cockney
- Scouse
- Birmingham
- Scottish
- Irish
Elsewhere on the list, it appears that regional accents across the UK have seen noticeable shifts.
The Welsh accent now ranks third on the list with a 24% increase in searches – a surge that could be linked to the hit BBC series The Traitors, where contestant Charlotte deliberately spoke in a Welsh accent as she believed it to be one of the most trustworthy.
Yorkshire’s unique sound has also seen an 18% boost this year, which is a major shift from 2024 when it was one of the least desirable, and the Geordie accent has also remained a favourite with a 17% increase in interest.
Read more:
- Actor Leo Woodall says ‘soft Mancunian’ is the most attractive accent
- New study suggests Lancashire accents may vanish within ‘the next few generations’
- Mancunian named one of the ‘most attractive’ accents in the UK
Cockney and Scouse accents have also continued to hold strong, with steady increases between 12% and 17% each.
Featured Image – Mylo Kaye (via Unsplash)