The codification of propriety – talking with a ‘proper’ accent – is recorded in audiovisual texts so that cross-cultural interaction between social groups is not left to verbal dialogue alone but to more or less accurate visual cues and to paralinguistic as well as prosodic information. This paper explores scenes from various audiovisual texts, which feature characters speaking with a British received pronunciation – arguably, the ‘proper’ accent – in contrast to those who speak with a variety of British accents. The main purpose of these narratives is the portrayal of a sociolinguistic divide, either to provide a realistic account of problematic or potentially inflammatory culture clashes or as stereotypical means to elicit a humorous response.