Downton Abbey creators give blackmailing chambermaid a Liverpool accent

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Rita Bevan featured in opening episode of Downton Abbey's sixth series
She tried to extort money from Lady Mary after her illicit trip to Liverpool
On Sunday night, viewers hit out at chambermaid's thick Scouse accent
Many accused ITV period drama of conforming to negative stereotypes
Others condemned Leeds actress Nichola Burley's exaggerated accent
Shameless actress Tina Malone, from Liverpool, said she felt 'insulted'

Published: 04:04 EST, 24 September 2015 | Updated: 05:05 EST, 24 September 2015

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Viewers have expressed their anger after the creators of Downton Abbey introduced a thieving chambermaid in the opening episode of the show's new series - and gave her a Scouse accent.

Shameless actress Tina Malone is among the Liverpudlians to have lashed out over the portrayal of the scheming Rita Bevan, who tried to extort money from Lady Mary, in the Sunday night episode.

In the wake of the debut, many viewers took to social media to accuse the ITV period drama of conforming to negative stereotypes of people from Liverpool, as often featured in popular culture.

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Thief: Viewers have expressed their anger after the creators of Downton Abbey decided to give thieving chambermaid Rita Bevan (above) - who starred in the sixth series's opening episode - a Scouse accent

Outrage: In the wake of the debut on Sunday, many viewers - including Erin Austen (above) took to social media to accuse the ITV period drama of conforming to negative stereotypes of people from Liverpool

'Coincidence?' One of the programme's fans, named Courtney, asked: 'Coincidental that the thief is Scouse?'

'Switched off': Another fan, Colin Leonard, who lives in Liverpool, said the decision to portray Miss Bevan as a Scouser had actually led him to switch off the show, which was watched by millions across the country

Some were further enraged by actress Nichola Burley's exaggerated Scouse accent, with dozens of fans noting that it was clearly not an authentic one. In fact, 28-year-old Ms Burley hails from Leeds.

But others pointed out that Miss Bevan had tried to steal £1,000 from Lady Mary after her illicit weekend at the Adelphi hotel in Liverpool - therefore, the chambermaid had to be a Scouser.

Malone, however, was not convinced.

Taking to Twitter on Sunday night, the 52-year-old actress, who has recently been under the knife as part of a £50,000 body makeover, wrote: 'I feel for the poor girl cast as a thieving Scouser.

'Not only are we insulted yet again - all Scousers are thieves, etc. But they couldn't even give a real young Scouse actress a job? Young talented Scouse actresses are everywhere.'

She continued: 'I love Downton but it wasn't thought through properly. I get it was a hotel in Liverpool but she could have been from anywhere, working in a hotel.

Leading the anger: Shameless actress Tina Malone is among the Liverpudlians to have lashed out over the portrayal of the scheming Miss Bevan, who tried to extort money from Lady Mary, in the Sunday episode

Actress: The 52-year-old wrote: 'I feel for the poor girl cast as a thieving Scouser. 'Not only are we insulted yet again - all Scousers are thieves, etc. But they couldn't even give a real young Scouse actress a job?

She continued: 'Young talented Scouse actresses are everywhere. I love Downton but it wasn't thought through properly. I get it was a hotel in Liverpool but she could have been from anywhere, working in a hotel'

She finished: 'Mock us, we can take it, but in doing so give a genuine Scouser the job and cast it properly'

Criticism: Malone (pictured, left, in Dublin in April), who has recently been under the knife as part of a £50,000 body makeover, wasn't alone in her view of Miss Bevan (pictured, right, front, in the show's opening episode)

'Mock us, we can take it, but in doing so give a genuine Scouser the job and cast it properly.

That's all I'm saying!'

And Malone wasn't alone in her view.

Downton Abbey fan Erin Austen tweeted: 'The new scouser on Downton Abbey is a thief. #standard,' while a viewer named Courtney asked: 'Coincidental that the thief is Scouse?'

Meanwhile, Paul Smith, of Liverpool, wrote to the show directly: 'Can I ask why the scouse girl on sunday was a thief. If that's all you think scousers are your a disgrace (sic). Ruined the show 4 me.'

Another fan, Colin Leonard, also of Liverpool, said the decision to portray Miss Bevan as a Scouser had actually led him to switch off the show, which was watched by millions across the country.

Familiar faces: Miss Bevan, played by actress Nichola Burley, is pictured alongside the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) and Mr Carson Jim Carter) in Sunday's episode, which kicked off the show's final series

Hitting out: Twitter was awash with anger over Miss Bevan's clearly fake Scouse accent on Sunday night

He tweeted: 'One Scouser in Downton Abbey and she's a thief and blackmailer. Switched off....'

A viewer named Claire Cassidy, another Liverpool resident, added: 'First ever scouser on #DowntonAbbey portrayed as a thief! Brilliant, good to know the stereotype existed in the 30s too.'

Twitter site Scouse Bird Problems also joined in the attack, saying: 'Surprised the 'Scouser' on Downton Abbey didn't tell Lady Mary to 'calmdown calm down' as well as being a thief.'

Miss Bevan tried to blackmail Lady Mary about her secret romance with Anthony Foyle after stealing some documents about her. She demanded £1,000 from Lady Mary in exchange for her silence.

Liverpudlians have long been portrayed in a negative light in popular culture - such as the characters in Carla Lane's 1980s sitcom Bread, who are experts in exploiting the welfare system.

Negative stereotype: Liverpudlians have long been portrayed in popular culture and thieves and liars - such as the characters in Carla Lane's 1980s TV sitcom, Bread. Above, the cast of Bread, produced by the BBC

Scousers have been depicted as thieves and cheats in many television shows, past and present - from the country's longest-running soap, Coronation Street to the 1990s BBC series, Mersey Blues.

They have been characterised similarly in various films, including Guy Ritchie's 1998 movie, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, which featured incompetent Scouse thieves Garry and Dean.

But some critics note that many 'bad' on-screen characters have other distinguishable accents.

Sunday night's episode kicked off the sixth and final series of Downton Abbey.

The show started in 2010 and has since become a hit across the world.

It charts the antics of the upstairs and downstairs occupants of an English country mansion and boasts a cast including Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Shirley MacLaine.

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.