Does Charles Dance answer the phone as a fictional handyman? - Would I Lie to You? - BBC

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Watch the BBC first on iPlayer 👉 bbc.in/iPlayer... More about this programme: www.bbc.co.uk/p... David Mitchell and team interrogate Game of Thrones star Charles Dance who claims that he always answers the phone in the voice of his fictional Northern Irish handyman, Sean.
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[@simonstanier]

We all know that Charles could just put the phone down on anyone he doesn't want to speak to. The lion does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep.

[@hamzamahmood9565]

On the other hand Jon snow would say: "I don't want it"

[@balabanasireti]

Weak.

[@samuelcardwell577]

I'll give him some credit, that's one of the better Northern Irish accents I've heard.

[@cashmoney8780]

"What part of SCOTLAND is Shaun from?" "WEST SIDE OF BELFAST"

[@danieldeburgh8437]

Guy I know from Belfast sounds exactly like Charles’ impression.

[@HBMHD]

"Charles, are you ill?" I laughed way too hard at that lol.

[@TheStarcraftJACKAL]

Why do British actors have such badass voice!?

[@Robert399]

+MJk Slasher *badarse ;)

[@85Aheadstix]

badarse* and well... their British.. duh.

[@Ripcode2233891]

+MJk Slasher As John Oliver once said, "it's how words were meant to be said", and I honestly don't disagree

[@hcrun]

+GamerDares wins "They're" British.

[@leesawford]

+MJk Slasher - and awful 'luvvy' pretentions to match. It's public school darling. It gives them delusions of grandeur. Actually, I suppose in their cases, it IS actually grandeur :-0

[@rockyxbautista]

If Disney ever did Hunchback of Notre Dame irl, Charles Dance should 100% be Frollo.

[@MrNottyNotty]

forever the villain

[@ChristophelusPulps]

Man, I've been saying that for years. He's already done a character who once considered casting a misshapen child into the water. Just watch the scene in Game of Thrones where he talks about it. He's already Frollo.

[@DougieJR]

I think the "Hell fire" song might be regarded as a bit tasteless now...

[@coleturner9106]

How? Still a good song. Relevant to the character.

[@HHSDaily]

Charles Dance as King Haggard in Last Unicorn

[@vonskull]

He could answer as Tywin and scare the hell out of the caller. I'm going to miss his character.

[@Samiiilo]

***** I 2nd this, I already knew but still, what a bugger!

[@Mcommander23]

If you haven't seen it, go and watch the video of him reading from 50 Shades of Grey. I laughed so hard I cried.

[@DRATER700]

***** he's a baby

[@err0r0b0]

DRATER700 He WAS a baby during Robert's Rebellion, but then again so was Rob Stark...

[@Rubashow]

I still haven't given up hope that during the first episode of season five it turns out that Tyrion just dreamt the whole thing and Tywins horse accidentally stomped Cersei to death during the siege of Kings Landing.

[@richardbecker697]

He probably doesn't even answer his ravens......

[@Amadeus8484]

His Maester does that for him.

[@Scholupine]

Instead he commanded that the mines be sealed with stones and soil until there was no way in and no way out.

[@boscomonforte993]

@@Scholupine and now the rains weep o'er his hall with no one there to hear

[@ATMAnubis]

If Roose Bolton phoned Tywin Lannister, I'll bet it would be something like this: Tywin: ..... Roose: ........ Tywin: .............. Roose: .................. Tywin: ............................ Roose:................................. Tywin:...................................... And then after moments of the two of them listening on the phone in an intent silence without uttering a word, the line crashes.

[@EmperorRax]

+Euron Crow's Eye And that's how the Red Wedding was planned.

[@GaryOldmanFan]

+Euron Crow's Eye XD, but hey - that'd be depriving us of two of the world's most velvety voices.

[@Vanalovan]

Or they both have shattering orgasms

[@crashpal]

they both hate Starks and the Baratheans.

[@TheSnowfail]

But Roose didn't really hate Starks. He just betrayed them because of Robb's stupidness and for gaining more power for himself.

[@gyraxxus12]

This guy has such an amazing voice, I want it.

[@Mr.LaughingDuck]

+Blue Spark G Him and Peter Dinklage: I'd just love to be reincarnated with either of their voices

[@Elcrisso1]

G_Man Peter Dinklage or Peter portraying Tyrion Lannister? One is regal British the other is deep American

[@bigmacattack7747]

One of the best Belfast accents I've ever heard anyone do.

[@BrooklynJackBlue]

I...LOVE...the commitment to physical work from Charles. That's the sort of thing that is burned deep into your BEING when you're studying and training and living as an actor. "You've got a phone in your hand. It exists there. You've picked it up. You're holding it. You WILL put it back down in the receiver."

[@EternalRoman]

I need Charles Dance to play comedic roles in comedy movies. This man is a legend and every part he's played is just great.

[@saccerzd]

Have you not seen him dancing dressed as a female stripper in the Ali G film?!

[@dorkmax7073]

Answering the phone with silence is a move exclusive to psychopaths and as an avid practitioner, I highly recommend it

[@joesr31]

I do that for exactly the reason he mentioned, within the first sentence, you can usually know whether you want to continue that phone conversation or not. Eg. Are they telemarketers, trying to sell you insurance, follow up on a job application etc

[@commentnocomment3246]

Actually, answering the phone with silence is a learned trait on land lines to which predominantly only telemarketers, scam artists, and robot-callers call. As most of these types of callers experience a delay, once the call is connected, they don't realize no one has said any greeting or salutation, only that the call was connected or picked up. This way, only real people would know the phone was answered with silence and thus respond accordingly, possibly even hanging up and calling back if they thought there may have been a bad connection.

[@respectfulconversation944]

Once another telemarketing nuisance called. So i just ordered pizza and hung up. Calvin & hobbs style.

[@MrAjsullivan]

Damn, I would have loved the idea of Tywin Lannister answering the phone with silence.

[@Jenjenilou]

Never knew the gorgeous Charles Dance was on Would I Lie to You! What a treat!

[@charlie7329]

What id do to have Charles voice.

[@LilyFitzgerald]

I know, I want him to read me bed-time stories

[@chookalatemuffin]

Charlie Drummond he can read the Mcdonald's menu and sound like hes doing a Shakespearean monologue.

[@shmookins]

Simple; just conquer the seven kingdoms.

[@joegrimes9232]

There are troupes of budding Thespians enrolled at countless dramatic schools all tought to project thier voice to the back of the room and to announce your presence so those in the back row can hear your thunderous delivery. Then there is Charles Dance. A masterclass at understatement, that hold's your attention. No, not him sat over there. YOUR attention. Listen to me. He's the perfect school headmaster. Or job interviewee. He want's YOU to hold his interest, he is spending HIS time. Once he has you. He'll pause. He'll lean back as you talk. It's not just his treacle dipped Downtown Abby script, set alight on November 5th to unleash Indiana Jones level mayhem. It's GRAVITAS. It's not the voice it's the presentation. In fact Patrick Stewart, or Ian McKellen or Brian Blessed (non shouty meme machine) have better voices. It's Dance's attitude. THAT sells it. Charles Dance could walk into any job. A demon core, nuclear reactor technician? Sure. He'd sit back, tented fingers and explain to you his prior experience as Manager at McDonalds. When you interrupt to ask a sensible question as to it's relevance. He'd curtly cut you off, lean forward and stare you down. Pause a breath and state his experience with heat lamps qualifies him and you'd just hand him the position. Charles Dance could be UK Prime Minister just BS his way in by standing on a podium and absorbing the press' questions. Hold a hand up to get silence and give a reading of Stephen Lawhead and get votes.

[@astrellax11]

Charles Dance is so charming.

[@theinternet1424]

The obvious giveaway: if that was his way of coping with unsolicited calls, he'd probably want to cling on to that trick and keep it secret, rather than reveal it on a panel show.

[@bearwhitethenerd]

+dov linhos yes but that's true of an awful lot of the things said on this show, of which [I presume] roughly 50% ARE true. If it was true, he'd probably be banking on there being very few/no people who both have his telephone number and watched this specific episode of this show.

[@AsymptoteInverse]

I'd like to take a moment to appreciate Charles Dance's smile.

[@Pfitzgerald98]

Charles dose a great Irish accent

[@AndrewHislop1066]

Not really and you can't spell.

[@sunnybubbleday]

Charle's fictional handyman sounds exactly like my grandfather. He does happen to live around Belfast, so I suppose that's fair enough.

[@roguishpaladin]

Are you certain that your grandfather isn't Charles Dance and he just hasn't had the heart to tell you everytime you call to say hello? Alternately, does your grandfater sound like Charles Dance when you ask him to do a southern British accent?

[@GodotOfficial]

I bet Tywin Lannister did this every time Walder Frey tried to send him messages via ravens

[@WhackyRavenLand]

I am dreadfully sorry, but Tywin isn't here right now. He's busy on the toilet and will be back soon...

[@alfatazer_8991]

@@WhackyRavenLand Please leave a message after the Raven squaks Raven: *SQUAK!!*

[@JimmyC1994]

It's a well known fact that Christopher Lee didn't die. He just regenerated into Charles Dance to throw off the Van Helsing's

[@SteveBluescemi]

Charles Dance transforms into Michael Smiley when he puts on that North Irish accent, it's uncanny.

[@eharper7]

On the very rare occasion that I answer an unknown number, it's usually a telemarketer.

[@zeldededeab9966]

Dudes got an amazing villain voice.

[@mohhamedsmith]

I pick up the phone with silence if it's a number I don't recognise.

[@qualivia]

I mean...I pick up the phone and wait for the person to speak.

[@lesterbrandt3203]

I often am silent when I pick up the phone. I thought most people did in their own home.

[@ninjacoffeebunny4659]

...I answer the phone with silence if I don't know who it is...

[@Ryguu621]

The average Englishman has about the same comedy skills as a professional American comedian, Kevin Hart makes me laugh by telling jokes, any English person makes me laugh by just being themselves.

[@samuelj.s3955]

insightful observation, Stephen Fry has a video discussing that. I'd argue though that the elite American comics bring unique funny personalities (patrice o neal, bill burr, pryor, carlin)

[@AdmiralOctopus]

I'm not sure whether to be proud or offended by this. Probably both.

[@roguishpaladin]

+AdmiralOctopus Americans are not laughing at the English, we're laughing with you. Be proud.

[@xxxfirehuunterxxx]

ryguy621 Our black humour is just amazing. it's the weather.

[@roarblast7332]

I'm curious about something. What about Canadians? Are Canadians the same as Americans? There are quite a few famous Canadian comics. Norm macdonald, Mike meyers, Tom green..etc. How would you define Canadian comics?

[@Cthulhu1PL]

Don't worry, his voice will return in The Witcher 3, as an Emperor of Nilfgaard.

[@GeeGe.]

"AN" Emperor? Emhyr var Emreis. Please. (I'm just playing. But seriously, the character himself is pretty awesome. Charles Dance was an awesome choice for the voice actor. Pure awesomeness.)

[@beback_]

This is what was so great about his portrayal of Tywin. He didn't copy the character from the book, just was himself and it worked out great.

[@bizambo100]

Perfect casting

[@Hammondish]

And yet still pulled off the book portrayal of Twyin perfectly. He was appropriately terrifying in that role. Perfect casting indeed.

[@maggieb5529]

his voice.... my god 😍

[@catm9431]

I've actually paused when answering the phone waiting for a hello first because I have had a lot of cold callers ring up. If it's not from someone I know I just hang up. And yeah their numbers are usually different from mobile numbers but they are similar to a lot of numbers I would answer to...

[@kakkunkk]

Same, there was a period of a lot of cold callers when I was younger 😔

[@owieprone]

Same, I only say Hi first if i know who's calling (I don't have a landline).

[@thomaswilliams]

He would make a great Master in doctor who...............

[@TiciTotyTony]

Berko Gaming bruhhhhh this could actually happen Imagine him and Capaldi going at it ^____^

[@TiciTotyTony]

Berko Gaming :0 nooooo noooo nooo I meant being like Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty Get your mind out of the gutter silly willy ( ●_●) / \

[@TiciTotyTony]

Berko Gaming no worries now let's go find Gallifrey my new companion ( ●_●) / \

[@TiciTotyTony]

Berko Gaming Bloody Hell :O that's a lot of work

[@TiciTotyTony]

Berko Gaming ( ●_●) you're right / \

[@joshkresnik6402]

Charles are you ill? 😆🤣

[@lucyk2371]

The British are so polite. Love them. I'm from the south and we get along "brilliantly"!

[@tijnjansen858]

You shouldn't taunt a lion.

[@pfalky2k]

unless you're the stunted runt of the Lion's litter ;)

[@puremileven3156]

My biggest flex is he’s my stepmoms great uncle

[@truebeliever786]

He should answer the call as Tywin Lannister.

[@carmennita5959]

❤️ Charles.❤️ is a fun guy , a fabulous actor.💎, and a adorable man , I adore him !! 😘💕😍

[@BuBs1970G]

Charles Dance aged like fine wine.

[@i-craftsdesign3175]

What disappoints me the most is that it turned to be a lie because I do that.

[@poponachtschnecke]

That may be a lie, but I'm doing it from now on.

[@dreamhobbiz]

Rob should come up with his own ringtone lol

[@johnpeters4396]

I always answer the phone in silence

[@MrThorfan64]

If u don't want to talk play The Rains of Castamere.

[@seanchan7167]

As a Sean, thanks Charles

[@bleedingpepper]

To be fair, if I hget a call from a number I don't recognise or if it's withheld, I don't immediately say "hello", and even if they ask for my name I'll ask "who's calling?"

[@megastoejoe]

"and Witcher... I never want to see you, ever again."

[@joesr31]

I do that “no speaking” thing, it can’t be that weird right? I don’t want to “waste” my effort by speaking just for it to be a telemarketing call. After the first sentence, you’ll probably know if you want to continue the call or hang up

[@EndThusIAm]

I've done this exact thing when i see unknown numbers!

[@EndThusIAm]

+Terncote Sorry, haha should've been specific. No, just wait for the other person to say Hello?

[@DreamVikings]

I hate talking on the phone. Once i was talking while taking a piss and I was aiming at like away from the water into the side of the toilet so I wouldnt make piss noise and she wouldn't know, but then I got distracted and flushed it. It sounded really loud. I believe she noticed after that, hahahaha.

[@Amadeus8484]

Telemarketer: "Hello is this the Lannister residence? May I speak to the household?" Tywin: "Speaking..." Telemarketer: "We would like to offer you a time share package..." Tywin: "Not interested..." Telemarketer: "Its a great deal! Its just off the Stormlands near Ship Breakers Bay for 40 Gold Dragons you can stay here for two weeks every year for a lifetime membership." Tywin: "I said I wasn't interested..." Telemarketer: "Perhaps something closer to Casterly Rock?" Tywin: "In my long tenure of managing the legacy that was my fathers and my fathers' father I would be consumed by maggots before I allow a TIME SHARE IN THE WESTERLANDS! HANG UP THIS PHONE AND SPEAK NO MORE OF TIME SHARES NEAR CASTERLY ROCK!

[@motorhh]

Lord Brax: Lord Tywin do you want to send a bard to that telemarketer

[@blazingsword643]

I literally read this in Tywin's voice

[@Amadeus8484]

@@blazingsword643 Thank you :)

[@blazingsword643]

@@Amadeus8484 I really regret that Charles Dance never did a Tywin impression in public

[@delaneydavenport3279]

Apparently Charles Dance answers his phone as Liam Cunningham

[@AlexAppleby]

When Tywin Lannister picks up the phone: "Are you gonna say something clever? Go on, say something clever."

[@mylescasey1771]

When the emperor of Nilfgaard picks up the phone

[@starjunky30043]

Nah, I totally understand Charles. Telemarketers, debt collecters, extended warrenty representatives, scammers, and police have taught me to pick up the phone and wait for someone to say hello.

[@ViewTube_Dan]

I can however visually imagine Charles picking up the phone saying nothing.

[@TheRealHerbaSchmurba]

Funny I actually do the same thing where I wait for the person calling to speak

[@rmisionero]

Oh wait, this is a truth or lie game. I actually believed that he does that.

[@lydiadavies7073]

aww he got my hopes up that i wasn't the only one who answers the phone and doesn't say anything

[@michaelleftwich8186]

I think i just saw this guy Charles in the Godzilla, King of the Monsters movie. He played the "BAD GUY".

[@Amadeus8484]

Tywin calls Panago. Panago: "Hello! Panago, we have received your all and we are directing you to Casterly Rock West Side Pizza Sector!" (Phone Rings) Panago: "Panago how can we help you?" Tywin: "Yes I would like to order an Extra Large Stag Pizza, and an Extra Large Trout Pizza." Cersei: "And bread sticks!" Tywin: "And bread sticks." Jamie: "And Tika Masala Wings!" Tywin: "And Tika Masala Wings." Panago: "I am sorry My Lord, we don't sell Tika Masala Wings anymore." Tywin: "Do you know what I did to the last person who said no to me?" Panago: "Hehe I am sure we can work something out!" Tywin: "Good..." Tyrion: "And get some Panago dipping sauces! Wine flavoured!" Tywin: "I am not getting you Wine flavoured dipping sauces!" Tyrion: "Why?" Tywin: "Because you can have REAL wine and eat your pizza with regular dipping sauces like a LANNISTER!" Tyrion sips his cup. Panago: "Will that be all?" Tywin: "Yes, have it delivered to the main gates of my Household." Panago: "How will you be paying?" Tywin: "Send me the bill. A Lannister always pays his debts..."

[@blazingsword643]

Tyrion : *smirks* Tywin : What ? (Glances sideways) Now don’t tell me you wanted fries on the side.

[@Amadeus8484]

@@blazingsword643 Fries? At Panago?

[@blazingsword643]

@@Amadeus8484 well, obviously Tyrion was too drunk to realize that 💁🏻‍♂️

[@dhertsens5617]

Everyone knows Charles death stare is so piercing, people see it through the phone and sends them screaming.

[@brendagalvaomartinsnunes4440]

"who picks up the phone and doesn't say hello?" to his defense, my brother has this thing where he picks up the phone and just says nothing until you speak first

[@laylaberries89]

but i do occasionally pick up the phone and not say anything..

[@TheGmdMaster]

Urgh one of the most awesome actors who is one of my favourite people ever on the same panel as gok wan...REALLY?

[@TheGmdMaster]

***** Valar Morghulis, most of all Gok Wan

[@FakeAnarchist]

***** I agree

[@MrDeadsr]

they need to have him on more.

[@476megaman]

Answering the p0hone with silence is exactly how Tywin Lanister would answer a phone if he had one.

[@zippytwosauce6272]

Seeing Tywin humanized like this is refreshing

[@yharnamiyhill787]

What makes you think he ain't pretending to be a civilized commoner

[@cameronsharp2022]

apparently hes the new master

[@chicathechicken7923]

this is not charles... ITS PURPLE GUY

[@Kalmeath]

I pretend to be a switchboard operator until I know who is calling.

[@monikaszymanowska5142]

People who think answering the phone with "hello" is natural and instinctive never needed to avoid their creditors:-).

[@Loverboy19691]

Charles Dance would be a good choice to play the Doctor in Doctor Who.

[@Nalimias]

more like the Master

[@adamsinger123]

*MATT BERRY* as the Doctor. (Conversation from a few weeks ago) I would watch every single episode, to see Matt Berry swaggering and stumbling and goofing his way through that role. 😂

[@sonoptic6996]

Brother Numsi!

[@vasilip]

I didn't think he would be able to chance his voice enough, it's so "strong".

[@WisamSafi1978]

Ya, 5 seconds in and. I knew it’s a lie. Charles voice and character is so dominant he wouldn’t hesitate to tell someone firsthand that he’s busy or just doesn’t wish to speak to them. After all .... “the lion doesn’t concern himself with the opinions of sheep”

[@florencelovme]

I also answer it and wait for the other person to talk.

[@geraltofrivia7484]

Charles Dance is my spirit animal

[@NiceGuyStevo]

Dances....don't act like fools

[@analothor]

7 hells his voice is incredible

[@ericamarino6028]

i'll never understand british humor but i still love charles

[@duchessedeberne3909]

I want Charles Dance to breath in my phone. Silently.

[@ItsEricaBeyetch]

I think he'd have caller ID

[@danieldeburgh8437]

That accent is very good.

[@alexbelle3941]

Automated telemarketers are triggered by you saying hello, if you answer with silence after a few seconds they hang up. So I absolutely answer with silence if it's a number I don't recognize.

[@Aeroldoth3]

As a delivery driver who calls dozens of people a day, most people never answer, and I get a few each day who answer with silence.

[@tacticalministries3508]

That is an impressive Belfast accent

[@nininogginhead2000]

My brother used to always answer the phone with silence

[@shuboy05]

What part of Scotland is Sean from and Charles says he's from the west side of Belfast? Well, if Tywin Lannister says Belfast is part of Scotland then it is now a part of Scotland....

[@pfalky2k]

Tywin Lannister CAN believe it's not butter ;)

[@Xilen7]

Tywin Lannister conquered Belfast for the Scottish. Hahahahahah...

[@gateauxq4604]

Tywin Lannister just stared down Chuck Norris and was given Noris's job as universal badass. Noris also apologized.

[@jimmy2k4o]

shuboy05 Tywin went into McDonalds, Ordered a Whopper and got it!

[@Michael-hc2vs]

Because he was doing an Irish accent. Rob was joking with the 'Scotland' remark.

[@aurorathorn9497]

01:40 that smile

[@fleeb]

I have taken to answering my phone like that if I don't know the ID on the caller-id. If the person on the other side doesn't respond in enough time, I simply hang up. Too many damned telemarketers call for me to take my phone seriously anymore.

[@Droedelzak]

THEY HAVE MY SON!!

[@PK-sc2vn]

As a person from here, that's a seriously good impression of an NI accent. They're nearly exclusively awful, but this is great 😂

[@captainmpoutias755]

Charles dancing on the graves of his foes

[@davecrupel2817]

If i am pretty sure it's a robot, i dont say anything when i answer the phone. I either clear my throat or just make a noise, like im still picking up the phone. The robots are triggered by sound. And if its a person, and says an actual "hello?" Then i talk. Robocalls are more commonplace and invasive than ever. And people dont call me unless they need something. So 99.5% of my daily calls are robots.

[@misc.endeavours8343]

I regularly wait in silence for callers to speak first. They have approached me so it's up to them to announce themselves. Would you approach someone in the street by stopping in front of them and not saying anything? Not unless you have no manners or communication skills.