Sometimes mind it is not just the accent. Sometimes people are just very quick speakers or they slur. I know a least two people who speak with the same accent/dialect as me but I can't make them out half the time. Nothing to do with the accent as such. Just very fast and no very clear speakers!!

I did watch a documentary with Shane Macgowan of the Pogues recently. He has always kind of slurred his speech but seems to be worse as he is getting older. I honestly could have done with sub-titles for some of it. I am sure it was more his slurring than it was the London accent - but I was left wondering had he been a Glaswegian or a Geordie they might have slapped subtitles on. You're just kind of expected to make out London accents!!

One US actor I just can't watch is Jesse Eisenberg. Again not because he has any kind of way out accent. He just speaks so fast that I can't be bothered.