AI Voiceover To Replace Mamma Mia! Star

One of the stars from the stage musical Mamma Mia!, Sara Poyzer, has claimed that her voiceover work for the upcoming production has been replaced by AI.

Poyzer caused quite a stir after posting a screengrab of an Email via Instagram, which she claims was sent to her by a production company working for the BBC, where she was informed that her services would be no longer required.

“Sorry for the delay", the post reads. "We had had the approval from BBC to use the AI generated voice so we won’t need Sara anymore". With this post, Sara Poyzer added the caption, “Sobering". 

Sobering….🙁 @EquityUK @bbcarts pic.twitter.com/9D0H928xJZ

— Sara Poyzer (@SaraPoyzer) March 26, 2024

Poyzer's post led to a huge reaction on X, with fellow members from the creative industry expressing their anger and disgust at the mere suggestion that voiceover work could be taken away from human actors so easily.

“This is terrifying. I rely on VO work. You can already hear very convincing AI voices all over TikTok and there’s nothing stopping companies using it to save a few quid. We can’t trust people to do the right thing. Action needs to be taken", wrote comedian Seán Burke. 

This is terrifying. I rely on VO work. You can already hear very convincing AI voices all over Tik Tok and there's nothing stopping companies using it to save a few quid.

We can't trust people to do the right thing. Action needs to be taken. https://t.co/veYO2COIk2

— Seán Burke (@SeanBurkeShow) March 27, 2024

Comedian and The Thick Of It star, Chris Addison also added, “F*** very much that. Outrageous". 

Fuck very much that. Outrageous. https://t.co/2PbgKWfsGr

— @[email protected] (@mrchrisaddison) March 27, 2024

Podcaster and comedian Steve Martin also shared these sentiments.

“Most of my income comes from voiceovers. Without it I would have had to pick another career cos of money. This makes me want to explode", he scribed. 

Most of my income comes from voiceovers. Without it I would have had to pick another career cos of money. This makes me want to explode https://t.co/AaDqtBrYEA

— Stevie Martin (@5tevieM) March 27, 2024

Podcaster Blindboy also replied, “The other day I saw a YouTube review for an AI robot lawnmower and it was written and narrated by AI". 

The other day I saw a YouTube review for an Ai robot lawnmower and it was written and narrated by Ai https://t.co/MYicNdgJRQ

— The Blindboy Podcast (@bbboatclub) March 28, 2024