Ms Poyzer, who has toured the world playing Donna Sheridan in the Mamma Mia musical for 11 years, has had a successful career as an actress and voiceover artist.
Most recently starring in Olivier award winning West End show Come From Away, she has been employed by the BBC for at least 20 years working on hit shows Doctors, EastEnders and The Archers.
But yesterday she received an email from the corporation telling her she was no longer needed for a role.
Posting a screenshot on her Twitter and Instagram, the email read: ‘Sorry for the delay – we have had the approval from the BBC to use the AI generated voice so we won’t need Sara anymore.’
Tagging the BBC and trade union Equity, Ms Poyzer captioned the photo ‘sobering…’ with a sad face emoji.
The Mail has learnt that the email was a response from a production company that was working with the BBC on a project hoping to hire Ms Poyzer.
Ms Poyzer was waiting to hear back on whether it had been confirmed but was told they would be using AI instead.
She commented on her post saying that the industry was in ‘grim times’.
She was flooded with support in the comments with many industry professionals saying the same thing had happened to them too recently.
‘It’s happened with myself and art projects many times now, sorry this has happened to you,’ one person said.
Another commented: ‘Happening to all our industries. It’s killing all our jobs. I saw an entire set which was AI the other day.’
Equity, the performing arts workers union, launched ‘Stop AI Stealing The Show’ in 2022- a campaign around performers’ rights over Artificial Intelligence.
The BBC covered and backed the campaign heavily discussing it on the likes of Front Row and BBC News.
This week the BBC vowed to stop using AI to promote Doctor Who after receiving complaints from viewers.
Voice Squad, a voiceover agency that works with Ms Poyzer said: ‘We were very disappointed to receive the production company’s response, particularly as it’s a BBC project.
‘The BBC have always stood for quality in their factual and drama broadcasting. As a voiceover agency we feel that AI is a danger to the whole industry – removing work from artists who have trained for three years at drama-school and spent many years honing their craft.
‘Voice artists are particularly skilled actors who deserve not to have their work devalued.’
The BBC was contacted for comment, while Ms Poyzer declined to comment.
formerfrontdesk on
This is disgusting
Eyebronx on
I had the pleasure of watching her perform live and she was transcendent onscreen. What a powerful voice. Absolutely disgraceful that she’s being replaced by fucking AI
Beesareourcousins on
I hope everyone boycotts this garbage production anything else these people make. Completely disgusting.
Candid-Fly5588 on
Can’t wait to pay the same amount to listen to robots rather than humans! Because that’s what we were put on this earth to enjoy 😀
Similar_Thought9627 on
Society is a shit show lately and now they’re coming for the arts. I really feel for the kids. At least I’m already 41
JuliasTooSmallTutu on
It’s very difficult for actors in The UK to go on strike which further prevents them from gaining any kind of protections against AI.
JustinTyme92 on
I have no interest in listening to computer generated vocals or watching AI characters acting in AI scripted programming.
Just don’t watch it and openly state your opinion.
9 Comments
Welp…it’s starting.
the article:
Ms Poyzer, who has toured the world playing Donna Sheridan in the Mamma Mia musical for 11 years, has had a successful career as an actress and voiceover artist.
Most recently starring in Olivier award winning West End show Come From Away, she has been employed by the BBC for at least 20 years working on hit shows Doctors, EastEnders and The Archers.
But yesterday she received an email from the corporation telling her she was no longer needed for a role.
Posting a screenshot on her Twitter and Instagram, the email read: ‘Sorry for the delay – we have had the approval from the BBC to use the AI generated voice so we won’t need Sara anymore.’
Tagging the BBC and trade union Equity, Ms Poyzer captioned the photo ‘sobering…’ with a sad face emoji.
The Mail has learnt that the email was a response from a production company that was working with the BBC on a project hoping to hire Ms Poyzer.
Ms Poyzer was waiting to hear back on whether it had been confirmed but was told they would be using AI instead.
She commented on her post saying that the industry was in ‘grim times’.
She was flooded with support in the comments with many industry professionals saying the same thing had happened to them too recently.
‘It’s happened with myself and art projects many times now, sorry this has happened to you,’ one person said.
Another commented: ‘Happening to all our industries. It’s killing all our jobs. I saw an entire set which was AI the other day.’
Equity, the performing arts workers union, launched ‘Stop AI Stealing The Show’ in 2022- a campaign around performers’ rights over Artificial Intelligence.
The BBC covered and backed the campaign heavily discussing it on the likes of Front Row and BBC News.
This week the BBC vowed to stop using AI to promote Doctor Who after receiving complaints from viewers.
Voice Squad, a voiceover agency that works with Ms Poyzer said: ‘We were very disappointed to receive the production company’s response, particularly as it’s a BBC project.
‘The BBC have always stood for quality in their factual and drama broadcasting. As a voiceover agency we feel that AI is a danger to the whole industry – removing work from artists who have trained for three years at drama-school and spent many years honing their craft.
‘Voice artists are particularly skilled actors who deserve not to have their work devalued.’
The BBC was contacted for comment, while Ms Poyzer declined to comment.
This is disgusting
I had the pleasure of watching her perform live and she was transcendent onscreen. What a powerful voice. Absolutely disgraceful that she’s being replaced by fucking AI
I hope everyone boycotts this garbage production anything else these people make. Completely disgusting.
Can’t wait to pay the same amount to listen to robots rather than humans! Because that’s what we were put on this earth to enjoy 😀
Society is a shit show lately and now they’re coming for the arts. I really feel for the kids. At least I’m already 41
It’s very difficult for actors in The UK to go on strike which further prevents them from gaining any kind of protections against AI.
I have no interest in listening to computer generated vocals or watching AI characters acting in AI scripted programming.
Just don’t watch it and openly state your opinion.