Mamma Mia star Sara Poyzer is replaced by AI for BBC production
Sarah Poyzer (pictured), 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.
Mamma Mia star Sara Poyzer is replaced by AI for BBC production as she calls the shock decision 'sobering' and 'grim times' for the industry
By MOLLY CLAYTON and PAUL REVOIR MEDIA EDITORPUBLISHED: 15:56 EDT, 27 March 2024 | UPDATED: 16:05 EDT, 27 March 2024
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She has dominated the West End for her performance as a lead actress in Mamma Mia for over ten years.
But after decades of performances, shows and gigs, the BBC have decided a robot can do her job better after replacing actress Sara Poyzer with Artificial Intelligence.
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.
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Sara Poyzer (pictured as Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia) has dominated the West End for her performance as a lead actress in Mamma Mia for over ten years
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Yesterday she received an email from the corporation telling her she was no longer needed for a role
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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.'
'This is awful and so heartlessly put,' another said.
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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'
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View gallery
She was flooded with support with many industry professionals saying the same thing had happened to them too recently
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View gallery
Ms Poyzer was waiting to hear back on whether it had been confirmed but was told they would be using AI instead
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.
get replaced by AI robots brehs 
