See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy OLIVIA KEMP, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER Published: 21:49 BST, 28 August 2026 | Updated: 21:49 BST, 28 August 2026
Their voices have helped bring some of Britain's best-loved characters to life.But now Hugh Bonneville, Nicola Coughlan and Matt Lucas are demanding the Government stop AI companies from using them without permission.They are among almost 80 performers backing Save Our Voices Now, a campaign seeking legal protection against technology which can clone a person's voice and make it say anything its operator chooses.Welsh actor Luke Evans, 47, and Derry Girls star Siobhan McSweeney, 48, have also signed an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham demanding 'clear, enforceable and legal ownership' of their voices.Paddington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh, 62, pictured, said: 'My voice is unique, it's mine, it's part of my identity. So is yours.'That's worth speaking up about. The quote was handwritten, not created by AI.' Their voices have helped bring some of Britain's characters to life. But now Hugh Bonneville is demanding the Government stop AI companies from using them without permission The actor joins Nicola Coughlan in the campaign Save Our Voices Now, seeking legal protection against technology which can clone a person's voice As well as the open letter, an online petition requests that everyone is given ownership of their voice as a statutory right.Siobhan said: 'I'm deeply worried that legislation, contracts, working practices and ethics, and artists' rights are not being considered or protected as quickly as AI technology is progressing.'She added: 'I believe there is a way to work alongside AI and to use it as a tool that benefits us rather than rendering us obsolete. This is an existential problem and needs to be controlled legislatively as soon as possible.'My voice is one of my tools. In order to adapt and move with technological advances, I don't see why we should remove the human from the equation. Our audiences want that human connection, not AI.'The campaign's founder, actor and voice artist Peter Caulfield, compared the threat to the dystopian TV series Black Mirror. He said: 'In just three seconds, with the right AI system, your voice can be cloned, stolen and reinterpreted without your knowledge. It's a Black Mirror episode, except this isn't fiction – it's happening right now.' Derry Girls star Siobhan McSweeney said: 'I'm deeply worried that legislation, contracts, working practices and ethics, and artists' rights are not being considered or protected' Matt Lucas has also joined the campaign Peter said 'the bottom line' is the Government is allowing artificial intelligence companies to 'steal and profit from artists' voices without their consent'.He added: 'They are also allowing criminals to use AI to clone people's identities and threaten everyone. We need to use our real voices now to stop it.'Campaigners want Britain to follow the example set by Denmark, which has moved to give its citizens full legal control over AI-generated imitations of their face, body and voice. The protections allow people to demand that any unauthorised content is removed and seek compensation for its misuse.
