Hollywood A-listers are expected to pull back from UK chat shows as the ongoing strike by US actors continues to impact the filming of big-budget movies and TV series. Talk show producers in the UK are facing a dilemma as actors follow in the footsteps of Emily Blunt, who abandoned her press tour when the strike began. Chat shows like ITV’s This Morning and BBC One’s The Graham Norton Show, which typically attract Hollywood stars, will now have to rely more on local celebrities.
A producer of a well-known show admitted, We were lucky because we had already filmed some movie stars. Fortunately, we have enough domestic talent to rely on and we will use them more. Another chat show contestant echoed the sentiment, saying they would be featuring more local celebrities.
The strike was initiated by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra), following a similar strike by writers, to protest against pay disparities and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to replicate voices. While Sag-Aftra’s UK counterpart, Equity, is not participating in the strike, some UK actors like Emily Blunt are members of Sag-Aftra. This has created confusion among UK actors about whether they should continue to promote shows produced by US companies, like Netflix or Paramount.
Fraser Ayres, an actor, writer, and creator of the ITV panel show Sorry I Did Not Know, expressed support for the strikes, acknowledging the issue of AI’s impact on the industry. However, he noted that some actors were cautious in order not to be labeled as strikebreakers.
Jonathan Shalit, president of showbiz agency InterTalent, warned that while wealthy actors could withstand the financial impact of the strike, many others would be devastated in the short term. He also expressed concern that some individuals might leave the industry altogether. Producers are now facing challenges with shrinking budgets and increasing costs as a result of the strike.
The effects of the strike are already being felt by TV production companies. Channel 4’s The Late Show with Mo Gilligan recently finished filming with celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, but if it were filmed this month, they would not have been able to secure such high-profile guests. Ben Wicks, from production company Expectation, confirmed that their other show, Steph’s Packed Lunch, which returns in September, will also be impacted by the strike, as they have previously featured a range of American talent.
Despite these setbacks, producers remain optimistic, stating that there are plenty of other topics and guests to cover. Shows like Steph’s Packed Lunch also focus on consumer issues, fashion, and cooking, ensuring that the strike’s impact is minimized as much as possible.
The strike has undoubtedly caused disruptions within the industry, but the long-term hope is that these short-term setbacks will lead to fairer pay and a reevaluation of AI’s role in the entertainment world. For now, producers will need to adapt to the changing landscape and find creative ways to engage viewers without relying solely on Hollywood’s biggest stars.
