Glasgow actor Lauren reaches final 10 in Lidl’s search for Scottish self-checkout voice
Local Glasgow actor Lauren has been shortlisted among 10 finalists in Lidl’s nationwide competition to find a distinctive Scottish voice for its new self-service checkouts, as the supermarket invests £3 million to enhance customer choice and celebrate Scotland’s linguistic diversity.
A Glasgow local has made it to the final 10 contenders in Lidl’s nationwide search for the voice of its self-service checkouts across Scotland. The supermarket launched this competition earlier this year as part of a wider £3 million investment to install self-checkouts in every Lidl store in Scotland by autumn 2025. The initiative aims to offer customers greater choice between traditional staffed tills and new self-service options while adding a touch of Scottish character to the shopping experience.
From thousands of applications, an actor from Glasgow named Lauren was chosen as one of the finalists, with Perthshire actor Alan Cumming and his dog Lala playing a key role in selecting the top 10. Cumming expressed enthusiasm about the diverse range of Scottish accents and styles in the auditions, describing it as “a rollercoaster of accents, intonations and glorious Scottishness.” He encouraged the public to vote for their favourite, framing the competition as “a celebration of who we are, how we speak and our ability to have a bit of a laugh while we do it.”
The competition has attracted over 5,000 entrants from across Scotland, with auditions conducted via WhatsApp submissions and physical booths set up in multiple cities, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, and locations in the Highlands and Islands. This broad regional engagement underscores the pride Scots take in their local dialects and the desire to showcase Scotland’s linguistic diversity.
Lidl's regional director for Scotland highlighted the retailer’s commitment to enhancing the customer experience in stores through this technology and the voice competition. The winner will receive £500 in Lidl vouchers and the unique distinction of becoming the voice that guides customers through the self-checkout process. Stores already featuring self-checkouts have trained staff visible in yellow vests to assist shoppers, ensuring a smooth transition for customers unfamiliar with the new systems.
Voting for the competition is open until 5 pm on Tuesday, 29 July, inviting the public to have their say in selecting the voice that will bring a friendly Scottish flair to their shopping routines.