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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/shortcuts/2015/aug/02/voice-over-why-tescos-female-tills-have-checked-out-for-last-time

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Voice over: why Tesco’s female tills have checked out for the final time Voice over: why Tesco’s female tills have checked out for the final time
(35 minutes later)
Name: Helena Breck.Name: Helena Breck.
Occupation: Actor.Occupation: Actor.
Screen age: 50 to 70.Screen age: 50 to 70.
Appearance: Plastic, aluminium, glass.Appearance: Plastic, aluminium, glass.
I might remember her from such roles as ... Elizabeth Willmott-Brown in EastEnders and Sandy McCormick in Triangle. I might remember her from such roles as … Elizabeth Willmott-Brown in EastEnders and Sandy McCormick in Triangle.
Nope. Fair enough. Those roles were a long time ago. How about from such purchases as “massive packet of biscuits” and “three different-coloured peppers in a bag”? Nope. Fair enough. Those roles were a long time ago. How about from such purchases as “massive packet of biscuits” and “three different-coloured peppers in a bag”?
What? Perhaps this will refresh your memory: “Notes are dispensed below the scanner”; “Remove this item before continuing”; or even …What? Perhaps this will refresh your memory: “Notes are dispensed below the scanner”; “Remove this item before continuing”; or even …
No! Please! “Unexpected item in bagging area.”No! Please! “Unexpected item in bagging area.”
Oh God. It’s Britain’s national cliche. Don’t be so mean. For six years, Breck’s voice has charmed shoppers at the automatic tills at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer with its bright yet classy explanations of how to do very basic things we’ve all done hundreds of times before and are probably redundant anyway because the machine isn’t working, but which we’re forced to listen to over and over again while we wait for a member of staff with a gilet and a key to please, God, make it go away. Oh God. It’s Britain’s national cliche. Don’t be so mean. For six years, Breck’s voice has charmed shoppers at the automatic tills at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer with its bright yet classy explanations of how to do very basic things we’ve all done hundreds of times before and are probably redundant anyway because the machine isn’t working, but which we’re forced to listen to over and over again while we wait for a member of staff with a gilet and a key to please, God, make it go away.
That’s kind of what I meant. Anyway, now Tesco has made her go away.That’s kind of what I meant. Anyway, now Tesco has made her go away.
How come? They’ve replaced her with a slightly more laconic man.How come? They’ve replaced her with a slightly more laconic man.
Which old soap operas was he in? I’ll have to get back to you on that.Which old soap operas was he in? I’ll have to get back to you on that.
Didn’t the machines’ American manufacturer, NCR, say that it had researched the subject and found that customers overwhelmingly responded better to the female voice? Why, yes, it did. Maybe that was before people had heard the voice 60,000 times. Didn’t the machines’ American manufacturer, NCR, say that it had researched the subject and found that customers overwhelmingly responded better to the female voice? Why, yes, it did. Maybe that was before people had heard the voice 60,000 times.
So, what is this new man like? Oh, you know: resonant, posh-ish, improbably excited by the minutiae of shopping. Instead of Breck’s rather cold way of saying, “Notes are dispensed below the scanner,” he gives us a chummy, “Don’t forget your change, especially notes!” So, what is this new man like? Oh, you know: resonant, posh-ish, improbably excited by the minutiae of shopping. Instead of Breck’s rather cold way of saying, “Notes are dispensed below the scanner,” he gives us a chummy, “Don’t forget your change, especially notes!”
He has a point. No one wants to forget those lovely notes. No, indeed. Or to be repeatedly told about it. He has a point. No one wants to forget those lovely notes. No, indeed. Or to be repeatedly told about it.
Still, I don’t see how anyone could match the quality of Breck’s “Beep!” when the barcode hits the laser. I don’t think that was her. Still, I don’t see how anyone could match the quality of Breck’s “Beep!” when the barcode hits the laser. I don’t think that was her.
Do say: “Please take your items.”Do say: “Please take your items.”
Don’t say: “Please unplug yourself.”Don’t say: “Please unplug yourself.”