Home security company Ring is on the hunt to find the first-ever Scottish voice of their devices and has launched a casting search across Scotland in a first for the brand. They are asking to get involved as they hold auditions across Scotland to find one lucky person who will record a set of audio messages, called ‘Quick Replies’, that will be available across all Ring Video Doorbells in the UK later this year. Ring’s Quick Replies act as an answering machine for the door.
Once activated, and someone rings the doorbell, the visitor will hear a pre-selected greeting with the option to leave a message. People from Glasgow looking to audition can head to Silverburn Shopping Centre on Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15 from 10am until 4pm The brand said the search comes as new research from Ring reveals the Scottish accent is one of the most endearing in the UK, with 44 per cent of people agreeing it’s one of the friendliest. While 78 per cent of Scottish people are also proud of how welcoming their accent sounds.
Glasgow locals can audition by simply sharing a video of themselves saying a popular Ring Doorbell Quick Reply: “We can’t answer the door right now, but if you’d like to leave a message, you can do it now,” and post on TikTok or Instagram, share through their Ring device and Ring app, or attend an in-person audition held in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen from August to September. The search will be judged by a panel which will include Scottish radio DJ and television presenter, Edith Bowman, who will help select Ring’s ‘Voice of the Nation’. It's the first time Ring has worked with a member of the public to voice its Video Doorbell Quick Replies, and the first time a Scottish accent will be heard on Ring Video Doorbells.
Edith Bowman said: “I’m so excited to launch Ring’s ‘Voice of the Nation’, as I am fiercely proud of my accent and the Scottish accent generally. One of the things I love is the variety of regional identities. It has a beautiful rhythm and personality and each has its own unique tone and quality – something I’m thrilled is being celebrated with Ring’s campaign.
I can’t wait to judge the entries and would love to see lots of energy and enthusiasm from those auditioning.” Ring’s recent survey of 2,000 UK consumers also found that Scottish people prefer their own accent to anywhere else in the UK (66 per cent), with a quarter feeling this way because it reminded them of home (22 per cent). If they had the choice of hearing a famous Scot on their smart devices, almost a quarter (24 per cent) of Scottish people would like Billy Connolly, with a fifth opting for David Tennant (20 per cent).
Hilariously, 1 in 10 said Shrek – voiced by Mike Myers and who adopted a Scottish accent for the role – would be their top choice for voicing their Ring Video Doorbell. Dave Ward, said: “Ring’s Quick Replies are a much-loved feature on our Video Doorbells. Many customers use them to instruct delivery drivers where to leave packages or inform visitors they need more time to answer the door.
"Given the importance of these messages, we wanted to ensure our Quick Replies featured familiar and local accents and celebrated regional dialects around the world. We’re thrilled to begin in Scotland and can’t wait to hear a Scot on our Video Doorbells across the nation.” Auditions will officially open from Wednesday 21st August at 12 pm.
Members of the public can share a video of their recorded audition on TikTok by posting their clip with #RingVoiceoftheNation, or on Instagram by sharing and tagging @RingUK alongside #RingVoiceoftheNation. Those with a Ring device and Ring Protect can enter by recording themselves filming their greeting on a Ring device, pressing the ‘Share’ button on the Ring app and choosing ‘Share with Ring’..
