Sebastian Tomas Sargent (born 29 June 2003), also known as Seb Sargent and formerly on stage as Tom(my) Sargent, is an English Canadian voice-over artist and journalist most notable for successfully campaigning on social media to overturn Sydney Trains and NSW Trainlink's accessible toilet policy, which formerly required disabled customers to request staff permission to unlock and use accessible bathrooms. As a result of public outrage fuelled by Sargent's protests, Sydney Trains mandated that all accessible bathrooms be left unlocked and available to use at all times. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Sargent has also achieved notability for being the UK's youngest freelance voice artist, recording for public transport services since 2014. ^[5] He formerly worked as a child actor for ITV and the Royal National Theatre from 2013 ^{[6] [7] [8]}, and began receiving media attention for his subsequent work as a freelance voice-over artist following recognition on social media platform TikTok. ^{[9] [10] [11]} Sargent's 2022 collaboration with the Department for Transport and then Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps to promote the axing of unnecessary announcements caused controversy, as it was widely compared to "a parody." and considered by some to be "mocking" in the wake of greater transport issues. ^{[12] [13] [14]}

Early career

Prior to gaining social media recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sargent was a child actor and model based in London, entering the West End at the National Theatre from 2013. ^{[15] [16] [17] [18]} Sargent debuted on the Olivier stage in their run of Emil and the Detectives from 11 November until 20 March alongside Louis Partridge and Stuart McQuarrie, a rehearsal for which was attended by Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh. ^{[19] [20] [21]}

From 2014, Sargent starred in Jamie Lloyd's production of Richard III at Trafalgar Theatre as Prince Richard, Duke of York, alongside Martin Freeman and Gina McKee. ^{[22] [23]} Subsequently in 2015, he entered a contract with ITV for The Sound of Music Live (2015) as Friedrich Von Trapp, performed and televised live from 3 Mills Studios in London.

Sargent was identified by First News in 2016 as a Young Broadcaster, after learning of his idea to produce and distribute an amateur breakfast television show aimed at students in secondary schools in Surrey, and subsequently was offered to return to ITV for an experience day at Good Morning Britain, in which he met and became inspired by broadcaster Piers Morgan. ^[24]

Sargent became one of the UK's youngest freelance voice artists after leaving TV and theatre in 2015, supplying train announcement safety recordings for Arriva Rail North (later Northern Trains), alongside Trisha Jarman. Following the completion of other smaller projects, Sargent used his Instagram platform to promote voice-overs, which led to media attention on TikTok after he branded himself the voice of the trains." Several viral videos saw Sargent combine his own work for Arriva Rail North with impressions of other notable railway voice-over artists (including Phil Sayer, and voices used in businesses such as Sainsbury's, London Underground and Jet2.com. This lead to prominent media attention in which Sargent received more than seven million views collectively. ^{[25] [26] [27]} As a result of the growing association of Sargent with railway voice-overs, he was contacted by the Department for Transport in January 2022, and asked to feature alongside then Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps in an advert to promote the axing of unnecessary announcements on trains. ^{[28] [29]} This was followed by a collaboration with rapper Central Cee in June 2022, after Sargent supplied custom announcements for the rapper's London Underground themed performances at Parklife and Wireless festivals. ^[30]

As of 2023, Sargent has maintained a focus on journalism, studying the subject at Cardiff University and University of Sydney since 2021. ^[31] He works as Assistant News Editor for 98.7FM Radio Cardiff, and the Cardiff-based Features Editor for national student media outlet The Tab. ^[32] Sargent's direct, opinionated approach to journalism has led him to be branded by some as "the next Piers Morgan." ^[33] He has since written on issues such as the UK railway strikes and the rise of Cardiff cannabis farms. ^{[34] [35]}

Sydney accessible toilet dispute

In 2023, while living in Sydney, Australia as an exchange student at the University of Sydney, Sargent was refused entry to the locked accessible toilets at Sydney Central railway station on the basis that he "didn't look disabled enough." ^{[36] [37] [38] [39]} Selected accessible toilets across the Sydney Trains and NSW Trainlink network required customers to seek out a member of staff and request access. ^[40] According to Sargent, the Sydney Trains member of staff that refused him, said: “Look at you, you look good, man!” ^[41] Sargent, who uses accessible toilets for an undisclosed reason, used his social media presence on TikTok to condemn the employee's actions, and to raise awareness about non-visible disabilities, adding that neurodivergent customers, victims of sexual assault and sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder may need to use accessible bathrooms.

Sydney Trains apologised to Sargent for the incident and have since mandated that accessible toilets on their network remain available to all customers to use without question and advocated their support of the Sunflower Lanyard scheme as in place on British transportation. The additional toilets at Central station built as part of the 2023 upgrades opened with permanent access, and Sydney Trains changed their policy to allow uncompromised access to accessible toilets at all times. ^[42]

References

Category:Living people Category:2003 births Category:Actors from Surrey Category:English television actors Category:People from Guildford