Supermodel Christy Turlington, whose own father died of lung cancer, is fronting a new government anti-smoking campaign.

She will appear in a series of TV adverts, along with former EastEnders star Troy Titus Adams who played Nina, promoting an NHS smoking helpline. The ads, created by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, use the testimonials of victims or relatives of victims suffering from smoking-related illnesses to try to drive home the message, "Don't give up giving up". Since her father died three years ago, Christy has given up smoking and made it a personal quest to get others to kick the habit. "My dad missed so many important things in my life and in my family's life as a result of an early death from lung cancer," she said. "He would have loved to see me graduate from New York University or have witnessed the birth of another grandchild. He was at a point in his life where he really could have enjoyed so many things." More than 120,000 people die each year from smoking-related illnesses in the UK, making it a bigger killer than breast cancer. Approximately 70% of smokers say they want to give up, according to government research. Public health minister Yvette Cooper believes that the involvement of celebrities in the campaign will help raise awareness of the impact that smoking can have on health, and of services available to would-be non-smokers such as the helpline, smoking cessation clinics, and free nicotine replacement therapy.

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