New ‘Yes to Quit’ ads are being re-enacted in shopping centres across Yorkshire and the Humber over the Easter break, to spark discussion over what will smokers miss more than smoking.
The Yes to Quit campaign launched across Yorkshire and Humberside at the end of March with TV, radio, transport and social media adverts.
It asks audiences ‘What will you miss?’ more than smoking, such as weddings, births and special time with loved ones, that two in three smokers will miss by dying too soon.
One ad sees a bride do the speech at her own wedding, while we see her father lying in hospital because of a smoking related illness. This concept has now been transformed into a pop-up street performance by theatre company Silent Uproar.
Scott Crosby, Associate Director of the Centre for Excellence in Tobacco Control said: “This campaign highlights the stark reality that many of us have sadly experienced, seeing a life cut short because of smoking. By taking the advert to public spaces, we hope to spark discussion and help more people think about quitting, even if they’ve tried many times before.
“At each performance, the local, free stop smoking services will be there to speak to if you’re ready to give it a go.”
Alex Mitchell from Silent Uproar said: “We have enjoyed taking the idea of the advert and transforming it into a street performance that we hope will surprise shoppers and ignite conversations about the very real issues in life that might be overlooked due to smoking.
“At Silent Uproar, we relish finding playful approaches to challenging discussions. It has been wonderful to have talented artists create thoughtful responses to engage people in this campaign, and we look forward to popping up across the region.”
Places you might spot performances this April:-
- Wednesday 9 April – Broadway Shopping Centre, Bradford
- Thursday 10 April – Freshney Place, Grimsby
- Friday 11 April – Trinity Market and St Stephen’s, Hull
- Tuesday 15 April – Frenchgate Shopping Centre, Doncaster
- Thursday 17 April – Alhambra, Barnsley
If you, or someone you care about is thinking of quitting smoking visit yestoquit.co.uk to find out more about ways to quit and get in touch with your free, local quit smoking services today.
Background
The ‘Yes to Quit’ campaign brings together ICBs and local authorities across West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Humber, and North Yorkshire to deliver a regionwide smoking cessation campaign, asking audiences ‘What Will You Miss?.’
The campaign is running in: Kirklees, Leeds, Calderdale, Wakefield, Bradford, Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield, Doncaster, Hull, East Riding, York, North Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, and North East Lincolnshire.
Yes to Quit was launched on 25 March 2025, with the eight-week campaign spanning TV, radio, out of home advertising, social media and online platforms.
The campaign has been coordinated by the Humber and North Yorkshire centre for Excellence in Tobacco Control.