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New ‘Yes to Quit’ ads are being reenacted in Barnsley and Doncaster to spark discussion over what will smokers miss more than smoking if they don’t quit.

The campaign launched at the end of March and has seen TV, radio, transport and social media adverts across South Yorkshire. 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 travelling theatre group Silent Uproar.

A spokesperson at NHS South Yorkshire said: “We’re delighted to welcome the reenactment of such an important campaign to the streets of South Yorkshire. The more people think about how they or their loved ones can quit smoking, the less lives will be cut short from smoking related illnesses.

“No matter how many times you might have tried to quit before, the next attempt could be the one that changes your life. We hope people are inspired to explore all the different quit services we have in South Yorkshire and take the step to quit.”

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. 

Places you might spot performances this month:

  • Tuesday 15th Frenchgate Shopping Centre, Doncaster
  • Thursday 17th Alhambra, Barnsley

The 'Yes to Quit' campaign brings together West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Humber, and North Yorkshire to deliver a regionwide smoking cessation campaign, asking audiences ‘What Will You Miss?.’ The campaign will run across 15 local authority areas: Kirklees, Leeds, Calderdale, Wakefield, Bradford, Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield, Doncaster, Hull, East Riding, York, North Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, and North East Lincolnshire. Launching on 25th March 2025, the eight-week campaign will span 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.