Samia Smith, an actor in ITV’s long running soap Coronation Street, is urging smokers to “save a packet” this Christmas by quitting smoking.

The PR and social media campaign, devised by McCann Manchester for Smokefree North West, will eschew health warnings to show smokers where their addiction can really hurt them, the pocket.

A launch event held on Market Street in Manchester saw a gameshow style attraction set up stall on the popular thoroughfare. Dubbed “play your cards right” it presented shoppers with a series of revealing cost comparisons between a healthy and unhealthy lifestyle.

Smith’s father – a smoker – died from cancer of the oesophagus last year. She said: “I’ve grown up seeing the effects of smoking on my dad’s health and I know what it’s like to lose a family member to a smoking-related disease.”