Television and radio presenter and lifelong West Ham United supporter Jeremy Kyle is urging his fellow Hammers to kick smoking this Stoptober.
Stoptober is the NHS’s annual month-long campaign to have people to stop the habit, feel healthier, save money and protect their families from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
And in 2018, the well-known talk show host is spreading the call to quit after himself giving up smoking after 35 years.
“I was a 20-a-day smoker for most of my life and am proud to say I quit smoking earlier this year,” said Kyle, who grew up cheering on the likes of Alan Devonshire, Trevor Brooking and Frank Lampard Senior from the Boleyn Ground terraces. “I’ve tried many times in the past to quit but nothing really worked for me.
“This year, however, the time was right and I wanted to do it for me. With the death of my mother, having cancer myself and becoming a grandad this year, I was determined, and I’m so happy I’m now smoke-free. I’m not going to pretend it is easy, but I knew my time smoking was up.
“Since quitting I’ve learned just how important using support is and for people not to go ‘cold turkey’ – that certainly didn’t work for me in the past.
“If I can quit, I honestly believe anyone can quit if you just have the right support, and that’s what Stoptober is there to give you, and I want people to know that and to do it this year.”
Seeing West Ham win something again would make me feel almost as proud as I did when I gave up smoking!
Jeremy Kyle
While the 53-year-old is best-known for his long-running daily ITV talk show, Kyle is also one of the ever-growing list of celebrity West Ham supporters.
“I was born in Reading but I grew up in a West Ham house, so names like Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds have always been in the family,” he revealed. “The teams I watched growing up in the 1970s, with the likes of Devonshire, Brooking and Lampard meant I just fell in love with the Hammers.
“I remember watching them play in the FA Cup final in 1980, when we beat Arsenal, and I’d love nothing more than to see my team get to another big final, and I think we have a chance this season under Manuel Pellegrini. For me, Mark Noble epitomises everything that’s great about West Ham and I would love to see him lift a trophy.
“I think we’ve got some really exciting players. I want Jack Wilshere to do well, as he’s also a fan, then Andriy Yarmolenko has a great left peg, I like Michail Antonio’s pace and strength and of course Marko Arnautovic is a great character.
“Seeing West Ham win something again would make me feel almost as proud as I did when I gave up smoking!”
Quitting smoking is easier with the right support, so search ‘Stoptober’ to get your free Personal Quit Plan and find out about the range of support that’s right for you.
For more information about Stoptober and how you can find the right support to quit smoking, click here.