PADDY McGuinness will encourage smokers to “no lighty” as part of the Stoptober quit smoking campaign.

The Bolton funnyman will star in a TV sketch with a trio of fellow comedians to urge smokers to stub it out in October.

Paddy will star alongside Al Murray, Simon Brodkin — better known as his alter-ego Lee Nelson — and Andi Osho in a three-minute sketch during the Emmerdale ad break.

The clip, airing tonight, will kickstart a recruitment drive to get as many smokers as possible in Greater Manchester ready to quit on Tuesday, October 1.

The stop smoking programme will include daily messages of motivation, persuasion and distraction, as well as jokes, tips and extra information online.

Rona Daniels, consultant in health improvement at Greater Manchester Public Health England centre, said: “Evidence shows that 23.1 per cent of the population in our centre area smokes.

“We know that many of these smokers want to give up and we recognise that quitting can be extremely hard.

“Our campaign is important because it is offering support to smokers wishing to quit.

“Evidence shows that if a smoker can go 28 days without a cigarette, they are five times more likely to stay permanently smoke-free.

“Quitting smoking can be a difficult process but successfully quitting has significant health, monetary and social benefits.”

If people manage to quit smoking for 28 days, they are five times more likely to quit for good, according to experts.

In Greater Manchester 11,340 people signed up to take part in Stoptober 2013.

“Public Health England is hoping even more will get involved this year by searching ‘Stoptober’ online and signing up.

Andrea Crossfield, chief executive of Tobacco Free Futures, said there has never been a better time to quit, adding: “I encourage every smoker in the North West to quit for Stoptober 2014 and support those quitting around them throughout the duration of their 28-day challenge.

“After a successful Stoptober 2013, which saw 28,000 people in the North West sign up to quit, it would be great to see even more people pledging to quit this year.”

Bolton smokers can find out more by calling 01204 462345.