Bethan, 53, gave up smoking a few weeks ago. Bethan is White Welsh, works in the criminal justice system and lives with her partner. She first started smoking on a regular basis when she started work. At the peak, she smoked 40 a day and tried to quit numerous times. She was then diagnosed with COPD and has recently quit with the help of nicotine replacement patches and will-power. People are shocked she has stopped and she is proud of herself.

Blodwen, 55, gave up smoking a few months ago. Blodwen is White Welsh, works in the criminal justice system and lives by herself. She started smoking when she was about 18-19 but later gave up for several years. She started smoking again after going back to work. She later gave up after a brief illness and for financial reasons and says it was quite easy to give up.

Keith, 59, gave up smoking when he was 58. He is White British, works as a Head Teacher, is married and has a son. He started smoking with his friends down the football field when he was 11. He smoked since he was a teenager, despite a few attempts to give up, but gave up for good when he had a TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack or minor stroke) last year.

Gareth, 58, gave up smoking a few days ago. Gareth is Welsh, works as an artist, and lives with his wife. He started smoking as a teenager with a group of friends, and became a regular smoker at college. Gareth mainly used to smoke hand rolled tobacco. Over the years he has stopped outright a few times, and is now trying again.

Haseen, 46, is a primary school teacher. He is Indian, married and lives with his wife and daughter. Haseen gave up smoking when he was 45. He started smoking on a regular basis when he went to pre-university in India. He then smoked more when he was earning money and it was only when he had moved to Canada and got married that he first seriously attempted to give up smoking. Haseen has now given up and thinks that going on a Vipassana (meditation) retreat helped him to do this.

Angela, 50, works in customer services. She is White British, divorced and lives with her daughter. Angela started smoking when she was 10/11. She noticed that some friends then stopped but she didn't. Later she gave up with the help of a smoking cessation worker at work and found that the medication Varenicline helped her to give up.

Jules, 41, gave up smoking a year ago. He is Welsh, works in a factory, is married and lives with his wife and young daughter. Jules started smoking when he was about 13. By the time he went to college he was smoking regularly. He tried different things to give up including Allen Carr's book, patches, and medication, but thinks he was only successful when he really wanted to give up.

Anna, 47, gave up smoking when she was 40. She is German and works as a film development executive. Anna is married and lives with her husband and daughter. She started smoking on a school trip when she was 12. She developed into a dedicated smoker' quickly. Anna first gave up in her early 20s when she went to an Allen Carr group. She has given up and started again many times, but now hasn't smoked for 6 years.

Sue, 48, gave up smoking when she was 44. Sue is White British, works as a lab manager, lives with her partner and has two children from a previous marriage. Sue smoked her first cigarette very young as she grew up in a pub. She gave up when she was pregnant but started again afterwards. Sue didn't smoke in the company of people she worked with and certain friends. She eventually gave up by reading the Allen Carr book.

John, 47, gave up smoking when he was 44. He is White British, works on the expert patient programme, and is a carer for his partner. John started smoking as a teenager. Later, when he worked in industry, he started to smoke more. John successfully gave up three years ago when he made it his New Year's resolution.