Meghan Markle and Prince Harry join William and Kate as royals appear on first ever TV advert tonight for NHS mental health campaign – The Sun

PRINCES William and Harry will be joined by Kate and Meghan in a TV ad tonight to promote an NHS campaign tackling Britain’s poor mental health.

The Cambridges and Sussexes will tell viewers how to beat stress, bad sleep and low mood in the promo.

Eleven million are expected to see the ad when it airs at 8.45pm on ITV, Channel 4, Five and Sky. But the BBC has sparked fury by refusing to participate in the biggest ever “takeover” of the airwaves.

The three-minute video — believed to be the first time senior royals have appeared in an advert — directs viewers to the Every Mind Matters website for tips on coping with life’s ups and downs.

'EVERY MIND MATTERS'

The four royals narrate the film, but each recorded their voiceovers on different days due to diary clashes, according to sources.

William, 37, starts the film by saying: “Everyone knows that feeling, when life gets on top of us.

“All over the country, millions of us face challenges to our mental health at all ages, at all intensities, and for all sorts of reasons.”

Harry, 35, then takes over from his brother before Meghan, 38, and Kate, 37, say their lines.

Silent discord

BRITAIN’S Got Talent held a minute’s silence for viewers to “talk to each other” for a mental health charity — but it backfired as people who live alone said it made them “lonelier than ever”.

Ant and Dec interrupted Saturday night’s episode of BGT: The Champions for the silence.

As the presenters, judges and audience fell silent, viewers were told to speak to each other.

But one woman said it made her “feel more alone than ever”.

Others blasted show bosses for “not considering people who do not have families or friends”.

Graham Evans, of Mind, the charity behind the campaign, said: “The reaction we have seen has largely been very positive.”

An ITV spokesman said: “We hope it will encourage families to make time to talk.”

The short film — written by Richard Curtis and directed by celebrity photographer Rankin — also features actresses Gillian Anderson and Glenn Close, telly host Davina McCall and Top Gear presenter Freddie Flintoff.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Every Mind Matters will benefit us all with an accessible tool to help manage our wellbeing at the click of a button.”

The campaign has the backing of charities and royal medical colleges but critics have accused the BBC of snubbing it.

The Beeb will instead screen Panorama on BBC One and University Challenge on BBC Two without interruption.

Tory MP Peter Bone said: “It is great the Royal Family, NHS and commercial TV stations are coming together to support this important campaign.

But by stubbornly refusing to participate, the BBC is showing it is out of touch with the nation and snubbing the good work of all of those involved.

“It seems they have forgotten they are the public service broadcaster.”

A BBC spokesman insisted that the Corporation has to “maintain the appropriate distance between what is a government initiative and our coverage of it”.

YOU'RE NOT ALONE

EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost – to suicide.

It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.

It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.

Yet, it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.

That is why The Sun has launched the You're Not Alone campaign. To remind anyone facing a tough time, grappling with mental illness or feeling like there's nowhere left to turn, that there is hope.

To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, over the course of this week, we will tell you the stories of brave survivors, relatives left behind, heroic Good Samaritans – and share tips from mental health experts.

The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.

Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others. You're Not Alone.

• The Government will today announce £35million of funding for research into the causes of poor mental health among teens.

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