An actress has added her voice to a campaign urging people to swap their Christmas turkey for "tofurky".
Jane Horrocks, who lives in Brighton, voices Tessa the turkey in Peta’s new Christmas advert which will play in the city and across the country throughout the festive season.
Made in collaboration with creative agency House 337, the advert tells the story of Tessa, a jolly young turkey who sings while she marvels at many of today’s Christmas customs.
Jane is best known for starring in Little Voice and for her role as Bubble in Absolutely Fabulous.
Most recently she reprised her role as Babs in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, long awaited sequel to Chicken Run.
Tessa watches as people put up wreaths on their doors, carry Christmas trees into their homes, take family photos and write letters to Father Christmas.
But things take a dark turn when she is seized and sent to an abattoir where she questions the killing of animals for the Christmas table.
It ends with an appeal to kill the tradition, not the turkey, by trying a vegan meal instead.
The spot is being shown at Odeon in Brighton throughout the festive season.
“I’m proud to be giving a voice to Tessa, a curious little turkey who questions why millions of birds are killed for the Christmas table each year when so many other options exist,” said Jane.
“I hope the spot encourages kind souls everywhere to explore vegan dishes that offer some peace on Earth to animals this festive season.”
Peta opposes what it calls "speciesism", a human-supremacist world view, and offers a guide to meatless Christmas roasts and a vegan starter kit.
Peta vice president of programmes Elisa Allen urged people to reconsider their festive main.
“Turkeys are smart, social individuals who don’t want or deserve to be dinner, and there is a wealth of kind and tasty animal-friendly options available to choose from," she said.
“Tradition doesn’t excuse cruelty and Peta urges Brighton locals to spread festive cheer to all this Christmas by preparing and enjoying a vegan feast.”
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