Survey Reveals The Nation's Favourite Big Smiles

02-05-2007 10:57

Results announced at launch of the Experian NSPCC Big Smile Campaign

Beaming beauty Julia Roberts is the owner of the biggest celebrity smile, according to a survey of 1,547 UK consumers undertaken by information solutions company Experian®. Julia tops a list of 60 great sporting, political and entertainment personality grins revealed today at the launch of the Experian Big Smile Campaign, a charity initiative to help the NSPCC improve the lives of thousands of children across the UK.

Other happy hotshots to feature in the smirking 60 include outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair (second place), mega-rich Virgin chief Richard Branson (third), The Queen (sixth), actor Tom Cruise (fifth) and the California-bound David Beckham (twentieth).

Experian, whose 3,400 UK-based employees voted to make the NSPCC its Charity of the Year, aims to raise £100,000 for the NSPCC by the end of March 2008. Experian employees are encouraged to raise money or offer their services as a volunteer.

Every £5 raised by Experian will be exchanged for a ‘smile’. Every eight ‘smiles’ raised would enable one child to receive counselling at ChildLine. Items from a range of therapeutic toys for traumatised children can be purchased for between two and nine ‘smiles’. 25 ‘smiles’ would provide five hours worth of counselling from a children’s practitioner.

Tiku Patel, UK & Ireland Managing Director at Experian, commented: “Sixty children phone the NSPCC’s ChildLine service every fifteen minutes! [*] An incredible and very sad statistic. There are a lot of children seeking help and we are keen to support the NSPCC in its endeavours. By highlighting sixty big famous smiles we hope to raise maximum awareness of the vital work done by the NSPCC and kick off a major Experian charity drive to help put big smiles on the faces of children.”

Tracy Griffin, Head of National Appeals at the NSPCC, commented: “We are delighted to be Experian’s Charity of the Year and wish it every success in raising £100,000. This sum would be a substantial benefit to the NSPCC and will help us to make a real difference in the lives of children.”

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