Natasha Hamilton: I can’t run for more than five minutes

Natasha Hamilton can’t run for more than five minutes.

The Atomic Kitten singer is giving up smoking for Stoptober this month and hopes she will be able to do a marathon next year if she manages to stay away from nicotine.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, she said: "I want to be smoke free for 28 days and then once I’ve hit that 28-day mark, I know I’m going to be twice as likely to give up.

"I’ve started with my personal trainer and one of my big targets is to be able to run. I can literally run for about five minutes and my lungs feel tight, it’s not a comfortable experience and it’s because I am smoking.

"A few years back I did a half marathon and I could not do that right now. Next year if I am smoke free I could do that again."

The 34-year-old singer – who has Josh, 13, Harry, 11, Alfie, six, and 24-month-old Ella – is under no illusion that it will be easy, but is determined to stop as she is fed up of being tired all the time.

She said: "I’ve tried before, I know exactly what I am letting myself in for. I know it’s not going to be easy. I am so ready. I am sick and tired of feeling like rubbish, having a sore throat and not having energy."

Natasha is also quitting smoking because she is going to be performing in a theatre production of ‘Aladdin’ at Christmas for six weeks, which will be "intense" on her voice.

She added: "I sit there sometimes and think why am I smoking? It’s an addiction and you get on a slippery slope. I’m looking forward to belting it out. I am doing six weeks of intense singing and speaking. Three shows a day some days. So I need to have my voice on top form."

Natasha is to handpick her favourite tracks to help motivate quitters to stop smoking throughout Stoptober.