The Albert Kennedy Trust. AKT Now. turning tricks as a prostitute. Sir being doused with a bottle of cider by teenagers while sleeping rough. Paul O'Grady huddling for warmth in an all-but-derelict house.

These unsettling images of the three appear in a new TV campaign for charity the aims to raise awareness of the often difficult that lesbian, bisexual, gay and transexual people can face when they are victimised.

The campaign – made by ad agency – also features comedian and TV presenter Sue Perkins, Hollyoaks actor Kieron Richardson and Andrew Hayden-Smith, whose credits include Byker Grove and Doctor Who.

Set to Radiohead's as sung by Scala choir, the ad aims to show that with a few unfortunate turns anyone's life could end in life-threatening situations such as homelessness and prostitution.

Perkins said:

“We live in a really fortunate corner of the world – we're affluent and we're lucky, and for people to still suffer because of the prejudice of some is unforgiveable.”

The agency and the actors donated their time for free – McKellen is a patron of AKT – and the campaign is the first that the charity has been able to run.

“We've used some well-known personalities in these tough situations to help let young know where they can turn for support,”

said Robert Harwood-Matthews, president of .

“TBWA is hugely proud to be a part of a such a groundbreaking campaign that hopes to increase awareness and shift behaviour towards a cause that too often goes unrecognised.”

AKT was founded following the death of Albert Kennedy, a 17-year-old who was the victim of a homophobic attack, ending in his death after falling from a multi-storey car park in 1989.

via guardian.co.ukPink News