‘“Can you bring my dad back?” one lad asked me'

Chris Nicholas is the real deal as Santa, with a £30,000 suit and A-list clients, including royalty

- KIRSTEN JONES

Christmas is here and I’m in Santa’s grotto, dressed in my finest red suit to make kids’ wishes come true. A 12-year-old mooches towards me, head bowed with a sceptical look in his eye. Peering at my portly figure and wispy white beard, he asks flatly, “If you’re the real Santa Claus, what’s my name?”

But he’s in for a surprise. I whisper, “Sometimes Santa Claus is much more than what you see – it’s what you believe in. And I’d never forget your name, James.”

The boy’s eyes open wide in awe and in this brief moment, the magic of Santa is real.

I’ve always held a special place in my heart for Christmas. When I was small, the then Santa Claus – who I took over from – brought me a little teddy bear. It’s still one of my most treasured possessions.

I loved to dress up as Santa during the holidays. Aged six, I was given a knitted red suit by my grandmother and I would act the part when little ones came to stay. I was always going to be a performer.

When I grew up I became a children’s entertainer and travelled the world as a professional opera singer until one day, someone noticed my jolly figure (I’m naturally a little rotund).

The man told me, “You’d be a wonderful Father Christmas for our party.”

I practically begged to do it and fell in love with Santa all over again. That’s when I knew he was my calling.

I have friends in the movie industry, including make-up artists from the Harry Potter films, and together we worked out how to transform me into a Santa Claus that everyone could believe in. A little rouge really works wonders!