If you thought being a professional Father Christmas was an easy job then think again.

Inhabiting the role requires a lot more than just putting on a red suit, a fake beard and belting out a few hearty 'Ho ho hos'.

The Christmassy expectations of thousands of small children should be handled with care, after all, so those with the responsibility of bringing Santa Claus to life need to embody the great man with true conviction. We're talking the kind of method acting worthy of an Oscar if you're to avoid the potential for major disappointment and the shattering of dreams. 

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