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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
As told to Dave Simpson

‘I can’t hear Mariah Carey for the 1,000th time!’ Professional Santas on their most loved – and hated – Christmas hits

Mariah Carey Donny Osmond
Nigel Harvey AKA Santa Himself.
‘It’s a calling’: Nigel Harvey AKA Santa Himself. Photograph: Santa Himself

‘A guinea pig dived into my beard’

My father was a Santa and my wife got me into doing it. It’s the best thing I ever did. I do schools, universities, supermarkets, Christmas lights switch-ons … As soon as Santa comes along, everybody melts. One little girl brought her guinea pig, who leapt off her hand and dived straight into my Santa beard. The parents were in stitches while we tried to get him out. My favourite Christmas songs are Eartha Kitt’s sultry version of Santa Baby, because it gets all the adults in the mood to get up and have a boogie with Santa, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, because the lyrics are so pure. No Christmas songs drive me mad. It’s Christmas: they’re all great. Paul Fessi

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