A man from Tottenham is bringing festive magic to the capital's to-do lists, transforming into a real-life Father Christmas for hire. Ryan Edwards, 32, has spent December completing everyday tasks across London while dressed in a full Santa suit, from wrapping presents to walking dogs, and has turned his festive spirit into a profitable seasonal venture.
From Charity Runs to Paid Gigs: The Birth of a Festive Idea
The unique concept was born from a simple combination. Ryan Edwards, a top-rated Tasker on the local services marketplace Airtasker, explained the inspiration. "Last year, people were running for charity dressed up as Santa," he said. "I just put that and my work together. That's where the magic happened." This month, he has dedicated himself exclusively to Christmas-related admin and chores for Londoners, all while maintaining his jolly red appearance.
His arrival in full costume never fails to get a reaction. "Shock is the first one," Ryan admitted, "but then shock is followed by a smile, followed by a laugh." The experience has proven financially rewarding too. By 10 December, he had already earned £600 from festive tasks, and in a good month on Airtasker, his Santa services can bring in up to £1,500.
Spreading Cheer Beyond the Paycheck
For Ryan, however, the true reward lies in the reactions, especially from children. He recounted a touching moment: "There was a little girl in a buggy that spotted me, and her mum was like, 'Hey, look - who's that?' So I just went up to them and tried to spread a bit of Christmas cheer. Seeing the smile on the little girl's face was just beautiful."
His festive remit has been broad. Ryan has taken on a variety of roles, including:
- Delivering Christmas orders to offices.
- Acting as a one-person carol service.
- Decorating trees and putting up Christmas lights.
- Walking dogs in central London.
The dog-walking job was a particular highlight. "Walking a dog in central London was my absolute favourite," he said. "I thought the dog might be a bit apprehensive of me at first, but it went really well." Not every task is simple in the heavy suit, however. He noted that installing Christmas lights was "a little bit difficult because this suit is very, very warm."
A Festive Tradition with a Personal Mission
When asked if he would repeat the experience next year, Ryan's answer was an enthusiastic yes. "Yeah, definitely I'd consider doing it again next year," he stated. "Christmas is very important to me personally because of my faith."
He concluded by sharing his Christmas wish for Londoners, highlighting the deeper meaning behind his festive outfit. "There's a lot of bad things that happen in the world and because of that people are a bit more distant with each other," Ryan reflected. "Christmas is usually a time when people come together, so I would love to see people more unified." Through his unusual December job, Ryan Edwards is doing his part to make that wish a reality, one Santa-suited task at a time.
