Naughty boy who went viral threatening to punch Santa apologises in new video to get back on ‘good list’

ESSEX, UK, 21 November 2023 - The cheeky kid who went viral when he threatened to “punch Santa’s beard off” is back - and this time he has an apology for the man in the red suit.

Little rascal Jackson, from Chelmsford, Essex was five years old when his dad, Jack, filmed a heated discussion between the two of them over the possibility of the youngster being on 'the bad list’ if his behaviour didn’t improve.

Now, after five years of reflection, the repentant schoolboy can be seen finally saying “Sorry” and explaining “Me and Santa are alright now”.

Ten-year-old Jackson makes his peace in a cute video shot by TUI in which he takes on the role of 'Chief Good List Officer' and offers lucky children the chance to win a magical trip to Lapland.

Earlier in the 43-second clip, posted on Instagram (@‌action_jacksonlee), he explains how he gained global infamy in 2019. “When I was five, I told Santa I’d punch his beard off if he put me on the bad list,” Jackson says.

He then reveals he is in charge of TUI’s Good List and offers well-behaved kids the chance to explain why their name should be on it, with one successful applicant and their family winning the once-in-a-lifetime trip.

But then, risking being once again relegated to the bad list, brassy Jackson grins as he says: “Dad, even if he puts me on the good list I’ll still punch his beard off!”

The heart-warming video ends with him being grilled by the film’s director and his 35-year-old dad about the possibility that he may actually be banned from Lapland for his outburst five years ago.

Exasperated, Jackson says: “Dad!, I was never on the bad list, this is a myth you made up!”

To coincide with the funny festive video TUI carried out a study which revealed the heart-warming and often comical lengths children go to in a bid to qualify for Father Christmas’s ‘good list’ and secure their dream presents.

They include finishing their dinner, including all their ‘greens’ (59%), resisting the urge to argue with siblings (52%), and offering to help with cooking the dinner (56%).

It also emerged 35% of UK kids aged three to 11 start writing their Christmas wish lists in November. Furthermore 55% of parents said they noticed an improvement in their little one’s behaviour in October.

The poll of 1,203 kids and parents also found a holiday or experience tops the list of wishes for 78% of children, with 45% dreaming of seeing Santa in Lapland. Five to six-year-olds were revealed as the most dedicated to writing their wish lists (34%) followed closely by three- to four-year-olds (32%).

“For more than 15 years we’ve been creating incredible Christmas memories for families across the country with our Lapland packages,” said Phillip Iveson, commercial director of TUI UK & Ireland.

“Last year alone we took nearly 40,000 Brits to Lapland to experience real Christmas magic, so we’re not surprised that it tops hundreds of Christmas wish lists.

“When Jackson said he’d give us a hand to give one lucky family an experience of a lifetime, we jumped at the chance.

“At TUI we’re all about making lasting memories that stay with families for the rest of their lives, and what better place to do that than in the most magical place of all at Christmas time?”

The lucky winner will travel to a TUI hotel in Lapland, with their family, in 2024 and will have the special opportunity to read their Christmas wish list to Santa, and enjoy other incredible festive experiences including snowmobile rides and a visit to the Snow Village.

To be in with a chance to win, you can enter on the competition site with entries valid from 20 November to 6 December 2023 at 23:59.

Behaviour guaranteed to get a child on Santa’s Good List:

ENDS