What if Father Christmas had Parkinson’s disease?

UK comedy legend Paul Mayhew-Archer, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011, has performed a new poem which imagines that Father Christmas has Parkinson’s – as part of a charity Christmas appeal

What if Father Christmas had Parkinson’s?

This is the question posed in a new poem written by UK TV comedy writer, Paul Mayhew-Archer MBE.

As part of a Christmas appeal for UK charity Cure Parkinson’s, Archer’s poem, ‘When Santa got Parkinson’s’, was performed online by members of Parkinson’s community at the virtual Christmas concert, ‘Carols for a Cure’, on 8 December.

Archer’s poem imagines a Christmas where Santa Claus is diagnosed with Parkinson’s, in a humorous and touching story that ends by encouraging the public to help in the search for a cure for the condition.

 Performing the poem

Paul Mayhew-Archer and friends performing the poem

Archer, known for co-writing the British comedy series ‘The Vicar of Dibley’, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011. Last year, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to people with the condition.

Joining Archer to virtually perform the poem were other notable figures from Parkinson’s community, including Cure Parkinson’s patron and former England rugby captain Mike Tindall, Parkinson’s Africa founder Omotola Thomas, British journalist Rory Cellan-Jones, and British quiz host and broadcaster Paul Sinha.

Watch ‘When Santa got Parkinson’s’:

Read more:

Paul Mayhew-Archer pens new BBC drama about Parkinson’s

‘Gifted’ with Parkinson’s: a new poem for Christmas and the New Year