Kids dedicate quite a good bit of their Saturday afternoon writing their Santa list – sure, they’ve only got one shot at it!
But this weekend it wasn’t just our youngsters who were putting pen to paper - Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch was also writing his.
However, rather than asking for the latest toy or gadget, the father-of-one asked Santa to give children the chance to grow up and help adults deal with our many man-made problems.
"This is what I'd like to ask you to help with. A little more time for children to be children. Stretch the moment of magic and playfulness," he wrote.
"Distract them from the realities of a world gone mad so that they can laugh with their breath rather than sob with their tears. Especially those caring for family members, or suffering illness, hunger or poverty."
"Especially those hiding in buildings as bombs rain down, or being handed shaking with fear or cold into a boat to escape environmental disaster or war. Please help to light up their worlds with a moment of joy and hope."
Speaking on behalf of adults all over, the 39-year-old who is married to Sophie Hunter said: "Now we get our own presents, control our own fates, take responsibility for our own actions, and live in the world we have created."
"So it's not for us to turn around and plead for your help with the environment, the migrant crisis, the NHS, education, food banks, human rights, fundamentalism and wars.
"Though God knows we need all the help we can get with all these man-made problems and more."
Finishing his list, the star promises Santa with “extra port and mince pies”, before cheekily added: “Please could I have that lightsaber now?”
The letter was written as part of Letters Live, an event to celebrate of the power of literary correspondence. Jude Law, Stephen Fry and Sandi Toksvig also read out their own intimate letters to a crowd of thousands.
