Mayor Peduto has confirmed what many had suspected recently, namely that he is hoping to be cast in the role of Santa Claus in a local live-action remake of the 1964 stop-animation classic, Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer.

“What possible other explanation could there be for looking like this?”

He said he was letting people know given the extent of speculation about his appearance on social media.

“It’s always been a dream of mine.”

This follows a habit he adopted earlier in the year of changing into sneakers and a cardigan during council meetings which first alerted colleagues to the Mayor’s silver screen ambitions.

“Of course they’ll probably just hand the role to Tom Hanks as usual.”