{"id":423948,"date":"2024-11-28T12:23:32","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T12:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=423948"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Meet-this-real-life-Grinch-who-likes-to-spread-mayhem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Meet-this-real-life-Grinch-who-likes-to-spread-mayhem\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet this real-life Grinch who likes to spread mayhem"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n

Ryan Swain in character as The Yorkshire Grinch. (Ryan Swain \/ The Yorkshire Grinch PR via SWNS)<\/p>\n

By Hannah Van De Peer via SWNS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Meet the “real life Grinch<\/a>” traveling around the UK this Christmas spreading mischief – by ‘eating light bulbs’ and “torturing” children with his “onion breath.”<\/p>\n

Ryan Swain, 34, decided to take up the role after being compared to his hero, Jim Carrey<\/a>, since childhood.<\/p>\n

Despite the job being unpaid, and one of the \u201chardest\u201d of his career, Ryan says it\u2019s worth it to put smiles on the faces of vulnerable people around the UK.<\/p>\n

He sneakily \u201cgatecrashes\u201d hospitals, SEN groups and community hubs to spread festive mayhem – telling jokes, eating onions “like a maniac”, and ‘swallowing light bulbs’ like the real thing.<\/p>\n

Ryan, an actor, from Malton, North Yorkshire, said: \u201cI love the character so much – and I wanted to put my own spin on it too, even though Jim Carrey is my hero.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all about the big, mischievous, cheeky energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything I do is improv – I\u2019ve got jokes, and a lot of families bring in their own props, like onions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI try to keep it personal to each family.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ryan Swain attends a gig in character as The Yorkshire Grinch. (Ryan Swain \/ The Yorkshire Grinch PR via SWNS)<\/p>\n

-By Talker
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ryan began playing the festive character in 2022 – after being told since childhood he had similar mannerisms to Jim Carrey.<\/p>\n

As a student at the Scarborough School of Arts, he was known for straying away from scripts, veering into \u201cCarrey-style\u201d improvisation.<\/p>\n

A number of his friends pointed out the similarities – and he quickly became Ryan\u2019s Hollywood hero.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always used to fly off the handle with scripts,\u201d Ryan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople would always say things like: \u2018God, he\u2019s just like Jim Carrey.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been watching his films for around 30 years, and I\u2019ve studied all his mannerisms.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a performer, no-one likes to be compared to anyone else – but he\u2019s always been a hero of mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ryan Swain in character as The Yorkshire Grinch. (Ryan Swain \/ The Yorkshire Grinch PR via SWNS)<\/p>\n

-By Talker
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ryan was asked to perform as The Grinch for a Winter Wonderland event opportunity in November 2023 – and he decided to perform as the \u2018Jim Carrey Grinch.\u2019<\/p>\n

Since then, he\u2019s played as the furry festive character each Christmas, visiting children around the UK.<\/p>\n

His act, while mostly improvised, involves him telling jokes for the children and adults, as well as \u201cmaniacally\u201d eating onions and, more recently, sugar glass light bulbs.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of my jokes are very cheeky, and they fly over the kids\u2019 heads,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did a gig last weekend [November 23] with Chris Kamara, and I \u2018gatecrashed\u2019 this awards ceremony.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said: \u2018I\u2019m the biggest star of Christmas, even bigger than you, Chris Kamara – I\u2019m so big, you could put me on top of your Christmas tree.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of families also bring in onions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll pick them up, juggle with them, hold one and bite into it raw, before eating loads of it like a maniac.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I breathe into the children\u2019s faces.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ryan Swain, as the Grinch, says he likes to “torture” children with his “onion breath.” (Ryan Swain \/ The Yorkshire Grinch PR via SWNS)<\/p>\n

-By Talker
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It takes Ryan over an hour to get into make-up for each gig – every wrinkle and tuft of fur is carefully glued to his face.<\/p>\n

He says the time it takes to prepare for the role every year has made it his most difficult yet.<\/p>\n

But, despite not being paid for it, he says it\u2019s \u201call worth it in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Jim Carrey talks about the role, he says it feels like being buried alive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I get it – it\u2019s one of the funnest gigs to do, but also one of the hardest.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes me around an-hour-and-a-half to get ready – preparing the make-up and the costume.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you\u2019re going out there and making a big difference.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people who find Christmas very daunting – why not go out there and spread some Christmas cheer for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u2018Yorkshire Grinch\u2019s\u2019 next stops are the York Hospital on blood day (December 10) and Scarborough District Hospital on December 12.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have decided to volunteer my time, donate some gifts and bring some festive fun and frolics to those who are feeling unwell this Christmas at my local hospitals,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will be visiting both York and Scarborough on blood days so it\u2019ll be very busy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t wait to spend some time with the children and bring them some festive cheer – rather than festive sneer, which the character is known for.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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