One chapter a day · 1 to 24 December

The Christmas Present

Brian finally gave his old coat to the man outside his office. He forgot what was in the pocket: a £50 million lottery ticket.

A funny, warm London Christmas story, delivered to your inbox one chapter every morning, like an advent calendar. The first five chapters are free.

Jackpot drawDec 2026

£50,000,000

031214242531

Corner shop, LondonLucky dip

Found in the pocket of an old winter coat.

The calendar

Open a door every morning.

Each chapter lands at 7am on its day, and takes about five minutes to read with your first coffee. Tap a door to peek.

Door 1 opens in

--days

--hours

--mins

Door 1: The Bag

Tuesday 1 December. Brian Harper has been promising to take a bag of old clothes to the charity shop for nine days. He's also promised to be home by six to do the tree.

How it works

Like an advent calendar, but a story.

Step 1

Sign up free

Pop in your email address. That's all.

Step 2

Read chapters 1 to 5

One every morning from 1 December, on the house.

Step 3

Unlock the rest for £2.99

Chapters 6 to 24 keep arriving every day until Christmas Eve.

Step 4

Christmas morning

A bonus final chapter lands on Christmas Day itself.

Joining late? You get every chapter released so far straight away, then one a day. It's never too late before Christmas Eve.

Give it as a present

A gift that arrives every morning.

Send the whole story to someone you love. They get a chapter in their inbox every day until Christmas, with your message on the first one.

£2.99

Choose the day it starts, from now until Christmas Eve.
Add a personal message.
Works for anyone with an email address, on any phone or computer.

Gift it

To Mum, love Sophie

"Open one every morning. Don't skip ahead. I know what you're like."

The Christmas Present · chapter 1 of 24

The story

Fifty million pounds. One condition.

Brian Harper works in advertising, makes perfect Christmas adverts and misses every real Christmas moment at home. His wife Sarah has asked him for nine days to take his old clothes to the charity shop.

Eddie sleeps in the doorway outside Brian's office. He doesn't want your fifty pence. He'd like a tea, two sugars, and a bacon sandwich, since you asked.

When Brian's old coat ends up on Eddie's back with a winning ticket in the pocket, Eddie makes him an offer: all the money, in exchange for the one thing he has never had. A family. Brian's family.

"I want someone to ring if something goes wrong. Someone who notices if I don't come home."

Eddie, chapter 6

Questions

Good to know

How much does it cost?

Chapters 1 to 5 are free. The rest of the story, including the Christmas Day bonus, is £2.99, paid once. No subscription.

When do the chapters arrive?

One at 7am every morning from 1 to 24 December, and the bonus chapter on Christmas morning.

I've missed the start. Can I still join?

Yes. Sign up any day before Christmas Eve and you'll get every chapter released so far straight away, then the rest one a day.

Is it suitable for the whole family?

Yes. It's a warm, funny Christmas story for adults that you can happily read aloud with older children.

Can I buy it as a book?

The full story will be published as a book after Christmas. Readers who sign up hear first.