Jason tells me how he originally set up the company whilst studying at City of Bristol College. He had recently left the Navy and was keen to make some extra cash to save for university.

With his toned body and enviable ironing and cleaning skills, it seemed logical to combine the two and offer his services as a scantily-clad butler.

"It was never any kind of sex-service," he is keen to point out.

"My typical clients were groups of women having a hen party or girly night-in, who liked the idea of having a handsome butler on hand to serve drinks and do the washing up."

And were such tasks undertaken completely 'in the buff'?

Prospective butlers need to be "confident, friendly and flirtatious"

"Not usually - I have a uniform of apron, cuffs, and collar and bow-tie, but you can always rely on somebody to sneak up behind you and undo the apron strings!"

Talking point

Three years on, the company has gone from strength to strength, and now employs a whole host of sexy young men.

The majority of these are students, and it is important that they don't simply look good: "Our butlers are not just attractive, but also charming, outgoing and articulate."

So, how do these guys feel about what is, in essence, selling their bodies? Do they feel prostituted? Used? Demeaned?

"Not at all!" said one student 'butler' I spoke to.

"We have a great time, and it's an easy way to make some money. Sometimes the women can get a little bit rowdy but it's nothing we can't handle!"

A lot of the company's business now comes from dinner parties, for which a small team of butlers can be hired as a package.

Professional chefs they are not, but they will assist with taking coats, serving food and drinks, clearing away afterwards, and of course, standing around looking pretty.

"All of our feedback has been extremely positive. Having a few butlers at your party both helps things to run smoothly and is a real talking point," says Jason.

'Canapé-wielding Adonis'

Now that the company is bigger, it handles not only hen nights and dinner parties, but also larger-scale launch nights and corporate events.

It has sent butlers all over Bristol, and also to Cheltenham, Leicester and London.

Ultimately, Jason hopes Butlers in the Buff will become a nationwide phenomenon, with a team of butlers in every major city.

So, can anybody become a butler?

"Absolutely. We get requests for all kinds of men, so anybody that's interested should contact us through the website. All we ask is that you are confident, friendly and a little flirtatious."

And the all-important question: how much does a canapé-wielding Adonis actually cost?

"It's usually around £50 per hour for one butler, but most of our packages are tailor-made for an individual client, so prices are negotiable."

Not cheap then, but I know what I'll be asking Father Christmas for…