Hannah Waddingham takes Apple TV+ 'Home for Christmas' in new special

Hannah Waddingham in "Home for Christmas" (Source: Apple)

"Ted Lasso" star Hannah Waddingham is the center of the Apple TV+ holiday season, and her musical special will now stream from November 22, 2023.

First announced in April — and then filmed at the London Coliseum in May — the special will see Waddingham performing festive classics.

The show follows two previous — and reportedly very expensive — Apple TV+ holiday specials starring Mariah Carey. For 2023, Carey has moved to CBS.

"Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas" is produced by the team behind the Mariah Carey specials, and will feature special guests and what's described as a "spectacular big band."

It's not the first time that Waddingham has performed at the London Coliseum. In 2020, she starred in "The Pirate Queen" there, and told WhatsOnStage what it was like acting in such a prestigious venue.

"Ted Lasso" was the first breakout hit for Apple TV+ and concluded in 2023 with a final season, leaving fans with just shortbread biscuits to remember it by.

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8 Comments

cia 257 comments · 21 Years

About 6 months ago

I get that holiday specials are a thing, but as a live audience member how do you get excited for Christmas songs in May? The recording sessions for these shows must be a very odd experience.

tdknox 82 comments · 13 Years

Most (all?) “Christmas” albums are recorded spring/summer.

mpantone 2035 comments · 18 Years

tdknox said:

Most (all?) “Christmas” albums are recorded spring/summer.

It's one thing to get a handful of industry professionals in a studio/soundstage/set/whatever to record seasonal content.

It's a bit more work to get thousands of audience members to pretend like it's a winter holiday concert. Appropriate attire, behavior, etc. You simply can't have your audience wearing everyday street clothes, a quarter of them mindlessly scrolling through their smartphones.

The film production crew (as well as the talent) are probably encouraged the audience to "enjoy the holiday concert" throughout the shoot; of course such footage was left on the cutting room floor, never intended for the final edit.

Note that nothing prevents the producers from hiring professional actors to portray concert goers for the close up audience reaction shots, carefully choreographed to sing along, hug/kiss, whatever.

jimh2 623 comments · 8 Years

mpantone said:

tdknox said:

Most (all?) “Christmas” albums are recorded spring/summer.

Note that nothing prevents the producers from hiring professional actors to portray concert goers for the close up audience reaction shots, carefully choreographed to sing along, hug/kiss, whatever.

There is nothing preventing the producers doing whatever they want when making something other than committing crimes.