Hannah Waddingham delivers an instant classic with the charming and comforting Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas on Apple TV+.
From start to finish, Waddingham is the star of the festive show — a point even her fabulous costume changes accent (Picking a favorite is impossible!). The multi-hyphenate puts on a show that feels like a sparking drink, a warm hug, and a safe place to fall during a season that can be lonely, all wrapped up in a big, red bow.
In many ways, Ted Lasso fans will find similarities to what Keeley Jones describes as “Sexy Christmas” in 2×04, “Carol of the Bells.” She calls the celebration “a swinging, Sinatra, Vegas-type Christmas for adults where we get all dressed up and we sip on martinis and sit by the fire.” Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas captures that vibe, not just because more than a few familiar faces from the football-forward show pop up. Waddingham brings all that sophistication on her own — and she owns it.
One of the most striking gifts of this special, beyond her incredible stage presence and stunning singing, is Waddingham’s deserved celebration of herself.
It shouldn’t still be rare to see women acknowledge and amplify their achievements. Because it is, it’s cheer-worthy to see Waddingham twirl in her “Christmas business casual” red dress and unashamedly know she is a “stunning blond with incredible hair and killer vocals,” even if the latter also applies to the excellent Sam Ryder. Waddingham and Ryder’s rendition of “Run Rudolph Run” will be on repeat all season!
The humorous appearance of Brett Goldstein in a hot tub plays on Roy Kent’s advice to Rebecca Welton on Ted Lasso 2×01, “Goodbye Earl.” Still, it also serves as another opportunity for Waddingham to recognize how incredible she is. Never once does she doubt her voice, her hair, or her dress. Goldstein is right to describe as “the world’s greatest entertainer.” She is brilliant at every turn, including how she fills the stage at the London Coliseum with velvet tones, literally and vocally.
The crushed reds and greens create a warm, welcoming environment for Leslie Odom Jr., The Fabulous Lounge Swingers & Phil Dunster, Luke Evans, everyone in the audience, and everyone at home. Waddingham describes the London Coliseum as her family’s home during her mother, Meldoie’s tenure there as a mezzo in the English National Opera Chorus. Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas feels like Waddingham inviting everyone into that home with personal touches like those stories from her heart.
The inclusion of Waddingham’s daughter, Kitty, is incredibly moving, specifically in how the holiday special respects her privacy and only shoots from behind her. Moreover, it’s impossible to walk away from Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas without the beautiful timing of Kitty being the same age and sitting in the same box that Waddingham did when she watched her mother perform. Waddingham’s cover of “O Holy Night” is already tear-worthy, but that additional context makes the waterworks inevitable.
It’s easy to let Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas sweep you up in the holiday spirit so everything becomes emotional. Juno Temple‘s appearance as Waddingham’s “Christmas miracle” is a quick yet sweet reminder of their larger-than-life friendship forged alongside Rebecca and Keeley Jones’s on Ted Lasso. It also couldn’t be sillier to see Billy Harris, Brendan Hunt, James Lance, Kola Bokinni, and Nick Mohammed crash Waddingham’s performance of “The Man with the Bag” with comically large props.
Still, it tugs on the heartstrings because of how close the Ted Lasso cast has become.
But that’s the point Waddingham makes with Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas — it’s a family affair.
From the London Gay Men’s Chorus and the tables of Game of Thrones, Sex Education, and Ted Lasso stars to the inclusion of her parents and daughter, this holiday special is Waddingham’s “festive extravaganza,” of which we (as the audience) are now a critical part. It’s why this holiday special couldn’t find a better opening number than “What Christmas Means to Me” because the intimate evidence of such for Waddingham is as visible — and magical — as cookie crumbs left by Santa Claus.
A shining example of such is Waddingham’s duet of “Winter Wonderland” with Evans, whom she reveals to have known for 20 years. Because of the more recent costars surrounding Waddingham with love and light throughout the festivities, it’s easy to forget Waddingham’s illustrious career dates back before 2015 and spans the stage and the screen. So, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas is a delightful addition to holiday specials for Apple TV+, but it’s also a celebration of Waddingham.
Equally as evident is the love everyone — from the band and dancers to the special guests and audience members — has for Hannah Waddingham.
Like Mohammed’s sensible bag of snow, that admiration and appreciation delicately fall over every duet, dance number, joke reception, and standing ovation throughout Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas. It makes it impossible to watch this holiday special and not beam from ear to ear. If only for its duration, this special elicits warm, fuzzy, and magical feelings — a perfect pairing for the holiday season.
These feelings combine in a heartfelt ending featuring none other than Jason Sudeikis.
Because of the sheer volume of Ted Lasso stars that appear throughout the festivities, it’s tough to imagine that Sudeikis won’t make at least a small cameo — until Waddingham reminds the viewer that Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas is full of holiday magic. So, of course, the special ends with a few twinkles and winks to the camera as the duo puts their spin on a classic, “Jingle Bells.” It’s such a perfect bow on the event. All in all and in ways only she can, Hannah Waddingham delivers a gift that will keep on giving for years to come with this instant classic of an Apple TV+ holiday special.
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Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas is streaming on Apple TV+.
Best hour of television since Ted Lasso ended. The magic literally jumps off the stage and Hannah Waddingham leaves you in awe of her incredible talent. Even my 19 month old granddaughter was spellbound. Definitely a Christmas classic.