Opinion | ‘Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas’ Review: Belting Out the Season’s Songs on Apple TV+

‘They don’t make ’em like that anymore” isn’t one thing one would say, politely, about Hannah Waddingham, however it does apply to “Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas,” a really musical vacation TV particular as merrily, madly anachronistic as Bing Crosby in a sleigh stuffed with eggnog. There is singing, there’s dancing, there are a number of costume modifications. Heralding the incipient tsunami of vacation programming, this can be the one program to observe, maybe whereas making ready Thanksgiving dinner.

It’s a bit early for yuletide TV cheer, regardless of the commercials which were airing since earlier than Halloween. But there’s a practice to be upheld right here: Those accustomed to Ms. Waddingham from her function in “Ted Lasso” (as crew proprietor Rebecca Welton) should be reeling from the notorious “Carol of the Bells” episode of 2021; it aired in August. It did, nevertheless, assist introduce American audiences to the actor’s vocal presents. Her musical-theater abilities are a lot better identified within the U.Ok., the place she has earned a number of Olivier Award nominations for her roles on the London stage, which have included components in “Spamalot,” “Into the Woods” and “The Wizard of Oz.” She additionally performed Septa Unella within the fifth season of “Game of Thrones,” a lesbian mother in “Sex Education,” and was one of many higher issues in regards to the latest PBS presentation of “Tom Jones.” She has, one may say, credentials.