‘Ted Lasso’ Star Hannah Waddingham Stole the Show in ‘Michael Bublé’s Christmas in the City’

One of the best new holiday traditions is watching Canadian crooner Michael Bublé sing the yuletide hits on network TV. Last night’s lavish NBC Christmas special, Michael Bublé’s Christmas in the City, came with an extra treat, however. Sure, Bublé welcomed the likes of Jimmy Fallon, Leon Bridges, Camilla Cabello, and living felt legend Kermit the Frog to his show, but it was bestie Hannah Waddingham who brought the house down. Bublé introduced his friend by singing her praises as a human being and Ted Lasso star, before letting her basically steal the show. Hannah Waddingham dazzled viewers with her pristine pipes, holly red ballgown, and enthusiasm — and with good reason. Hannah Waddingham has long been the best. It’s only now that we Americans have realized it.

Hannah Waddingham is a 47-year-old British actress and singer who has recently shot to international fame thanks to her work on Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso. In fact, Waddingham won an Emmy for her work in the first season just this year. However, you might best know her in a far less jovial role. Waddingham played Septa Unella in Game of Thrones, aka the nun who rang a bell and shouted “Shame!” at Cersei during her harrowing walk through King’s Landing. What can we say? The woman has range.

Now it seems that some folks on Twitter were losing their minds over seeing Waddingham flaunt her ferocious vocal talents on Michael Bublé’s Christmas in the City last night, but Ted Lasso fans should know better. After all, Waddingham was singing exactly the same iconic carol that she tore into in Ted Lasso Season 2 Episode 4 “Carol of the Bells.” At one point in the episode, Waddingham’s Rebecca sings “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” with a group of London buskers. (And you can see rehearsal footage of the number online.)

The thing I keep thinking about Hannah Waddingham is that her recent success is so well deserved. Putting aside Bublé’s fawning introduction about what a great person she is, Waddingham is a talented person. Prior to her Ted Lasso success, she was best know in the UK as a beloved powerhouse on the West End stage. (The West End is British people’s Broadway.) For Broadway/New York folks, Waddingham was sort of like the UK’s version of Laura Benanti. Meaning she’s a supremely talented actress with stellar singing skills, killer comic timing, and outrageous beauty whom everyone adores, but who is best known for making her bread and butter on stage. Not on screen. Ted Lasso sort of upended that trajectory for Waddingham, though, and gave her the kind of heat that wins awards and earns guest spots on NBC Christmas specials. (Speaking of which, WHERE IS LAURA BENANTI’S TED LASSO?)

If Hannah Waddingham surprised you in Michael Bublé’s Christmas in the City, then brace yourself for more Hannah Waddingham to come. The actress has already been cast opposite legends Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy in Hocus Pocus 2 and Ted Lasso Season 3 is on the way. One expects that someone will sagely give the star an album of her own, to boot. Perhaps a Christmas album? Or maybe just a collection of musical standards. Lord knows she can deliver on that, high notes and all…

Where to stream Michael Bublé's Christmas in the City