Apple has simply launched its 2023 Christmas particular, a “musical extravaganza” starring Hannah Waddingham of Ted Lasso fame, joined by a lineup of particular company, simply in time to kick off the vacation season.
Waddingham is probably greatest generally known as the workforce proprietor Rebecca Welton on Apple’s hit comedy sequence, a task that earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Excellent Supporting Actress in a Comedy Sequence. This 12 months’s one-hour particular, Hannah Waddingham: Dwelling for Christmas, was recorded dwell at The Coliseum in London and can characteristic Waddingham “ringing within the season with musical performances of beloved Christmas classics.”
Apple has additionally introduced {that a} companion soundtrack album is launching concurrently with the particular and is obtainable on all main music streaming platforms — not simply Apple Music. The Apple TV+ particular, nevertheless, is obtainable solely to Apple TV+ subscribers.
In a cute twist, Apple additionally posted a promo clip on X (previously Twitter), with a cameo by Jason Sudeikis probably reprising his function at Ted Lasso “again in England for an additional job” — on this case, driving Hannah Waddingham to the gala.
Waddingham might be joined on stage by a number of company, together with Ted Lasso alum Phil Dunster (Jamie Tartt) together with Sam Ryder, Luke Evans, and Leslie Odom Jr. Extra performances embody the English Nationwide Opera, the London Homosexual Males’s Refrain, and The Fabulous Lounge Swingers, plus an 18-piece band to again every part up.
Whereas your complete particular is now out there to Apple TV+ subscribers simply in time for post-turkey leisure, Apple additionally launched a trailer earlier this month for many who need a sneak peek at what they will count on.
This 12 months’s Christmas musical marks a return to the format by Apple, which took a hiatus final 12 months after two back-to-back years of Mariah Carey specials. As an alternative, Apple targeted on children’ specials for the 2022 vacation season, together with Fraggle Rock: Again to the Rock and the Oscar-winning The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.
Whereas Hannah Waddingham: Dwelling for Christmas is meant to ring within the vacation season, Apple can be debuting The Velveteen Rabbit right now, a blended live-action and animated adaptation of the timeless basic youngsters’s e-book by Margery Williams.
“The Velveteen Rabbit” celebrates the magic of unconditional love. When 7-year-old William receives a brand new favourite toy for Christmas, he discovers a lifelong buddy and unlocks a world of magic.
Apple can be re-releasing final 12 months’s vacation characteristic movie, Spirited, in theatres this weekend and can start streaming a brand new sing-along model on Apple TV+ on December 1 so the entire household can take part.
Apple additionally has a number of different vacation exhibits in retailer as we get nearer to Christmas, together with some seasonal episodes of household exhibits like The Snoopy Present, and this 12 months’s characteristic vacation movie, The Household Plan, set to premiere on December 15. Naturally, all of Apple’s beforehand launched vacation content material remains to be out there, together with the earlier Mariah Carey and Fragile Rock specials and, after all, the slate of Charlie Brown Vacation Classics, from the unique 1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas to 2003’s I Desire a Canine for Christmas, Charlie Brown and the Apple Unique, Snoopy Presents: Auld Lang Syne.