And yet, while many of us are starting to compile our annual Christmas playlists, it doesn’t feel like that long ago that Waddingham was on our screens presenting a very different musical event, Eurovision. “It was a crazy week. We were working 15 to 17 hours a day but it was so special. I would honestly present it every year if I could, so we need to start winning it more often,” she laughs.

Music has been a major part of Waddingham’s life but we’ve also come to know and love her in the TV show Ted Lasso, where she plays Rebecca Welton and which earned her an Emmy award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy. There’s even a Ted Lasso touch to the actor’s new show (which is as much as we can say for now).

Watching Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas is reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour – a purposeful move by the actor. “It comes from the 22 years I’ve spent in musical theatre (here and in New York) and I wanted it to be completely live and untouched. No gimmicks, just opulent, beautiful and old-school.”

And that opulence is very much present in where the show is set, in the London Coliseum. There’s a scene towards the end of the show where Waddingham and the camera pan to the audience and viewers catch a glimpse of the sheer beauty and vastness of the venue. It’s a place that holds special significance for Waddingham. “It’s been in my life since I was eight years old, running around while my mum worked as an opera singer. And in a strange twist of fate, my daughter was also exactly eight years old when we were shooting the show.”

She describes her new special as one of the “greatest achievements of my career. It was a very emotional moment for me, having this as a love letter to both my mum and my daughter.”

Christmas is a big deal in the Waddingham household, even more so now that the actor has her daughter. “For me, Christmas is all about the children – that awe and wonder through their eyes. And my little girl is very much taken with Father Christmas so I go the whole nine yards. I’ll put on a big pair of boots, sprinkle caster sugar on the floor to make it look snowy and even take a bite of the mince pie she leaves out for the reindeer.”

If, like me, you’re wondering when the festivities officially begin for Waddingham, she shares she’s usually a 1 December kind of person, but this year it was a lot earlier. “My Christmas began in February with the planning of the Apple TV+ special and we filmed it on one of the hottest days of the year in May. And I shot the M&S and Baileys Christmas ads in August, so I’ve been feeling festive for a while.”

But Christmas Day itself is very low-key and traditional, with presents, lunch and festive TV. “I like it to be a calm and quiet affair because my career can be so crazy busy,” she explains. She also describes her festive love language as having people over, putting some Christmas tunes on and feeding people. “But I don’t cook! I usually just get some small bits and pieces for people to snack on.”

And to combat the dreaded January blues? Waddingham likes to go on holiday and enjoy some “downtime” with her friends and family. Preferably somewhere sunny, of course.

Even though that warm and fuzzy Christmas feeling comes very late in the season for me (if at all), hanging up the call with Waddingham definitely lit a festive spark within me and even saw me nipping out to buy a Christmas sandwich for lunch. Who says November is too early?

Images: Apple TV+