Mariah Carey has been dubbed the “Queen of Christmas” for nearly two decades, but there is now speculation that she may be dethroned.
Mariah’s holiday music has seen her become a cherished mainstay of the festive season since the release of her 1994 single All I Want for Christmas Is You, which is the best-selling holiday song by a female artist of all time.
So much so that a video of her getting ready for Christmas after being ‘frozen’ in a block of ice was posted this week.
However, it has just been revealed that Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham is giving Mariah a run for her money.
As Christmas commercials began to air this week, the actress and stage star appeared in both M&S and Bailey’s ads.
Later this month her Apple TV Plus special Home for Christmas will also be released.
As a result, fans couldn’t help but speculate on Hannah’s potential succession.
‘Mariah who? Christmas belongs to Hannah Waddingham now,’ one person posted on X, formerly Twitter.
‘Hannah Waddingham slowly becoming the Queen of Christmas sorry Mariah,’ someone else shared.
Another added: ‘Everyone else gearing up for “Mariah season” when it seems they haven’t quite got the memo that Christmas is now in fact going to be referred to as “Hannah Waddingham season” actually.’
However, others did point out there was still space for both ladies to shine.
‘Hannah Waddingham is the UK’s Mariah Carey when it comes to Christmas,’ someone else wrote.
Many others were amused that the actress had been cast in two commercials and questioned whether there would be more to come.
‘This is hysterical – do you think all companies are just now finding out they’ve *all* cast Hannah Waddingham in their festive ads?’ one person questioned.
‘You’ve got to admire the chutzpah of Hannah Waddingham in, presumably, telling companies that she wouldn’t limit herself to exclusively appearing in their festive adverts this year and, thus, appearing in ALL the Christmas adverts this year,’ another joked.
Someone else said that Hannah starring in two ads and having her own special ‘might make her the angel on top of my tree this year’.
Despite the outpouring of love for Hannah, the M&S commercial in which she appeared was received with criticism earlier this week.
The commercial’s goal was to encourage people to celebrate Christmas in their own unique way, rather than following traditions that they may not individually appreciate.
However, one outtake aroused uproar when it showed red, green, and silver party hats burning in a fire grate, which some mistook for the colours of the Palestinian flag amid Israel’s current battle with Hamas.
In a statement, M&S apologised for ‘any unintentional hurt caused’ and removed the post, while also noting that the advert was filmed in August.
