In Game of Thrones, she famously walked behind Cersei Lannister ringing a bell and chanting “shame” during the disgraced queen’s long march through King’s Landing.
And now Emmy Award winning actress Hannah Waddingham is sending the Internet into meltdown as people rush to learn more about Ted Lasso, the Apple TV series that has helped expand her fan base in recent years.
Google search data shows that online searches for the series were up by 518% in the United Kingdom on 22 February — the day the BBC announced that Hannah would co-host both the semi-finals and the grand final in Liverpool.
@wiwibloggs_official This is Hannah Waddingham. #eurovision #tedlasso #eurovision2023 #fyp @William Lee Adams ♬ Ted Lasso Theme – Marcus Mumford & Tom Howe
Hannah is an actress, singer, and musical theatre performer from London. The 48-year-old is best known for her role as Septa Unella in Game of Thrones and as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the latter role in 2021.
A spokesman with Japanese gambling and gaming site 6takarakuji explained the boost this way: “The Emmy-award-winning actress’s presence as a co-host will draw in more interest as they look forward to seeing the Ted Lasso boss ‘Rebecca Welton’ in a different light.”
As we told you yesterday, Hannah will be joined in the semi-finals by singer and TV personality Alesha Dixon and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina of The Hardkiss. Graham Norton — the face of Eurovision in the United Kingdom — will join them for the grand final.
Were you one of the people Googling Ted Lasso? Are you still buzzing about her hosting gig? Let us know down below!
as someone that doesn’t buy into any of these streaming services (money is tight) I had no idea who Hannah was. But youtube did throw up some interviews that she has done so now I am kinda familiar with her.
Buzzing for May!
Secretly hoping Alesha Dixon will jump in for some MCing on Stefania as part of the opening act in the final. Alesha rocks.
I almost lost it when I saw Wiwibloggs’s own Tom on Ted Lasso! Worlds colliding.
The director of the 1972 contest, Terry Hughes, went on to direct over a hundred episodes of The Golden Girls. This is my favourite Eurovision/sitcom connection.
Mine is Father Ted (episodes directed by Declan Lowney that also had Graham Norton as a cast member)
Another good one!
Father Ted also did an episode that parodied Eurovision, look up my lovely horse.
He later went on to direct the Alan Partridge movie. Steve Coogan has worked with 1998 director Geoff Posner. He direct every episode of Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies.
the power of EUROVISION
Y’all are gonna be SO. PISSED. when NOA KIREL will be both host AND winner!! Mark my words!!!
No, bótate a la verga
Ted Lasso is the ultimate example of silly premise getting a top tier development. One of the best sitcoms in recent memory.
Curious if Ted Lasso will create a Eurovision plot line. No brainer exposure for cross branding.
Ted Lasso is a delight of a show.
I love that show.
Nice!
Nice!
I thought this was UK’s artist reveal for a split second ffs lol.
I got Scooch vibes from that photo, I got a fright.
lmao
At this point, announcing the British artist (at least as an Easter egg) in Ted Lasso is an unmissable opportunity XD