Niall Matter and Emily Tennant find romance thanks to a cooking hotline in the new Hallmark movie Holiday Hotline. The film will premiere as part of Hallmark Channel’s 2023 Countdown to Christmas lineup.
New Hallmark movie
In Holiday Hotline, Emily Tennant stars as Abby, a British woman who takes a job in Chicago as a hotline operator for a company that helps people with questions about cooking turkeys. When she first starts the job Abby realizes that her British accent may not help her connect with callers, so she fakes an American accent and calls herself Peggy.
One of her first callers is John (played by Niall Matter), a widower trying to make the perfect holiday meal for his daughter. Soon after, they meet face-to-face, though neither recognizes the other. Abby and John begin to see each other, and John continues to call the hotline for cooking tips.
Abby feels herself torn in two directions. She doesn’t know that the John on the hotline and the John she knows in person are the same guy, and she has feelings for both. When she finds out that her two love connections are with the same person, she’s conflicted. As Christmas approaches, Abby’s two identities come to light and she must find out if John has feelings for her.
About the cast
Emily Tennant played Cecilia Randall on the Hallmark series Cedar Cove. She has appeared in the movies Juno, John Tucker Must Die, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and I, Robot.
Tennant starred in the Hallmark movies Christmas in Canaan (2009), Christmas Comes Home to Canaan (2011), A Novel Romance (2015), The Wedding March (2016), Wedding March 2: Resorting to Love (2017), Garage Sale Mysteries (2017), Marry Me at Christmas (2017), and Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New (2018).
Niall Matter
Niall Matter starred opposite Candace Cameron Bure in the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries series on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. He has appeared in the TV shows Supernatural, The Good Doctor, iZombie, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, and Rizzoli & Isles.
He has starred in the Hallmark movies Stop the Wedding (2016), Finding Father Christmas (2016), Falling For Christmas (2016), Engaging Father Christmas (2017), Frozen in Love (2018), Love at First Glance (2018), Marrying Father Christmas (2018), Christmas at Dollywood (2019), Country at Heart (2020), Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater (2020), A Christmas Together With You (2021), Rip in Time (2022), The Secrets of Bella Vista (2022), When I Think of Christmas (2022), Family History Mysteries: Buried Past (2023), and Come Fly With Me (2023).
Holiday Hotline will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, November 19 at 8/7c.
Broadway star headlines new Hallmark movie set in Germany
Ginna Claire Mason, who played Glinda in the Broadway production of Wicked, will star in the new Hallmark movie A Heidelberg Holiday. The Hallmark movie, which also stars Frédéric Brossier, was filmed on location in Germany.
New Christmas movie
In A Heidelberg Holiday, Ginna Claire Mason stars as Heidi, an artist who makes intricate glass ornaments. When she is chosen to feature her work at the world-famous Christmas Market in Germany, she travels to Heidelberg where she meets Lukas, a local artisan who helps her connect with her heritage.
Ginna Claire Mason
A graduate of Elon University, Ginna Claire Mason starred as Glinda in the Broadway production of Wicked. The Nashville native said her love affair with musical theater started when she was a child.
“I saw my first Broadway show in the fourth grade,” she said in an interview with Broadway.com. “I sat in row K at the Imperial Theatre for Les Misérables. I looked at my mom and intermission was like, ‘People do this for a living? This is their occupation? This thing I do for fun after school is is their actual job?’”
A few years later, Mason saw Wicked with the original cast.
“I told my parents at intermission that I wanted to play Glinda someday, and here we are,” she said.
In 2022, Mason starred in the Countdown to Christmas movie A Holiday Spectacular.
Frédéric Brossier
Frédéric Brossier was born in Frankfurt, Germany. From 2012 to 2016 he studied acting at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover. He has appeared on two TV series in Germany, Mordsschwestern — Verbrechen ist Familiensache and Der Schiffsarzt. A Heidelberg Holiday is his first movie for Hallmark Channel.
A Heidelberg Holiday will premiere on the Hallmark Channel on Sunday, November 12 at 8/7c.
Everything you need to know about all the new Hallmark Christmas movies coming to TV in 2023
Details have been released about new Hallmark Christmas movies coming to TV in 2023. Forty new movies will premiere during the Countdown to Christmas and Miracles of Christmas programming events.
The new movies include romances, dramas, and a sequel to the 2022 Countdown to Christmas hit Haul Out the Holly.
New Hallmark Christmas movies
Programming begins on Friday, October 20. New movies will air every weekend leading up to Christmas. The new titles will star Hallmark favorites such as Evan Roderick, Meghan Ory, Christopher Russell, Catherine Bell, James Denton, Paul Campbell, Stephen Huszar, Wes Brown, Lacey Chabert, Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes, Marcus Rosner, Kevin McGarry, and Michael Rady
Countdown to Christmas
Checkin’ It Twice will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, October 20 at 8/7c.
A journeyman hockey player (Kevin McGarry) falls for a real estate agent (Kim Matula) in a career crisis when he’s traded to her hometown and moves into the cottage in her hockey-loving family’s backyard.
Where Are You, Christmas? will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, October 21 at 8/7c.
When Addy (Lyndsy Fonseca) wishes for a year without Christmas, she wakes up in a world of black and white. She must work together with the town mechanic (Michael Rady) to restore Christmas.
Under the Christmas Sky will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, October 22 at 8/7c.
Jessica Parker Kennedy stars as Kat, an esteemed astrophysicist scheduled for her first trip into space until an accident grounds her.
While on leave, coming to terms with the reality that her dream of being an astronaut is over, she volunteers at the local planetarium. There, she is paired up with David (Ryan Paevey) to work on an exhibit opening right before Christmas. Will the stars align to bring these two together at the holidays?
Christmas by Design will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, October 27 at 8/7c.
A fashion designer (Rebecca Dalton) gets accepted into a Christmas challenge to create a new holiday-themed collection and not only finds the inspiration for her next line but decides to redesign her approach to what’s most important in life.
Mystic Christmas will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, October 28 at 8/7c.
Juniper (Jessy Schram) travels to Mystic, Connecticut during the holidays to work at the rehabilitation center and aquarium. She reconnects with Sawyer (Chandler Massey), the owner of the pizza shop
Joyeux Noel will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, October 29 at 8/7c.
When a romantic painting of a Christmas market captures the imagination of copy editor Lea (Jaicy Elliot), she is sent to France with pragmatic reporter Mark (Brant Daugherty) to uncover the mystery behind the artist.
Flipping for Christmas will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, November 3 at 8/7c.
It’s almost Christmas when busy realtor Abigail (Ashley Newbrough) agrees to help her sister with the “simple flip” of a recently inherited home. Unfortunately, co-beneficiary Bo (Marcus Rosner) has other plans in mind.
Never Been Chris’d will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, November 4 at 8/7c.
Home for the holidays, BFFs Naomi (Janel Parrish) and Liz (Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes) reconnect with high school crush Chris Silver (Tyler Hynes). A complex love triangle forms, forcing them to take stock of their lives and find the value of friendship.
The Santa Summit will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, November 5 at 8/7c.
It’s time for the annual Santa Summit, in which revelers put on Santa suits and hop around designated locations in town to eat, drink, and be merry.
Ava (Hunter King) and Liam (Benjamin Hollingsworth) have an unexpected encounter and then spend the rest of the night trying to reconnect.
Everything Christmas will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, November 10 at 8/7c.
Lori Jo’s (Cindy Busby) love for Christmas takes her on a road trip to Yuletide Springs with her roommate Tori (Kat Barrell), where Christmas is celebrated year-round.
Along the way, the friends meet Carl (Corey Sevier) and Jason (Matt Wells), and the foursome make stops during their journey to enjoy more small-town Christmas attractions. But when a series of events puts a damper on their plans, a little Christmas magic may put this trip back on the right path.
Christmas Island will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, November 11 at 8/7c.
When a snowstorm diverts pilot Kate’s (Rachel Skarsten) first private flight en route to Switzerland, she must team up with an air traffic controller (Andrew Walker) to secure her dream job as a private pilot.
A Heidelberg Holiday will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, November 12 at 8/7c.
Heidi Heidelberg (Ginna Claire Mason) receives the dream opportunity to sell her beautiful, handmade glass ornaments at the prestigious Heidelberg Christmas Market in Germany. While there, she meets Lukas (Frédéric Brossier), a local artisan who helps her reconnect with her lost heritage.
Navigating Christmas will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, November 17 at 8/7c.
Recently divorced Melanie (Chelsea Hobbs) and her son Jason visit a remote island for Christmas, only to find themselves running a real working lighthouse where she connects with the curt but cute owner (played by Stephen Huszar).
A Merry Scottish Christmas will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, November 18 at 8/7c.
When estranged siblings, Lindsay (Lacey Chabert) and Brad (Scott Wolf) Morgan travel to Scotland at Christmas to reunite with their mother, Jo, a big family secret is revealed.
Holiday Hotline will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, November 19 at 8/7c.
After leaving London, Abby (Emily Tennant) connects with an anonymous caller while working at a cooking hotline. The caller is a single dad (Niall Matter) who Abby unknowingly has become smitten with in real life.
Catch Me If You Claus will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Thursday, November 23 at 6/5c.
Italia Ricci stars as an aspiring news anchor who’s finally getting her big break on her station’s Christmas morning newscast. But that’s put in jeopardy when she captures an intruder in her home wearing a red suit claiming to be Chris (Luke Macfarlane), Santa’s son.
Letters to Santa will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, November 24 at 6/5c.
When young siblings receive a magic pen from Santa that appears to grant wishes, they ask for their separated parents (played by Katie Leclerc and Rafael de la Fuente) to reunite.
Holiday Road will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, November 24 at 8/7c.
A group of strangers stranded at the airport rent a van to get home in time for Christmas. They navigate a series of misadventures together and form a deeper bond that just might change the trajectories of each of their lives.
The movie, based on true events, stars Sara Canning, Warren Christie, Enid-Raye Adams, Kiefer O’Reilly, Trevor Lerner, Sharon Crandall, Ryan Mah, and Princess Davis.
Christmas in Notting Hill will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, November 25 at 6/5c.
Soccer star Graham Savoy (played by William Moseley), has always been too busy for love. But when he comes home to Notting Hill for Christmas, he changes his mind after meeting Georgia (Sarah Ramos), a visiting American who has no idea who he is.
Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, November 25 at 8/7c.
As the holidays approach, Emily (Lacey Chabert) and Jared (Wes Brown) are looking forward to celebrating the holidays together again, this time as a couple.
Emily, now embracing Evergreen Lane’s uniquely festive spirit, is ready to work with the local HOA to make sure everything is perfect. But everything is put in jeopardy when a local house is put on the market.
Our Christmas Mural will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, November 26 at 6/5c.
Alex Paxton-Beesley stars as Olivia, a single mom who returns home for Christmas. Her mom secretly enters her into a mural contest. She wins and partners with a local teacher (played by Dan Jeannotte) to create a Christmas masterpiece.
A Biltmore Christmas will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, November 26 at 8/7c.
Lucy Hardgrove (Bethany Joy Lenz) is a screenwriter who lands the job of a lifetime when she’s hired to pen the script for a remake of a classic Christmas movie filmed in 1947 at the historic Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.
While visiting the estate, she travels back through time and finds herself on the set of the original movie. She spends time with one of the film’s stars, played by Kristoffer Polaha, and sparks fly.
My Norwegian Christmas will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, December 1 at 8/7c.
A grieving granddaughter, played by Rhiannon Fish, goes to Norway to learn about her grandmother’s past. While there, she joins a local family in their holiday celebrations.
A Not So Royal Christmas will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, December 2 at 8/7c.
Brooke D’Orsay plays a journalist trying to get an interview with an elusive member of the royal family. Instead, the family gets a groundskeeper (played by Will Kemp) to dress up and pretend to be royalty.
Christmas With a Kiss will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, December 3 at 8/7c.
Mishael Morgan plays a woman who returns home to help with her family’s Christmas Carnival. While there, she has a surprise romantic reunion. The movie also stars Ronnie Rowe Jr. and Jaime M. Callica.
Magic in Mistletoe will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, December 8 at 8/7c.
Paul Campbell plays a successful author whose commercial success has left him a bitter recluse. As he returns to his hometown for an annual Christmas festival celebrating his books, he’s joined by April (Lyndie Greenwood), a publicist for the major publishing house he works with.
April is there for damage control after Harrington’s recent comments on social media have ruffled some feathers. But as she gets to know him better, April decides to try to rekindle his festive spirit.
Christmas on Cherry Lane will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, December 9 at 8/7c.
John Brotherton and Erin Cahill star as a young couple preparing to welcome their first child. Catherine Bell and James Denton play an engaged couple who live next door.
Round and Round will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, December 10 at 8/7c.
Vic Michaelis stars as Rachel, a woman who is stuck in a time loop, reliving the night of her parents’ Hanukkah party.
Can Zach (played by Bryan Greenberg), the “nice boy” Grandma’s trying to set her up with, help her make it to tomorrow?
The Secret Gift of Christmas will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Friday, December 15 at 8/7c.
Meghan Ory stars as a personal shopper who sets out to help her new, widowed client Patrick (Christopher Russell) reconnect with his young daughter. Though Bonnie and Patrick’s ideas of shopping couldn’t be more different, she is determined to get Patrick and his daughter everything on their wish list.
Sealed With a List will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Saturday, December 16 at 8/7c.
Carley, played by Katie Findlay, sets out to conquer her list of abandoned resolutions from last year. Aided by coworker Wyatt (played by Evan Roderick), she finds love and the confidence to chase her dreams.
Friends & Family Christmas will premiere on Sunday, December 17 at 8/7c.
Humberly Gonzales stars as Daniella, who has recently moved to New York to pursue an art career and decides to stay in town to share the holidays with her circle of artist friends and to visit her overbearing parents.
Ali Liebert plays Amelia, a talented entertainment lawyer trying to stay focused on her work after a broken engagement. When Daniella and Amelia are set up by their parents, they agree to pretend that they are dating, to appease them for the holidays. However, as they spend time in each other’s worlds, they soon build a connection that is deeper than either of them could have hoped for.
Miracles of Christmas
Ms. Christmas Comes to Town will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Thursday, October 26 at 8/7c.
A shopping channel host known as Ms. Christmas (Barbara Niven) receives a terminal diagnosis, which inspires a multi-city excursion set to spread Christmas cheer before her farewell broadcast.
My Christmas Guide will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Thursday, November 2 at 8/7c.
After losing his eyesight, a college professor (Ben Mehl) adopts a seeing-eye dog from a guide dog trainer (Amber Marshall). As they all begin to spend time together, his confidence returns and his heart begins to open.
Mystery on Mistletoe Lane will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Thursday, November 9 at 8/7c.
New to town, Heidi Wicks (Erica Cerra) and her kids discover a Christmas mystery in their historic home. Local handyman and historian David (Victor Webster) helps along the way, finding his own surprising connection.
A World Record Christmas will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Thursday, November 16 at 8/7c.
Charlie (Aias Dalman) is an autistic boy determined to set a Guinness World Record by stacking 1,400 Jenga blocks. His mother, (played by Nikki DeLoach) and stepfather Eric (Lucas Bryant) encourage him to reach for his dream and they all celebrate when he gets the good news that he’ll get his chance on Christmas Eve.
They organize a fundraiser giving the townspeople an opportunity to donate and decorate a Jenga block, with the proceeds going to benefit kids with autism. Charlie’s journey to setting the Jenga world record gives them all the chance to learn more not just about themselves, but about what family really means.
A Season for Family will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Wednesday, November 22 at 8/7c.
Stacey Farber plays a woman whose adopted son Wesley (Benjamin Jacobson) has just one Christmas wish: to meet his brother (played by Azriel Dalman), who was adopted into a different family.
Cody’s father (played by Brendan Penny) is a widower who is not ready to have this conversation with his son, so he turns down a meeting. However, circumstances bring the two brothers unknowingly together and they become fast friends.
Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Thursday, November 30 at 8/7c.
Facing her first Christmas without her mother and looking to avoid loneliness, Carly (Shenae Grimes-Beech) heads to a quaint town to lead the church choir at Christmas.
Once there, Carly meets Matthew (Chris Carmack), a man back in town after serving in the army. As she gets to know Matthew, the choir, and the townspeople, she stumbles across clues that suggest she may have been brought here for a life-changing reason.
As the mystery unravels one thing is clear, this journey will teach Carly about true love, learning to trust, and that forgiveness is needed to heal.
To All a Good Night will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Thursday, December 7 at 8/7c.
A small-town photographer (Kimberley Sustad) saves the life of a mysterious man (Mark Ghanimé), who is in town to buy her family’s parkland, which is also the location of the annual Christmas celebration.
Heaven Down Here will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Thursday, December 14 at 8/7c.
Inspired by Mickey Guyton’s song of the same name, “Heaven Down Here” tells the story of four disparate people who find themselves stranded by a snowstorm at a diner on Christmas Eve.
Miracle in Bethlehem, PA will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries on Thursday, December 21 at 8/7c.
Laura Vandervoort stars as a woman who adopts a baby girl just before Christmas. When bad weather strikes, she and the baby get stuck in Bethlehem, PA, for the holidays. When there is no room at the inn, her only option is to stay with the innkeeper’s brother Joe (Benjamin Ayres), a quintessential bachelor who lives in a house that he treats like a barn.
As Mary Ann learns the value of community by spending time with Joe’s family and participating in the local church’s Christmas events, Joe starts getting his act together with new motivation and the two begin to see each other in a new light.
How to decorate your home so that it looks like a Hallmark Christmas movie
Ever wanted your home to look like a Hallmark Christmas movie? Now you can make that happen with some tips from a Hallmark movie set decorator. Jordan Ninkovitch, who decorated the sets for four different Hallmark movies in this year’s Countdown to Christmas and Miracles of Christmas lineups, spoke with People magazine about his ideas.
In the interview, he spoke about everything from engaging all five senses to using non-traditional colors in his designs.
Hallmark Christmas movie
Ninkovich decorated the sets for The Holiday Sitter, which starred Jonathan Bennett, George Krissa, and Chelsea Hobbs; Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas, which starred Tyler Hynes and Holland Roden; A Maple Valley Christmas, which starred Andrew Walker and Peyton List; and Five More Minutes: Moments Like These, which starred Ashley Williams and Lucas Bryant.
Some of the decorations were made by hand, he said.
“We didn’t want to just go out and buy a bunch of stuff, so myself and my amazing crew got together and we made all the stockings and decorations,” he said. We had some fun with it and it brought out our inner children.”
The handmade decorations added to the festive spirit on set.
“…With kid actors that’s a helpful thing I can do to make the environment feel mesmerizing, like, wow, this is going to be exciting, like it’s Christmas morning,” he said.
Blue and gold
In The Holiday Sitter, Ninkovich eschewed the traditional red and green fare and decorated t in shades of blue and gold.
“I want to always think outside of the box and design something new,” he said. “Some of the film definitely has those traditional Christmas palettes, but I thought this was a great opportunity with this movie and everything it stands for, to start some new trends and show a wide range of Christmas styles.”
Layers
One tip Ninkovich shared was to layer decorations and engage the senses. When filming on a set that was supposed to be a New York City condominium, he played Frank Sinatra and burned incense. When he decorated a set that was meant to be a Christmas market, he made sure that chestnuts were roasting and hot cocoa was on hand, touches that helped since filming took place in the summer.
“I had all this fresh Christmas baking going,” he said. “I brought in 18 real Christmas vendors, supporting locals. [The cast and crew] shopped after. It was actually so huge it confused everybody — the public, the staff, the crew. They actually thought, well, wait a minute, is it Christmas in July? When I get those remarks, that’s awesome.”
Hallmark releases details of first 2023 Christmas movie in its Countdown to Christmas lineup
Countdown to Christmas may still be in full swing, but Hallmark has already announced the first 2023 Christmas movie in its lineup.
A Biltmore Christmas will premiere in the 2023 holiday season and will star Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha. The romantic comedy will begin filming in January 2023 at the historic Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.
A network executive said the landmark will be the perfect backdrop to a Christmas romance.
“Each year we look for ways to create exciting, new holiday viewing experiences for our audience,” said Samantha DiPippo, senior vice president of Development and Programming at Hallmark Media. “We know fans will love being transported back in time and the iconic, beautiful Biltmore Estate is the perfect setting to help fans get into the holiday spirit.”
2023 Christmas movie
In A Biltmore Christmas, Bethany Joy Lenz plays Lucy, a screenwriter who lands the job of a lifetime when she’s hired to write the script for a remake of the beloved holiday movie His Merry Bride!
First filmed in 1947 at beautiful Biltmore House, it has long been considered a Christmas classic. As Christmas approaches, Lucy travels to Biltmore Estate for research. She joins a guided tour of the grounds where she gets insights into the history of the location and the filming of His Merry Bride!
She finds herself drawn to a beautiful hourglass on display. When Lucy accidentally knocks it over, she finds herself transported back in time to 1946 as the cast and crew prepare to film His Merry Bride! at Biltmore. Lucy does her best to navigate an unfamiliar place as a woman out of time, charming some and raising suspicions of others.
According to Hallmark, “It’s not long before Lucy catches the eye of the film’s dashing lead Jack Huston (Polaha) and although she initially rebuffs his advances, their connection soon becomes undeniable.” Lucy’s sudden appearance sets off a chain of events that put the production in jeopardy. Before she can return to the present, she must make things right or threaten to alter the future forever. Lucy has one chance to go home but must say goodbye to the man who might be her soulmate unless some Christmas magic can keep the curtain from closing on their love story.
Countdown to Christmas
Hallmark’s annual Christmas movie marathon has once again proved a ratings boon for the company, with the network topping TV ratings for eight straight weeks. Christmas programming on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries attracted more than 36.5 million unduplicated viewers, according to numbers released by Nielsen.