Hannah Waddingham Debuts New Relationship After "Ride Or Die" Axing
The "Ted Lasso" star stepped out with boyfriend Nick Beresford-Cleary at the premiere of Tom Cruise's film "Digger," her first public appearance since her Prime Video show was cancelled.
Hannah Waddingham made her first public appearance since the announcement of her Prime Video show "Ride Or Die" being axed, attending the premiere of Tom Cruise's film "Digger" with her boyfriend, spinal surgeon Nick Beresford-Cleary. The couple appeared together on the orange carpet, where Waddingham donned a sparkly black gown.
Despite "Ride Or Die" receiving critical acclaim and strong viewership—ranking as the number one most-watched Prime Video original series globally for its first three weeks and boasting a 96% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes—the show was cancelled. Paramount Television Studios, the lead studio behind the comedy, is reportedly seeking other buyers for the series.
Sources suggest the reasons for the cancellation are unclear, but the show's focus on middle-aged women may have been a contributing factor. Deadline editor-in-chief Nellie Andreeva noted that Amazon executives might view this demographic as less valuable for attracting new subscribers, as many middle-aged women already subscribe for shopping purposes.
The cancellation has prompted an outcry from fans on social media, with many urging other streaming services to pick up the show. Comedian and writer Katy Brand expressed that she was not surprised by the decision, citing what she described as rampant misogyny in the film and television industry. Brand, who has written for shows targeting a similar demographic, commented on the challenges women face in the industry, including having their work undermined by less experienced men and facing pushback on content related to middle-aged women.
"Ride Or Die," which stars Waddingham and Octavia Spencer as best friends Judith Burton and Debbie Claybourne, features Waddingham as a secret international assassin. The eight-episode series premiered in July and quickly garnered significant viewership, reportedly being watched for 1.6 billion minutes in the week of July 17 to July 23. In the U.S., it achieved nearly one million views within two days of its release, surpassing other Prime Video releases.
Critical reception for the show was largely positive. The Telegraph awarded it four stars, highlighting Waddingham's charisma, while The Guardian praised it as a "perimenopausal comedy thriller caper of your dreams" and recommended viewers "get Waddinghamed." The Wall Street Journal described the series as "compelling," noting Waddingham's ability to portray both action and comedic elements.
The season finale of "Ride Or Die" concluded with several cliffhangers, leaving fans disappointed and hopeful for a potential continuation.
Waddingham and Beresford-Cleary's relationship was first revealed in May. This marks Waddingham's first public relationship since her long-term partnership with Gianluca Cugnetto ended eight years ago.