Last Christmas: All you need to know about Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding's festive rom-com

It’s been more than 15 years since we were excited by a Christmas movie set in the UK - yes, Love Actually really was released in 2003 - but all that is about to change.

Last Christmas is a festive rom-com based entirely in the British capital, and which director Paul Feig has described as a “love letter to London”.

Starring Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding and Emma Thompson - who also co-wrote the screenplay - the festive rom-com features the music of George Michael, including the classic Wham! song of the film’s title.

From the trailer and the release date, to the storyline and the cast in a nutshell, we reveal everything you need to know about Last Christmas...

How to watch Last Christmas in the UK

Following its release in cinemas over the 2019 festive period, Last Christmas is available on home entertainment release now.

BT TV customers can buy Last Christmas from the BT TV Film Store now.

It will be available to rent, and on DVD, from Monday, March 16.

First look trailer: Get a glimpse of the magic here!

The cast in a nutshell

Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones, Me Before You) plays shop worker Kate, while Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians, A Simple Favor) plays her love interest, Tom.

Emma Thompson (Love Actually, Nanny McPhee), who also co-wrote the film’s screenplay, stars as Kate's mother.

The film also stars Golding's Crazy Rich Asians on-screen mother Michelle Yeoh, alongside Rebecca Root (Boy Meets Girl), Patti LuPone (Pose) and Ingrid Oliver (Doctor Who).

Storyline info: What happens in Last Christmas?

Kate (Emilia Clarke) harrumphs around London, a bundle of bad decisions accompanied by the jangle of bells on her shoes, another irritating consequence of her job as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop. 

Tom (Henry Golding) seems too good to be true when he walks into her life and starts to see through so many of Kate’s barriers. 

As London transforms into the most wonderful time of the year, nothing should work for these two. But life takes a new turn and sometimes, well - you just gotta have faith.

Filming locations revealed: A very festive London

Last Christmas was filmed in London from the end of November 2018 until February 2019 - when the city is at its most festive.

Londoners will recognise Covent Garden, Oxford Street, Cecil Court and Soho from the film's trailer. The ice skating scene in the trailer was filmed in Alexandra Palace.

In a previous interview, director Paul Feig said: “We shot in central London in locations that people don’t normally shoot at like Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, on The Strand, on The Embankment, in Covent Garden. I love London, my mom’s side of the family is British, so it really exciting to show off the London that I love.”

Director Feig confirmed on Instagram that fiiming had wrapped in February 2019:

Reviews round-up: ‘Funny and warm-hearted’

Clarisse Loughrey from The Independent calls Emilia Clarke's portrayal of Kate "funny and self-effacing", commenting that we finally get to see the actress' goofy side after her years in big-budget drama Game of Thrones.

Hannah-Rose Yee from Stylist called Michelle Yeoh's turn as Santa the film's "secret star", adding that she felt "most connected" to her character by the end of the film.

Thomas Floyd from the Washington Post calls Last Christmas a "warmhearted story of trauma, survivors' guilt and reinvention", while Terri White from Empire admires the film's "push for social relevance".

Fan reaction: ‘Emotional and charming’

Last Christmas trivia and Easter eggs: 5 facts you didn’t know

1. Look closely in the scene where Kate's dad is driving her home in his cab and you might spot Emilia Clarke's dragon tattoos on her wrist. She got the tattoos during the final season of Game of Thrones as an homage to her character, Daenerys, Mother of Dragons.

2. It’s the first Christmas film Emma Thompson has starred in since the 2003 smash hit, Love Actually. 

3. It’s also the first time Thompson has collaborated with her husband Greg Wise on a writing project - they both came up with the story for the film. 

4. The film features George Michael's previously unreleased track titled This Is How (We Want You To Get High), which he worked on before his death on Christmas Day 2016.

5. Eagle-eyed viewers might spot that George Michael’s Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley is in the audience during the final performance of the song Last Christmas at the homeless shelter concert.

Last Christmas is available on home entertainment release now.