Behind the Dates: Showrunner Erin Rodman and Writer Zac Hug on Twelve Dates ’Til Christmas
Fans of Twelve Dates ’Til Christmas, pull up a chair and maybe a posh pie, because today’s episode of Girls Gone Hallmark is a treat. We’re thrilled to welcome two of the creative minds behind Hallmark’s brand-new six-episode holiday rom-com series: showrunner Erin Rodman (The Christmas House, Christmas Class Reunion) and writer/producer Zac Hug (Ghost of Christmas Always, The More the Merrier).
If you’ve listened to our episode reviews, you already know we are obsessed with this series. It’s fresh, funny, warm, and just the kind of storytelling we wish Hallmark would lean into more often. So getting to pick Erin and Zac’s brains about how this all came together was a total holiday gift.
Here’s everything we covered in this delightful, wide-ranging conversation.
Listen to Girls Gone Hallmark’s Interview with Erin Rodman and Zac Hug of Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas
How Twelve Dates ’Til Christmas Came to Life
The journey started five years ago, when Erin received an early manuscript of Jenny Bayliss’ novel Twelve Dates of Christmas before it was even published. She loved it, but life got busy, as it does, and the project didn’t move forward… until that same producer ended up at Hallmark and called her again.
And the rest is Hallmark history.
Erin connected directly with author Jenny Bayliss, who became an essential partner by joining the writer’s room, offering story perspective, and even traveling to set. What you see onscreen is truly the result of a writer and novelist tag team.
A Hallmark Show With a Fresh Tone? Yes, Please.
We’ve all noticed it: Twelve Dates ’Til Christmas doesn’t just feel good; it feels different. Still Hallmark through and through, but sharper, quicker, more grounded, a little Netflix-y.
According to Erin and Zac, that wasn’t accidental.
The series format gave them more time to build characters, relationships, and emotional lives that aren’t possible in a single 85-minute movie. Add in the influence of author Jenny Bayliss, Hallmark executives willing to try something new, and co-showrunner Davah Avena (whose background includes Firefly Lane and major network work), and the tone naturally landed in this fresh, sparkly place.
It’s still Hallmark, but a Hallmark with more depth, more nuance, and more room for messy, relatable humans.
Enter Mae Whitman: The Kate We Didn’t Know We Needed
One of our biggest questions going in: Was the character Kate always written with Mae Whitman in mind?
No. But she was #1 on their casting wishlist.
And somehow, a true holiday miracle, she said yes within days.
According to Erin and Zac:
- Mae brought comedy instincts, fearlessness, and endless creativity
- She pitched jokes and variations on lines on the spot
- She elevated scenes by leaning into the emotional nuance
- She clicked instantly with the directors
- She led the cast with kindness, humor, and professionalism
Erin joked that if someone ever made a movie of her life, she’d want May to play her—which honestly makes perfect sense once you hear how the character developed.
And yes, some of the lines you love are improvised or Mae-enhanced. Including “you crumbled like a cookie.”
Filming in Ireland: A Magical Experience (with Sheep!)
If you thought the show’s visual world felt transportive, that’s because it truly was.
The team shot:
- Five Days in London
- The remainder in Ireland, which stood in for the fictional village of Blexford
According to Erin and Zac:
- The Irish crew was exceptional
- Locals welcomed the production with open arms (and open fields)
- They somehow had almost no rain, which is a true Irish blessing
- A real tailor shop became Kate’s workplace
- Entire sets (like the escape room) were built from scratch
- The sheep in Episode 3? Borrowed from a nearby farmer, complete with a herding dog
And yes, the sheep tried to break into craft services.
Favorite Dates, Difficult Dates & the Big Finale
Creating 12 dates meant designing 12 cinematic moments that each had to feel special. Some were easier than others.
The hardest?
- The London Eye — which ultimately didn’t happen
- Date Twelve — the pressure of making the finale feel big, emotional, and earned
A sleeper favorite? The fully built-from-nothing escape room.
And if you’re curious about the love-triangle-ish-but-not-exactly situation around Callum, Richard, and Kate, well so are we! The team wanted viewers to genuinely consider multiple possibilities, while still rooting for Kate’s self-discovery above all.
Mac & Evelyn: The Relationship That Stole Our Hearts
We could’ve talked about these two forever. And so could Erin and Zac.
Jane Seymour and Nathaniel Parker brought depth, charm, warmth, and emotional resonance to a storyline that celebrates:
- Later-in-life love
- Friendship
- Grief
- Second chances
- Vulnerability
Zac shared that the scream-off-the-cliff moment came directly from a place of personal experience and stayed nearly untouched from the earliest draft.
And the sheep scene? Pure joy on set.
Improvisation, Collaboration & the Art of Great Rom-Coms
One of the biggest takeaways from Erin and Zac is how collaborative this process was. The directors, actors, writers and Hallmark execs all worked together to form a cohesive story and the end result is better for it.
Tiny adjustments on set changed entire character dynamics. Actors rewired lines to match their instincts. Directors focused on emotional beats. Writers embraced changes and enhanced them.
Representation, Casting, and Telling Real Stories
Because the show is set in London, diversity wasn’t something “added,” it simply is. The team cared deeply about honoring that truth.
They also highlighted:
- Different cultural approaches to the holidays
- Same-sex relationships handled naturally, not as a plot point
- Characters of varied ages and life stages
- Women with fully realized emotional worlds
Looking Ahead: What Erin & Zac Are Excited for Viewers to See
Without giving away spoilers, they teased:
- A special storyline involving The Pear Tree
- The continued deepening of the love triangle dynamics
- The ways Kate’s artistry evolves through the dating experience
- Some truly excellent kissing
- More of Delilah (Mary McDonnell!)
- A car that nearly stole the show
Where to Follow Erin & Zac
Erin Rodman
Instagram: @erin917 — go for the behind-the-scenes sheep content
Zac Hug
Website: zachug.com
Story consulting: storyhugwriting.com
Watch the full interview with Erin and Zac
We’re Your New Hallmark Besties
Hey there! We’re Girls Gone Hallmark! Megan’s a longtime Hallmark movie fan, while Wendy – well, she used to be a Hallmark hater. Now, we’ve teamed up to share our (often very different!) takes on these films. Get ready for some lively, fun-filled conversations!
Check out the library of Hallmark movies we’ve reviewed!
