Ted Lasso Season 4: Release Date, Cast & What We Know

Fans of the AFC Richmond universe have been holding out for a sign that Ted Lasso would return — and that sign arrived in April 2026 when Apple TV+ officially confirmed season 4 will debut globally on August 5, 2026 (Apple TV Newsroom (official press release)). Jason Sudeikis is back as Ted, and the biggest twist is that he’s returning to Richmond to coach a second division women’s football team.

Premiere date: August 5, 2026 · Streaming service: Apple TV+ · Episodes: TBA, weekly release · Lead actor: Jason Sudeikis · New setting: Women’s second division football team

Six confirmed facts about the new season reveal a clear pattern: the core cast stays intact while the premise takes a significant turn toward women’s football.

Is Ted Lasso season 4 coming out?

Official confirmation from Apple TV+

Yes. Apple TV+ officially confirmed season 4 in a press release dated April 2026, calling the series an “Emmy Award-winning global smash hit” (Apple TV Newsroom (official press release)). The announcement ended months of speculation after the third season finale in May 2023.

Premiere date

The first episode drops on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, with new episodes following every Wednesday through October 7, 2026 (Apple TV Newsroom). That’s a standard weekly release pattern, similar to previous seasons.

Production status

Warner Bros. Television and Apple TV+ began early development in 2025, opening a writers’ room and reassembling the cast (IMDb News (industry reporting)). Filming reportedly started in early summer 2025 (Goal (sports media)), though the exact wrap date hasn’t been shared.

The implication: Apple has locked in a premiere date and a full production schedule, meaning the wait is finally measurable. For fans, the question is no longer if season 4 arrives, but how different it will feel.

Why is Jamie Tartt not in season 4?

Character status

Phil Dunster’s Jamie Tartt is not confirmed to return. According to Swellmag (Australian lifestyle media), his character arc was considered complete after season 3.

Actor availability

No official statement from Dunster or his representatives has been published. The omission from Apple’s returning cast list suggests a deliberate exit (TV Guide (entertainment news)).

Narrative reasons

Jamie’s journey from arrogant star to team player reached its emotional peak when he reconciled with his father and helped Richmond win. Writers likely saw little room to develop him further within the new women’s team focus (Reddit fan community discussion).

The trade-off: Losing a fan-favorite character creates space for the new women’s team to breathe — but risks alienating viewers who were invested in Jamie’s redemption.

Who is the new Rebecca in Ted Lasso?

New character confusion

Despite online speculation, there is no “new Rebecca.” Hannah Waddingham is returning as Rebecca Welton (Apple TV Newsroom (official)). The confusion likely arises from rumors of a prominent new female lead — possibly a player or manager on the women’s team (Swellmag).

Casting update

Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education) is among the new additions, but her role hasn’t been specified. It’s not a replacement for Rebecca (TV Guide).

The catch: “New Rebecca” is a misnomer created by wishful fan casting. Rebecca Welton remains the same character, and the show is adding fresh faces — not swapping out a beloved one.

Is Roy Kent in season 4?

Character return

Yes — Roy Kent is returning. Brett Goldstein is listed in Apple’s official returning cast (Apple TV Newsroom).

Actor status

Goldstein, also a writer and executive producer on the series, has remained closely involved. His character’s gruff, lovable presence is a core part of the show’s identity (Swellmag).

What this means: Roy Kent’s return anchors the continuity between old and new. Fans can expect his trademark one-liners and his evolving relationship with Keeley (Juno Temple, also returning).

Did Ted Lasso sleep with Rebecca?

Plot clarification

No, Ted and Rebecca never had a physical relationship. Their connection has always been professional and platonic — a close friendship built on mutual respect. This is a persistent fan theory that the show never supported (Reddit fan community).

The pattern: The rumor persists because of strong on-screen chemistry between Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham. But the writers deliberately kept them as friends, subverting the typical will-they-won’t-they trope.

Which characters are not returning to Ted Lasso season 4?

Departing cast

• Phil Dunster (Jamie Tartt) — not returning (Swellmag)
• Nick Mohammed (Nate Shelley) — not confirmed (Swellmag)
• Several minor characters from previous seasons may not return (TV Guide)

New cast

Seven new actors have been announced: Tanya Reynolds, Jude Mack, Faye Marsay, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, Abbie Hern, and Grant Feely (taking over the role of Henry Lasso) (Apple TV Newsroom).

The implication: The cast shake-up is significant — losing Jamie is the biggest departure. But the influx of new talent signals the show is building a fresh ensemble rather than relying entirely on nostalgia.

Do Hannah Waddingham and Jason Sudeikis get along?

On-set relationship

Public reports indicate a positive professional relationship. Both actors have expressed mutual respect in interviews, and there are no credible reports of personal disputes (Swellmag).

Why this matters: Chemistry off-screen often translates to on-screen magic. Their reported rapport helps explain why the Ted-Rebecca friendship feels so authentic, even though it remains platonic.

The timeline traces a three-year gap between seasons — the longest in the show’s history — before the August 2026 premiere.