The wait for more biscuits with the boss might finally have a specific end date. Hannah Waddingham, who plays AFC Richmond owner Rebecca Welton, appeared to confirm the return month for Ted Lasso Season 4 while walking the red carpet at the BAFTA Film Awards. The comments have given fans a much clearer idea of when they can expect the Emmy-winning comedy to drop on Apple TV+.
Waddingham spoke with Deadline at the event and was asked about the upcoming season. When discussing when the show might premiere, she casually mentioned, “August, I think.” She then quickly checked herself, asking, “Am I allowed to say August?” before adding with a laugh, “What if I’m wrong?” Despite the momentary hesitation, she reiterated, “I think it’s August” .
This offhand revelation narrows down the previously announced “Summer 2026” window. If the August timeline holds, viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India can expect to see Ted Lasso back on their screens around the middle of the year. The show has historically premiered in summer months, with Season 1 debuting in August 2020 and Season 2 arriving in July 2021 .
What Waddingham Says About the New Episodes
Beyond the release timing, Waddingham shared some excitement about the creative direction of the show. She described the upcoming season as “a whole different deal” specifically mentioning “our Lady Greyhounds” —a likely reference to the new women’s team that Ted will be coaching .
The actor also expressed her deep personal connection to the role and the series. Speaking about her character Rebecca, she said:
“I’d do it until I’m walking on a Zimmer frame when I’m 80. I love it. I love Rebecca Welton, my character, and the writing is so magnificent. Jason Sudeikis and the writers room, it’s like a finely tuned machine. And the life lessons that you realize that they’re just tipping in here and there, it’s brilliant.”
She also touched on what makes Rebecca such a special character to play. Waddingham noted that the writers gave her the chance to show both strength and softness. “That’s what it’s given me that I had never had in anything else, the chance, even if you’re a six foot two woman in heels, of course there is the soft side, there’s a vulnerability, they are as easily shatterable. They gave me that, and I’ll be forever grateful” .
Earlier, during a press event for The Smurfs in Los Angeles last July, Waddingham used a colorful analogy to describe bringing the show back. She said it felt like “the most beautiful, beloved dog that was buried, and now we’ve exhumed it, and I am here for it.” She added that she had been eager to revisit Rebecca, stating, “She’s my girl. She’s in my bloodstream” .
The New Challenge: Coaching a Women’s Team
The official logline for Ted Lasso Season 4 confirms that Ted returns to Richmond to face his “biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women’s football team.” The description adds that “Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would” .
This new direction essentially serves as a soft reboot for the series. Co-creator Bill Lawrence has described the upcoming episodes as a “self-reboot,” treating it as a fresh start with a different primary objective while keeping the same beloved characters .
The storyline will reportedly begin in Kansas, picking up after Ted’s move back home at the end of Season 3. However, the plot quickly shifts back to London as Ted gets recruited for this new role with the women’s squad .
Who Is Coming Back for Season 4
The cast list for the new season brings back most of the familiar faces fans love. Alongside Jason Sudeikis as Ted and Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca, the returning series regulars include Juno Temple as Keeley Jones, Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent, Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins, and Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard .
Goldstein, who also won Emmys for his writing on the show, is serving as a writer and executive producer for the new season alongside Leann Bowen .
Annette Badland is also back as Mae, the beloved pub owner. One of the first-look images shows her serving Ted and his son at the Crown & Anchor .
New Faces Joining the AFC Richmond Family
Several new actors are joining the cast for Season 4. Tanya Reynolds, known for her role in Sex Education, is coming on board as an assistant coach for the new women’s team. First-look photos show her standing next to Ted in coaching gear, suggesting her character will work closely with him .
Other new cast members include Jude Mack, Faye Marsay, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, and Abbie Hern .
A significant recasting has also taken place. Grant Feely, who played a young Luke Skywalker in Obi-Wan Kenobi, is taking over the role of Ted’s son, Henry. He replaces Gus Turner, who portrayed the character in the first three seasons. First-look images show Henry with Ted at the pub, indicating he will be living in London with his father for at least part of the season .
On the production side, Emmy winner Jack Burditt, known for his work on Modern Family and 30 Rock, has joined as an executive producer under a new deal with Apple .
Unclear Status for Some Original Cast Members
As of now, several key players from the original run have not been confirmed as series regulars. This includes Phil Dunster (Jamie Tartt), Nick Mohammed (Nate the Great), Toheeb Jimoh (Sam Obisanya), and Cristo Fernández (Dani Rojas). However, Nick Mohammed has hinted that his character might “pop up” at some point during the season, leaving the door open for possible guest appearances .
Brett Goldstein is confirmed as a series regular, so Roy Kent will definitely be part of the action. It remains to be seen how the new focus on the women’s team will affect the storylines for the men’s team players.
First Look Images Reveal Key Moments
Apple TV+ released the first official images for Season 4 back in January 2026, giving fans plenty to analyze .
One photo shows Ted handing Rebecca a box of his famous homemade biscuits in front of a private jet. This has led to speculation that Rebecca might be the one who travels to America to convince Ted to return to England .
Another image shows Ted at the pub with his son Henry, confirming that the father-son dynamic will play a role in the new episodes. A third photo places Ted on the training ground, surrounded by his new women’s team, with Tanya Reynolds’ character nearby looking on .
Production and Filming Locations
Production on Ted Lasso Season 4 began in July 2025. Filming has been split between Kansas City, which is Sudeikis’ real-life hometown, and the show’s usual locations in Richmond and London . This split reflects the storyline that begins in Kansas before moving back to England.
Jeremy Swift confirmed his return as Higgins, and the production has been underway for several months now. The show is being produced under the watchful eye of Sudeikis, who remains heavily involved as both star and executive producer .
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What This Means for Global Audiences
For viewers around the world, an August release on Apple TV+ means the show will be accessible in multiple regions simultaneously. The platform is available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and numerous other territories.
Fans in the UK will likely appreciate the continued focus on British football culture, while audiences in the US will enjoy the cross-cultural humor that defined the show’s early seasons. Viewers in India and other international markets have also embraced the show’s universal themes of kindness and perseverance.
The summer release window positions the show as a major streaming event for 2026. With the previous season airing in 2023, the gap between seasons will have been about three years by the time new episodes arrive .
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