‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Cast Guide: Who’s Back, Who’s New, and Who’s Missing From AFC Richmond

‘Ted Lasso‘ has officially returned, and the Season 4 cast list looks a lot different from the Greyhounds squad fans said goodbye to back in 2023. Jason Sudeikis reprises his role as Ted alongside several returning cast members, including Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton, Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent, Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard, Juno Temple as Keeley Jones and Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins. The show has swapped its familiar men’s locker room for an entirely new setup this time around.

Season 4 follows Ted as he returns to Richmond to take on his biggest challenge yet, coaching a second division women’s football team. That shift means a wave of new faces alongside the old guard, and it has fans buzzing about who made the cut and who got left on the bench.

‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Returning Cast Members

This season brings back what fans have called “the brass,” meaning Keeley played by Juno Temple, Rebecca played by Hannah Waddingham and Higgins played by Jeremy Swift, alongside Sudeikis. Waddingham returns as Rebecca Welton, the determined owner of AFC Richmond, continuing to lead the club with confidence, resilience and compassion while supporting the team through its latest challenges and maintaining her close bond with Ted.

Juno Temple is back as Keeley Jones, the upbeat public relations expert whose warmth, ambition and optimism continue to make her an important part of AFC Richmond, as she embraces new personal and professional opportunities this season. Brett Goldstein also returns as Roy Kent, who has taken over as head coach of the men’s team from Ted.

Brendan Hunt is back as Coach Beard, standing alongside Ted as he navigates this strange new chapter. Andrea Anders also returns in a smaller capacity as Michelle Lasso, Ted’s ex-wife, giving longtime viewers a familiar tie back to the Kansas City side of the story.

New AFC Richmond Women’s Team Cast Additions

The biggest storyline shift comes from the introduction of an entirely new roster. Tanya Reynolds is arguably the most notable newcomer, playing Alice Chilton, one of the coaches of the new Lady Greyhounds team alongside Lasso and Coach Beard. Her arc has been teased as a woman trying hard to present as tough, sturdy and focused, to the point where she has lost her sense of humor and softness.

Other new cast members joining the series include Jude Mack, Faye Marsay, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, Abbie Hern and Grant Feely, with exact character details for several newcomers initially kept under wraps. It has since been confirmed that Feely takes over the role of Henry Lasso, Ted’s son.

Among the new footballers fans are getting to know are Boots played by Jude Mack, Gemma played by Abbie Hern and Lizzie played by Faye Marsay, among many others on the Lady Greyhounds roster. Ted needs help from the meticulous Alice Chilton and the strategic, emotionally sensitive Coach Beard to navigate the wrinkles that come with building this new squad.

Which ‘Ted Lasso’ Characters Are Not Returning?

Not every familiar face made the trip back to Richmond. Because the season centers on the new women’s team, don’t expect cast members like Phil Dunster, Toheeb Jimoh and Cristo Fernández to be back on the pitch. That means Jamie Tartt, Sam Obisanya and Dani Rojas are sitting this chapter out, at least for now.

A lot of beloved cast members are absent from the new episodes, though producers have left the door open for a cameo or two to pop up along the way. That includes players whose arcs many fans considered some of the show’s most rewarding character journeys across the first three seasons.

Sarah Niles’ Dr. Sharon, who joined partway through the original run as the team’s sports psychologist, is another name missing from the new lineup so far. The absences have sparked plenty of discussion online, with some viewers hoping the show finds a way to weave old favorites back in before the season wraps.

‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Plot and Filming Details

Apple TV+ confirmed that shooting on the fourth season began in Kansas City, with additional filming taking place in London. Season 4 filming officially kicked off in July, and a teaser trailer revealed both cast and location details ahead of the premiere.

Sudeikis explained his thinking behind Ted’s arc to The Hollywood Reporter, saying the story was told, that Ted went home to Kansas City to be with his son, and that he wasn’t going to have Ted uproot their life just to justify bringing the show back. He also reflected on returning with a new cast in tow, noting he needed this chapter as much as fans do.

Season 4 premiered on Apple TV+ with the first episode now streaming, following Season 3, which had originally been intended as the show’s final chapter. With the new Lady Greyhounds era officially underway, the pressure is on for this ensemble to win over the same audience that turned the original squad into a cultural phenomenon.

Which Season 4 newcomer are you most excited to watch join Ted’s dugout, and do you think any of the missing Greyhounds will find their way back to Richmond before the season ends?