The future of Ted Lasso is looking more complicated than ever. Season 4 has wrapped with major changes at AFC Richmond, unexpected career moves and emotional moments that could reshape the Apple TV comedy if it returns. But while fans may be hoping for another chapter, co-creator Brendan Hunt has delivered an important update about what happens next.
In an interview following the October 7, 2026, finale, Hunt addressed Season 5 renewal speculation, Roy Kent’s future with Chelsea, Keeley Jones’ relationship with Roy and Ted Lasso’s surprising decision to step away from a head coach position. His comments offer clues about where the story could go next, although the show’s future remains officially undecided.
‘Ted Lasso’ Season 5 Renewal Update: Has Apple TV Confirmed Another Season?
Despite growing speculation about a fifth season, Ted Lasso has not officially been renewed. Hunt, who co-created the series and co-wrote the Season 4 finale with Jason Sudeikis, said he had received no official confirmation that the show would return.
When Deadline asked about reports of an imminent renewal, Hunt responded:
“Where did you hear that?”
After the interviewer replied, “I have my sources,” Hunt said:
“Well, then that’s news to me. I certainly hope it happens, and I’m optimistic, but yeah, haven’t heard anything official yet. It would be nice though.”
Hunt also confirmed that a writers’ room for a potential fifth season had not been approved or started. Apple could choose to greenlight a writers’ room before ordering an entire season, as it did for Season 2, but neither step had happened at the time of the interview.
As Hunt explained:
“Yeah. As happened for Season 2, they can greenlight a room before they greenlight a season if they want, but neither has happened.”
The distinction matters: speculation about a renewal is not confirmation of production plans. Although the finale creates several opportunities for the story to continue, viewers are still waiting for an official decision from Apple TV.
| Detail | Information |
| Series | Ted Lasso |
| Season 4 finale | “Being Alive” |
| Finale release date | October 7, 2026 |
| Season 5 renewal | Not officially confirmed in Hunt’s interview |
| Potential writers’ room | Not approved at the time of the interview |
| Season 4 focus | Ted coaching Richmond’s second-division women’s football team |
Season 4 shifted the comedy towards the women’s squad, introducing new players while retaining familiar faces from the original series. The finale now leaves the show with a changed coaching structure and several characters whose futures remain open.
What the Season 4 Finale Set Up
The Season 4 finale leaves Roy, Ted, Rebecca and Richmond in dramatically different positions, making the ending essential context for understanding Hunt’s Season 5 comments. Revisit our Ted Lasso Season 4 finale ending explained coverage for the full breakdown.
Is Brett Goldstein Leaving ‘Ted Lasso’? Roy Kent’s Chelsea Move Explained
One of the finale’s biggest surprises is Roy Kent’s decision to resign from AFC Richmond’s men’s team and accept the head coach position at Chelsea, his former club.
Played by Brett Goldstein, Roy has been central to the series since its early seasons. His move raises questions about whether Goldstein will remain a regular if Season 5 happens, particularly given his other projects, including Apple TV’s Shrinking, Amazon’s comedy series Escorted and his film career.
Hunt pushed back against the assumption that Roy’s departure from Richmond means Goldstein is leaving the show.
“No, not necessarily. It is acknowledging that he’s a busy man and giving us some wiggle room I would say. But no, there’s no expectation of losing Roy and Keeley. But they are two very busy people, so wiggle room is a smart thing.”
The same uncertainty applies to Keeley Jones, played by Juno Temple. Asked whether Roy and Keeley could have reduced roles in a potential fifth season, Hunt explained that the creative team had not yet worked out what their lives would look like.
“We have no idea. We don’t know if we’re coming back, and when we come back, we don’t know what’s going to be going on in their lives. But yeah, they’re both really busy. So yeah, the wiggle room.”
Roy’s new position gives the writers room to explore a different professional chapter for him without necessarily ending his relationship with Keeley. Hunt has not promised that either actor will return as a series regular, but he explicitly said there was no expectation of losing the characters.
For now, Roy’s Chelsea appointment is a confirmed development within the finale, while the amount of screen time he and Keeley might receive next remains unknown.
Why Ted Lasso Steps Down as Richmond’s Women’s Team Manager
Roy is not the only character facing a major career change. Ted Lasso also leaves his head coach position, recommending Alice Chilton, played by Tanya Reynolds, to lead Richmond’s women’s team.
Ted’s conversation with Rebecca Welton takes place shortly after Roy resigns from the men’s team. The timing could make it sound as though Ted wants to take over Roy’s vacant position, but Hunt clarified that Ted is discussing his own job.
“He doesn’t say the men’s manager position.”
Explaining why Ted refers to a “newly open” role, Hunt added:
“Because he’s coming in to let her know that he is no longer the manager of the women’s team.”
Alice’s promotion marks a new stage for the women’s squad. Ted and Coach Beard remain involved as assistants, creating a different dynamic in which Ted must support another coach instead of making every major decision himself.
Hunt acknowledged that the arrangement could challenge Ted more than he expects.
“Yeah, I think Apple’s really excited about that (laughs). We just have to wait and see what is going to be the full impact of that dynamic. I’m certainly interested in finding out like, is this a bit pie in the sky for Ted to think he can just shift down to backseat and have someone telling him what to do and where to be and making demands of him? We’ll see how how he adjusted that. It might not be as easy as he thinks.”
The change is also closely connected to Ted’s relationship with his son, Henry. Ted has recognised that he needs to spend more time with him, promising:
“I’m going to make some changes to make sure that I’m not missing as many of your games.”
The finale also features Ted telling Henry about his father’s suicide, giving their relationship a deeply personal moment centred on family, grief and parenting. His decision to step down is therefore not simply a professional adjustment; it reflects a change in his priorities.
Will Nate Shelley and the Original AFC Richmond Players Return?
Season 4 has given the original men’s team less screen time as the women’s squad takes centre stage. Most of the familiar male players reunite in the finale, creating what Hunt described as a passing-of-the-torch moment.
Asked whether the men’s team was effectively in the past and whether Nick Mohammed’s Nate Shelley might return, Hunt said:
“I’m not sure that we do care. We do love Nick, though. The men showing up in that last episode was really meant to be a passing-of-the-torch moment, and I think that worked well. We’ve been very judicious with how much we see of the players this first season, and whether or not we’re coming back, we’ve taken the long view from the beginning.”
Hunt compared the approach with the gradual introduction of players during the original series.
“Back in Season 1, we actually met the players just a very little bit, and a little more in Season 2 and Season 3. So if we’re able to come back, then yeah, we’ll certainly be able to start giving more time to these players now that we’ve gotten done a little bit.”
His comments leave the door open for more stories involving the original Richmond players, but they do not confirm a return for Nate or any particular character.
Why Jamie Tartt Was Missing From the Finale
Phil Dunster’s Jamie Tartt did not appear with the other players in the finale. Hunt explained that Jamie’s absence was primarily a matter of story logic: Jamie plays for Barcelona and lives in Spain, and viewers had already seen him in Episode 6.
“It was a logic thing. Jamie lives in Spain [He plays for Barcelona]. We’ve already seen him at that point [in Episode 6], so we didn’t need to bring him back just to stand and applaud with the rest.”
The explanation does not establish that Dunster is leaving the series. It simply addresses why Jamie was not included in the final gathering.
Could the Irish Twins, Alice and Zelda Return in ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 5?
Hunt also expressed enthusiasm for the newer characters introduced during Season 4, particularly the Irish twin sisters played by Rex Hayes and Aisling Sharkey.
Their comic telepathy routine involving a pig in Episode 9 became a memorable moment, while their performance at Mae’s memorial provided one of the finale’s emotional highlights.
Hunt praised their chemistry and the casting process, saying:
“We’ll have a lot to see but we like all these characters, and we’re gonna try to get into all of them, a little bit more now that we set the table with them. But in terms of the twins, Rex and Ash were just fantastic together. There were a few good nominees for the twins when we were casting, but in the end it was like, these are them, and the degree to which they are different and similar is fantastic. They’re so game for everything, and then to finally unlock that twin-telepathy thing towards the end was just really really cool.”
The song at Mae’s memorial also has a traditional background. Hunt credited director Declan Lowney, an Irishman, with suggesting the song.
“That is a traditional Celtic song that gets sung at funerals a lot. It was actually first pitched by Declan Lowney, one of our directors, who is an Irishman himself. And yeah, they crushed it.”
Hunt indicated that the show would like to explore more of its wider ensemble if it returns. Alice’s personal life could also receive more attention, as she had only one scene with her partner during Season 4.
Tracey Ullman’s Zelda remains another possibility. Although her attempt to gain control of the women’s team fails, she retains a minority ownership stake in Richmond.
Hunt said:
“We love Tracey, and we love that character. Zelda has a stake but not a majority one. Again, the same with with Roy and Keeley, there’s wiggle room there. Hopefully we get the chance to have her come over for some more. But we’re not plot-obligated to have her around in every episode, and Tracey can go on with her life.”
As with Roy and Keeley, Zelda’s potential return has not been confirmed.
Beard’s New Look and the ‘Ted Lasso’ Finale Title Explained
Coach Beard, played by Hunt, also undergoes a noticeable style change during Season 4. Online speculation suggested that his new hairstyle was inspired by Jamie Tartt, but Hunt said that was not the intention.
“I didn’t see that.”
He acknowledged that Beard was experiencing a midlife crisis after difficulties involving Jane and a painful New Year’s misunderstanding.
“Yeah, he is going through a bit of a midlife crisis. First the Jane stuff, then trying to come back from the Jane stuff, and then getting the gut-punch of miscommunication on New Year’s. We were not specifically going for Jamie Tartt but what a compliment. I’ll take it.”
Hunt said the hairstyle was closer to Hugh Grant’s look during his Four Weddings and a Funeral era, with the costume department and designer Jackie Levy helping develop the character’s appearance.
“Not specific to Jamie, no, the hair was more Hugh Grant in his Four Weddings and a Funeral days, and then went to the costume department and our designer Jackie Levy, and it was awesome. Like what trying-too-hard-to-look-like-a-young-person stuff do we have? Now maybe she had Jamie in mind. I can’t speak for her, but that was never discussed specifically.”
Beard’s bald head and goatee at the end of the finale also prompted a comparison with Walter White from Breaking Bad. Hunt rejected the idea that it was a deliberate reference.
“It’s just a bald head and goatee, Walter White didn’t invent that.”
The finale’s title also changed. Originally listed as “The Departing Lass,” the episode ultimately appeared as “Being Alive.” Hunt said the change had been made weeks before release, although the listing was updated later.
He credited Sudeikis with the decision.
“Well, the change had been made a few weeks ago — it just apparently didn’t make it to whoever puts those titles up, so it was not as late a change as it seems. It had been “Being Alive” for the last like month at least. That was Jason’s call entirely. He didn’t walk me through his thought process entirely, what it did. I watched it last night, and when Hannah has her line about being alive, it was a nice little echo, frankly. So it is a little more than what the episode is about than just about the lass who has departed and a a cute little pun.”
The final title reflects the episode’s broader themes of grief, change and moving forward, rather than focusing solely on Mae’s death.
‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Finale Explained: Rebecca’s Ownership, Mae’s Memorial and the Final Match
The 56-minute finale brings together the season’s major storylines. Richmond’s community gathers to remember Mae, whose memorial includes the twins’ performance of the traditional Celtic song.
The battle over club ownership also reaches a resolution. Zelda’s associate Hugo switches sides and helps secure the Milk sisters’ shares for Rebecca Welton. Mae’s will leaves Rebecca an additional 2% of the club. Together, the shares give Rebecca a majority 51% ownership stake, preventing Zelda’s attempted takeover from succeeding.
Meanwhile, Roy leaves Richmond’s men’s team to manage Chelsea, Alice becomes head coach of the women’s team, and Ted and Beard take assistant roles. Ted’s conversation with Henry adds emotional weight to his decision to change his priorities, while Rebecca spontaneously proposes to her long-term boyfriend, Matthijs, in her office.
The women’s team also reaches a milestone that goes beyond the result of a single match. The team has already secured promotion in the second-to-last episode, and the finale emphasises the achievement of selling out the stadium.
Asked whether the women’s team won its final game, Hunt explained:
“They got promoted in the second to last episode, and then the win in the last episode is that they sold out. So the results of the game itself better than that.”
The moment reinforces the season’s emphasis on building a team and a community, rather than measuring success solely by the scoreline.
Where Season 4 Began
The finale’s major changes make more sense when viewed against the season’s original setup, including Ted’s return to Richmond and the new women’s team storyline. Look back at our Ted Lasso Season 4 premiere guide for the season’s starting point.
Conclusion: Is ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 5 Happening?
The Ted Lasso Season 4 finale has created several possible directions for the comedy, from Roy Kent’s new chapter at Chelsea to Alice Chilton’s promotion and Ted’s decision to become an assistant coach. Rebecca’s majority ownership stake, Zelda’s remaining minority interest and the expanded women’s team also leave room for further stories.
However, Brendan Hunt’s interview makes the current position clear: neither Season 5 nor a writers’ room had been officially approved at the time of his comments. Hunt remains optimistic, and he has indicated that the creative team would welcome opportunities to revisit familiar characters and develop the newer ensemble.
Until Apple TV announces a decision, the future of Ted Lasso remains open. The finale may have closed one chapter, but it has left plenty of possibilities for another.
Source and research disclaimer: This article has been prepared using the sources provided, including the Deadline interview details, Apple TV announcements and episode information, and additional reporting attributed to TheWrap and The Independent. The article reflects the information and statements contained in those materials as of October 10, 2026. The exact Deadline article URL was not independently verified, and no claim is made that the supplied material has been independently confirmed beyond the information available in the cited sources.
Sources
- Deadline: ‘Ted Lasso’: Brendan Hunt Breaks Down Season 4 Finale, “Passing The Torch” Moment, Coaching Team Shakeup & Who May Be Leaving Amid Renewal Buzz
- Apple TV Press: ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Returns on August 5, 2026
- Apple TV Press: Official ‘Ted Lasso’ Series Page
- TheWrap: ‘Ted Lasso’ Finale: Brendan Hunt Unpacks Those Goodbyes, Reunions and ‘Bluey’
- The Independent: ‘Ted Lasso’ Star Brendan Hunt Explains Surprise Finale Twist as Season 5 Hangs in the Balance
Featured Image Credit: Apple TV
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