Sports comedy drama show Ted Lasso returns with a fourth season on Apple TV, with the first episode out now.
It tackles the titular American college football coach, portrayed by Jason Sudeikis, who is unexpectedly recruited to train a fictional English Premier League football team, AFC Richmond, despite having no experience coaching the sport.
Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), who gained ownership of the team in a divorce from her unfaithful ex-husband, has hired Ted in hopes that it will result in their downfall.
However, Ted’s charm, personality and humour begin to win over Rebecca, the team and those who had been sceptical about his appointment.
In an interview, show co-creator Brendan Hunt opened up about the major reset awaiting fans, as the new episodes will see Ted embarking on his biggest challenge yet: coaching a second tier Women’s League team.
“We’re getting into the mud and the grime of it, that climb of football,” he said.
“Women’s football, particularly at the second division level, is under-funded. They have the good luck of being attached to a Premier League team, but still, they’ve got their own budget. And they don’t play in a big stadium. They play where the men train. Everything’s just rather humble all around.
“And being a brand new team, they’re looked at with suspicion by the people of Richmond who, not entirely correctly, fear that this team will drain resources from their beloved men’s team. So, they’re seen as outsiders in their own home. They’ve got to win people over,” he added.
Since its first season premiere in 2020, Ted Lasso is considered one of Apple TV’s most watched shows since its launch in 2019. It currently sits at number five in the streaming platform’s ‘most popular now’ list.
In 2022, it was announced that the show’s fictional Nelson Road stadium and AFC Richmond would appear in the football video game FIFA23, with the ability to select Ted as the team manager.
Season four is set to have a weekly release scheduled, continuing until October 7.
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