Ted Lasso was a major launching pad for many of its original stars, and now a new generation is getting that opportunity. Truly, for these new actors, Ted Lasso’s return has the potential to change their lives. So, I can see why one of the newest additions dropped her shopping after finding out she’d been cast in the long-awaited fourth season of this great Apple TV show.
When Season 4 of Ted Lasso premieres on the 2026 TV schedule, we’ll be introduced to AFC Richmond’s women's team and a whole new group of actors. This includes Abbie Hern. Ted Lasso’s trailer makes it look like she’ll be on the team, and she’s thrilled to be part of it, as she told Decider:
I lost control of everything. I was shopping at the time, and I had to ask my agent to repeat herself. And she was like, ‘Yes, you got Ted Lasso. Yes, you got Ted Lasso.’ And I just, yeah, I dropped my shopping and ran home to call everyone, because I was like, ‘This is unimportant, I can’t concentrate, I need to go home.’
I think this is a perfectly rational reaction to have to this news. Being on Ted Lasso is a very big deal. So, I get why Hern dropped her shopping, and I also totally understand why she drove home in a blur, as she explained:
It was one of those moments where you’re driving in the car, and I don’t remember even getting home because [of] the adrenaline. It was just like, ‘What is happening?’ And it’s felt like that from then until now, pretty much. And I don’t think that’s going to end.
It would seem that the rest of the new cast also feels this way. In fact, Rex Hayes started crying when they learned they’d been cast in the show. They also happened to be driving to their parents’ home when all this happened, and their mom had a very motherly reaction, as the actor recalled:
I cried. I burst into tears. I was driving down the motorway, and I was very safe, I promise. But I was very, very emotional. I was 20 minutes away from my parents’ house, and I walked in, and you know how moms are; they know straight away if something’s wrong or something’s up. And so, she was like, ‘Why have you been crying?’ And then I was like, ‘No, no, it’s a good thing, I promise.’ So, yeah, it was a very surreal moment.
Surreal really seems to be the best way to describe it. Not only are they joining a hit show, but they’re also starring alongside returning actors like Brett Goldstein, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift and Jason Sudeikis, of course.
While it’s a bummer a lot of Ted Lasso’s men’s team won’t be back for Season 4, this new ensemble seems to have a lot of promise and enthusiasm. They’re also incredibly grateful to be on this team, and couldn’t believe it when they got the call. To that point, here’s what a couple other members of the new cast had to say about joining the show:
- Jude Mack: I mean, it was absolutely crazy. I did one audition and didn’t hear anything for three months. I just assumed it was dead and gone. And then I got the call whilst I was on a street corner doing some shopping. And I thought, ‘How did you get my number? This must be a prank call.’ You know, it felt very surreal.
- Faye Marsay: I love football. From being a kid, I’m a massive fan. So it was so important for me to get this role. And I tried everything to get it. So when I got the call, took a while, but I was just like, ‘Now I get to live out my 10-year-old fantasy of being a professional female footballer.’ So, it was very special.
Well, that’s just the sweetest thing! I love that this is a dream come true for Faye Marsay. I also can’t say I blame Jude Mack for thinking this was a prank at first. However, it was certainly real, and now they all get to wear the iconic red, blue and yellow uniforms as they play athletes who work closely with the American soccer coach.
All this excitement about getting the call certainly has me amped up to watch Ted Lasso with my Apple TV subscription on August 5. Their enthusiasm truly is infectious, just like Ted’s optimism is, and I cannot wait to see these new players out on the pitch.
