Ted Lasso season 4 no-show: producer explains a fan favourite’s absence
After two years away, Ted Lasso is back — but one beloved face is missing, and co-creator Brendan Hunt has now explained the absence in Season 4.
Ted Lasso is finally back, if you can believe it, after a two-year gap so long I’m sure some of us started wondering if we'd ever see Richmond on our screens again. Well, the show’s Season 4 premiered today on Apple TV, and while you might be cheering the return of coach Lasso and co., it’s hard to miss the big, Jamie-Tartt-shaped hole up front.
Jamie Tartt was written out in the Season 4 opener, departing AFC Richmond for FC Barcelona, with the story explained in-universe by a newspaper headline.
Now, if you were scratching your head about why Phil Dunster isn’t on that pitch, you’re not alone. Turns out, it’s a combination of plot logic and real-world schedules. Brendan Hunt, who not only co-created the show but also plays Coach Beard, told Variety that Phil Dunster was wrapped up filming the HBO Max series "Rooster" and couldn’t make it to the new season’s shoot—even if everyone wanted him back. But honestly, even if Dunster hadn’t been juggling projects, Hunt reckons keeping all the old gang together wouldn’t have made much sense anymore.
Why Jamie Had to Leave
Let’s be real: the idea of every key player just sitting tight at Richmond forever is a bit far-fetched, considering the fictional club’s recent success. Hunt put it pretty bluntly:
‘Phil was going to be busy, but also, it would have strained credulity a bit further than we wanted to if all the old team were still on Richmond.’
So, as Hunt explained, it’s just the way football works. When a club climbs the ranks, its best talent gets poached by Europe’s heavyweights. ‘If this team is doing so well, then the best players would be gone. They’d be bought by bigger clubs,’ he said. Jamie’s exit to Barcelona fits that reality, however fictional.
This departure isn’t just about logistics, either—it’s also about making room for new stories. With Jamie gone, the writers can finally dig into the Keeley-Roy Kent dynamic, which fans have been shouting for since day one. Hunt reckons that pair still has ‘a chemistry together, whether they are being romantic or not,’ and let’s be honest, the show needed to shake things up a bit.
Who Else Is Missing?
It’s not just Jamie you’ll notice missing from the lineup. Sam Obisanya, Dani Rojas, Isaac McAdoo, Colin Hughes, and a handful of other fan-favourites are also sitting out this season. But Jamie’s exit leaves the door open: Hunt hasn’t ruled out a future appearance. And as for more Ted Lasso beyond this season? There’s hope, but nothing’s locked in yet.
The Season 4 premiere is now streaming, with new episodes arriving each Wednesday until 7 October 2026.