We almost got a major Ted Lasso season 4 return — before the actor passed away

You know how TV shows always keep you guessing about who's going to pop up in a final season? Well, Ted Lasso season 4 had a bit of a plan for a big return – but reality got in the way, and not in a good way.

The Rupert Mannion Plan

If you were hoping to see Anthony Head menace Richmond one more time as Rupert Mannion, the show's resident villain, here’s what actually happened. The creators were toying with the idea of sneaking him in for a dramatic, maybe even iconic, return in the last episode of season 4. But then, sadly, real life intervened: Head passed away on 1 June 2026 at 72, and the story had to change.

Brendan Hunt – he’s not just Ted’s right-hand man on the pitch but also co-creator, producer, and star – recently opened up about it. Here’s how he put it when asked if the comeback could ever have worked:

We had an outside hope of bringing him back in the last episode. We were told that that was not going to be possible. So yeah, we had an idea for a little thing, but it was not going to happen.

So, whatever twist they had in mind for Rupert never made it past the drawing board. People close to the production didn’t really know how ill Head was – he’d apparently kept severe health troubles very private before dying from complications tied to pneumonia.

I assumed he would be in this last [season], and didn’t know, as I think very few people knew, he was ill and just couldn’t do it.

That’s Annette Badland (Mae from the pub), explaining it in her own words. Like most of the cast, she just expected Rupert would turn up as usual, right till late in the game.

With a return off the cards, the showrunners made do with a few spot references to the character and paid a tribute or two to Head himself in the season. Not quite the same, but it’s what they could manage.

Ted Lasso season 4 could not feature Anthony Head’s character due to the actor’s death in June 2026.

What's Actually in Season 4?

As for what’s happened on AFC Richmond’s turf this season, things have shifted. The story now spotlights the newly minted Lady Greyhounds – Richmond’s women’s football squad – as they start up, while everyone’s trying to fill the shoes of pub legend Mae Green (RIP, also referenced on-screen). If you’re a sucker for off-pitch drama, this lot’s juggling a secret billionaire shareholder called Zelda Southport as well as assorted life chaos: Keeley’s pregnant with Roy’s child, and Rebecca’s proposing to her other half Matthijs.

• The season wraps up with Ted finally telling his son, Henry, the truth about granddad’s death.
• Ted hangs up his manager’s boots – sort of – becoming assistant coach instead.
• Assistant Alice Chilton moves up to become Head Coach of the Lady Greyhounds.

If you’re in the States, you’ll find all of Ted Lasso season 4 streaming exclusively on Apple TV+ now.