Why Isn’t Phil Dunster Back For Ted Lasso Season 4? Producer Explains

If you have questions about why certain members of the Ted Lasso cast haven’t returned for the new season, producer Brendan Hunt has got answers.

After a three-year absence, the Apple TV+ comedy returned to our screens earlier this week, with Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple and Brett Goldstein among those who are back for the new run of episodes, alongside some new additions.

However, there are also some prominent absentees who aren’t back for the new episodes – perhaps most notably Phil Dunster, who played footballer Jamie Tartt in the first three seasons.

Toheeb Jimoh, Kola Bokinni, Cristo Fernández, who played members of Richmond F.C.’s squad, also do not appear in the new episodes – which centre around the titular coach taking over at the helm of the club’s female team.

Brendan – who co-produces Ted Lasso, as well as co-writing multiple episodes – told Variety that the decision was made to write the Jamie Tartt character out of the show because they knew “Phil was going to be busy”.

He added: “But also, it would have strained credulity a bit further than we wanted to if all the old team were still on Richmond. If this team is doing so well, then the best players would be gone. They’d be bought by bigger clubs.”

Since the success of Ted Lasso, Phil has landed roles in major shows like the thrillers The Devil’s Hour and Surface, as well as the Steve Carell comedy Rooster.

Reviews for Ted Lasso’s fourth season have been a little on the mixed side, with some lamenting that too much attention is paid to the characters who have returned, at the expense of some new additions.

However, critics have singled out Sex Education’s Tanya Reynolds for praise.

Tanya plays Ted’s new right-hand woman, with the likes of Adolescence’s Faye Marsay and Enola Holmes’ Abbie Hern also among those to have joined the award-winning sports comedy in its fourth iteration.