The fourth season of Ted Lasso has already scored some big goals for Apple TV, with the premiere episode becoming the biggest launch ever for the streaming service.
The premiere received 296.6 million viewing minutes in the US across its launch window between 4 and 5 August, according to Nielsen data provided by Apple TV.
It’s a huge start for the football comedy, which has returned for what was at one time an unexpected fourth season. The third season, which debuted in 2023, wrapped up the show’s initial arc, and it was at that time expected that any return would take the form of a spin-off, as Jason Sudeikis’s Ted had returned to the US.
The first episode of season 4 saw the endlessly positive coach return to the UK, thanks to an offer from his old colleagues at AFC Richmond to manage the women’s team.
Brendan Hunt, Jason Sudeikis and Tanya Reynolds in Ted Lasso Season 4. Apple TV
This switch in focus means that many of the show’s original stars, such as Phil Dunster, Toheeb Jimoh and Cristo Fernández, are no longer a part of the main cast – even if Sudeikis has teased that we may get some surprise appearances from fan favourites.
Speaking with Radio Times, Sudeikis said he “would expect” surprise appearances, “as a person who knows how, or likes to think knows how, TV works. I guess [that’s] the best way to put it.”
For now, the second episode of season 4 introduced fans to a whole host of new characters, including women’s team coach Alice Chilton, played by Tanya Reynolds.
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Brendan Hunt, one of the show’s co-creators who also plays Coach Beard, told Radio Times of Reynolds: “What was incredible about Tanya was that she didn’t shake it up; she just fit right in. Especially the scenes where we’re triangulated at our desks and bantering with each other.
“Those were far and away the most fun scenes to shoot this season. But coaching-wise, Alice is a super important part of the three-headed monster of us, because she fills the Roy Kent role.”
Ted Lasso season 4 continues on Apple TV on Wednesdays. Start your seven day free Apple TV trial at Apple.
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