Who dies in Ted Lasso? Beloved character killed off in heartbreaking Season 4 twist

Ted Lasso Spoiler

Ted Lasso fans have been left heartbroken after a much-loved character was killed off in the penultimate episode of Season 4.

The Apple TV comedy-drama took a surprisingly emotional turn in its ninth episode, with the latest instalment revealing that a familiar face from the very beginning of the series has died.

The character’s death comes just one episode before the Season 4 finale, leaving viewers with questions about what happens next for AFC Richmond and, more importantly, why the character had to be written out of the show.

So, who dies in Ted Lasso Season 4?

Who dies in Ted Lasso Season 4?

Mae Green dies in Ted Lasso Season 4.

Mae, the much-loved landlady of The Crown & Anchor pub, is played by British actress Annette Badland and has been part of Ted Lasso since the show’s first season.

Her death is revealed during Season 4, Episode 9, titled “Mae Rides the Bus”, which sees Mae accompany the Lady Greyhounds on their trip to Bristol City.

The episode initially gives Mae one of her happiest storylines in the entire series.

Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) arranges for her to travel with the women’s team on their bus, giving Mae the opportunity to experience something she has always loved: football.

But the celebratory trip ends in tragedy.

After watching the Lady Greyhounds fight back from 2-0 down to win 4-2, Mae collapses.

Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) is subsequently given the devastating news that Mae has died.

The conversation between Rebecca and Ted is deliberately obscured by the music, meaning viewers are not initially given a detailed explanation of exactly what happened.

However, Mae’s death has since been confirmed by Annette Badland herself, removing any doubt about whether the character might somehow return alive in the Season 4 finale.

How does Mae die in Ted Lasso?

The episode does not provide a detailed medical explanation for Mae’s death.

What viewers see is Mae enjoying the match before subsequently collapsing, with the news of her death later passed to Rebecca and Ted.

The precise cause has therefore been left somewhat open rather than being turned into a conventional murder or mystery storyline.

That is important because Mae’s death is not presented as a new crime for the characters to investigate.

Instead, it is an unexpectedly personal loss for the Richmond community.

Annette Badland has described the ending as a fitting conclusion to Mae’s story, saying she believed the character had the best possible final day because she was able to spend it with the women’s team and doing something she loved.

Why was Mae killed off?

Mae’s death was particularly shocking because she had been such a consistent presence throughout Ted Lasso.

She was not one of the show’s central footballers, but The Crown & Anchor became one of the most recognisable locations in the series, with Mae at the heart of it.

Badland revealed that she only learned relatively close to filming the relevant episode that Mae would die.

According to the actress, Jason Sudeikis personally told her about the decision.

She described the news as a shock but also said she felt privileged to have been part of the series and believed Mae’s final storyline gave the character the chance to fulfil things she had never previously been able to do.

Badland also revealed that Sudeikis subsequently changed elements of the Season 4 finale after their conversation.

She has teased that Mae remains present in some form in the final episode, although she has stopped short of revealing exactly what that means.

Who plays Mae in Ted Lasso?

Mae Green is played by Annette Badland.

The British actress has appeared throughout Ted Lasso since Season 1 and has become closely associated with the character.

Badland has had a long television career outside of Ted Lasso, with credits including Doctor Who, EastEnders, Midsomer Murders and Outlander.

But Mae has become one of her most recognisable recent roles.

The character is the outspoken owner of The Crown & Anchor and has traditionally acted as one of the show’s unofficial guardians of the Richmond community.

Mae is fiercely loyal, quick to speak her mind and deeply passionate about football.

Why Mae’s Season 4 storyline makes her death even more emotional

Mae’s storyline in Season 4 is particularly significant because of the arrival of the Lady Greyhounds, AFC Richmond’s women’s football team.

The new team gives Mae an unexpected connection to a part of football she had never been able to experience herself.

During Episode 9, Mae reveals that she had once dreamed of becoming a professional footballer.

That dream was not realistically available to her when she was young.

She therefore becomes particularly invested in the new women’s team and what it represents.

Before the match against Bristol City, Mae gives the players an emotional pep talk, telling them that they are talented and that they belong on the pitch.

For Badland, this was an important part of Mae’s story.

The actress explained that Mae had grown up at a time when women were unable to play football professionally, making the emergence of the women’s team particularly meaningful for her character.

It also means Mae’s final day is spent doing exactly what she loves: surrounded by football and cheering on the next generation.

What happens to Mae in the Ted Lasso episode?

The episode, “Mae Rides the Bus”, begins with the Lady Greyhounds travelling to Bristol for an important away fixture.

Ted makes sure Mae can join them, giving her a place on the team bus.

She becomes part of the team’s preparations, visits the dressing room and watches the match as the players produce a remarkable comeback.

The Lady Greyhounds eventually win 4-2 after falling two goals behind.

Mae’s excitement at seeing the team succeed makes what follows even more heartbreaking.

Rebecca subsequently receives the news of Mae’s death and passes it on to Ted.

The audience does not see Mae’s death itself.

Instead, the show jumps from her triumphant day with the team to the devastating news that she has died.

That decision makes the moment feel particularly abrupt.

Has Annette Badland left Ted Lasso?

Yes, Mae Green has been killed off, but Annette Badland has suggested that viewers have not necessarily seen the last of Mae’s presence in the series.

Badland revealed that she asked Sudeikis whether Mae could return as an angel after learning about the character’s death.

She subsequently teased that Mae is still present in the Season 4 finale “as a presence, if not a full-bodied human being”.

Exactly what that means remains a question for the final episode.

Badland has also confirmed that the decision to kill Mae was not something she expected when she returned for Season 4.

Ted Lasso Season 4 has been a huge success for Apple TV

Mae’s death arrives at a significant moment for Ted Lasso.

The fourth season marked the show’s return after more than three years away, following the conclusion of Season 3 in May 2023.

There was considerable uncertainty around whether the series would ever return, making the announcement of Season 4 a major event for fans.

Apple TV launched the new season on August 5, 2026, with new episodes arriving weekly.

And the return generated enormous viewing figures.

According to Nielsen data reported by TheWrap, the Season 4 premiere attracted 296.6 million viewing minutes in the US across the August 4-5 launch window, making it the biggest launch for an Apple TV series at that point.

The premiere was also the most-streamed programme in the US on August 5, with more than 200 million viewing minutes that day.

That gives some context to the reaction to Mae’s death: Ted Lasso is once again reaching a huge audience, and a character who has been part of the show’s world since its earliest episodes has now been written out.

What happens in the Ted Lasso Season 4 finale?

The Season 4 finale is due to follow the Mae storyline, with Badland confirming that her death prompted Sudeikis to make changes to the final episode.

However, the actress has deliberately kept the details secret.

There are also other major storylines heading into the finale, including the future of AFC Richmond and the mystery surrounding the attempted takeover of the club.

The penultimate episode also revealed another major development involving Keeley and Roy, meaning the final instalment has plenty of storylines to resolve.

Apple TV’s official listing confirms that Season 4 concludes with its tenth episode on October 7, 2026 in the UK and other international markets.

Will Mae return in Ted Lasso Season 4?

Annette Badland is not returning as Mae in the conventional sense, because the character has died.

However, her comments suggest there may be some form of appearance, memory or presence in the finale.

Badland has specifically teased that Mae will be there “as a presence”, although she has not revealed what that means.

So viewers will have to watch the Season 4 finale to discover exactly how Ted Lasso says goodbye to one of its most recognisable supporting characters.

For now, one thing is certain: Mae Green is dead, and Annette Badland has confirmed that her character’s story has reached its end.

And given how closely Mae was associated with The Crown & Anchor, Richmond and the show’s sense of community, her absence is likely to be felt well beyond the final episode.

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