The familiar buzz of a Hollywood production has returned to the picturesque streets of Richmond in south-west London, as filming for the highly anticipated fourth season of Ted Lasso is now officially underway. This comes as a welcome surprise to fans, after show creators, including star Jason Sudeikis, had initially declared the third season would be the last. The new series is slated for release in 2026.
The Ted Lasso Circus Rolls Back Into Town
This week, the Ted Lasso circus has once again taken over the scenic Richmond Green and the charming, narrow Paved Court, the latter being the fictional home of the show's beloved American football coach, Ted. Actors, including the 50-year-old Sudeikis, were spotted filming scenes outside The Prince's Head pub, which serves as the show's Crown and Anchor. They were joined by dozens of film crew, extras, and eager fans hoping to catch a glimpse of other British stars like Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein.
While the cast and crew will pack up within days, the legacy of the show has permanently altered the quiet area. The transformation of the locale, first selected by location scouts back in 2019, is profound. On historic Paved Court, tributes to the soccer coach are everywhere. A vibrant two-storey merchandise store now stands, selling replica AFC Richmond shirts and even £9.50 boxes of the shortbread Ted bakes in the show.
Tourist Boom vs. Local Backlash
The area now enjoys a steady stream of tourists, many from the US, who visit year-round to photograph Ted's flat at 9 and a 1/2 Paved Court. This influx has been a boon for businesses like The Prince's Head, but not all residents are celebrating the area's new-found fame.
Sentiment among locals is mixed. On social media, one critic lamented the loss of a quiet local pub, writing, 'Poor locals, can't have a quiet drink, ffs.' Others have complained about practical issues, such as the severe lack of parking on filming days. One resident admitted, 'Get a bit fed up with the disturbance that we endure with all the filming - 'fanfare' - but we are lucky to be local to such a nice area.'
The commercialisation has also drawn criticism from those with deeper ties to the area. The daughter of a former shop proprietor expressed disappointment that the new merchandise store occupies the space of a humble lending library her family ran since the mid-1930s, stating it had 'lost its soul.'
A Show Born from a Video Game
The origins of Ted Lasso are as unique as its premise. The idea was first dreamed up not in Richmond, but in a small improv comedy club in Amsterdam called Boom Chicago back in 2001. Co-creators Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt were performing there when Brendan's passion for European soccer collided with Jason's complete ignorance of the sport.
To bridge this gap, they began playing the video game FIFA together, with Hunt teaching Sudeikis the rules. The hilarious sessions not only educated Jason but also planted the seed for a show about an American coach managing a UK football team. The concept didn't materialise until years later, when Sudeikis was hired to play a soccer coach in a series of 2013 commercials for the Premier League. This success prompted him, Hunt, and producer Joe Kelly to finally develop the script that would become the hit Apple TV+ series.
