Hannah Waddingham has been enjoying quite the moment in Hollywood of late, thanks in large part to her award-winning portrayal of Rebecca Welton in Apple TV’s smash hit series Ted Lasso. 

While some folks might only know her from that show, which saw her collect the Emmy for Best ing Actress in 2021, they might be surprised to learn the sheer volume of starry projects Waddingham has been involved in, from Game of Thrones (she plays the infamous “shame!”-yelling character Septa Unella) and Sex Education to Les Misérables and Krapopolis. So illustrious is Waddingham’s career that she was recently the subject of a Career Retrospective forum, hosted by SAG-AFTRA in New York City on April 1. The forum saw Waddingham discuss her decades-long career, with mentions of her roles in projects like The Fall Guy, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two, and an unnamed TV series co-starring Octavia Spencer. 

By now, we’ve come to expect the actress to deliver head-turning red carpet looks, but her outfit for the retrospective might just take the cake. Designed by Self-Portrait, Waddingham sported a bright red blazer and matching pencil skirt, with gold embellishments and shiny high-heels.

As always, Waddingham’s look was the picture of Hollywood grace, bringing an old-school feel with its feminine details and the actress’ ever-glamorous bob cut. While Waddingham’s style icon status has seen her evoke everything from mermaids (like at this year’s Emmys) to Gothic princesses (see, the 2024 Golden Globes), this Self-Portrait look has us considering a different role for the actress — one that’ll have us screaming “off with your head!”

That’s right, we’re pitching Hannah Waddingham as the perfect (and perhaps only) choice to portray the Queen of Hearts should Disney decide to add a third film to its live-action Alice In Wonderland franchise. Waddingham’s regal aura is enough for her to inhabit the role with finesse, but seeing her don a bright red number befitting of Wonderland royalty all but confirms that she should be atop the casting call.     

It’s worth noting that there are no plans for a follow-up to 2016’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, and while the case could be made that there shouldn’t even be a threequel, seeing Waddingham channel the infamous villain might just warrant another helping of Wonderland misadventures. 

Granted, Helena Bonham Carter did an amazing job of the Queen of Hearts in the first two films, especially opposite Anne Hathaway’s White Queen, but if anyone else can fill those royal shoes, it’s Waddingham.

For now, the actress’ roles in The Fall Guy and Garfield might just have to suffice, but here’s hoping Lewis Carroll posthumously pens another Alice In Wonderland book with Waddingham at the center.

Hannah Waddingham is enjoying a much-deserved moment in the sun, and we couldn’t be more here for it.

The Ted Lasso star certainly didn’t find her start in the heartwarming series, but it was what truly elevated her to the popularity she currently boasts. She enjoyed stints in plenty of other popular releases, from Game of Thrones to Sex Education, but Ted Lasso showed the world what a gift the 49-year-old English actor truly is.

A gift that just keeps giving, it would seem. In the days since Ted Lasso concluded, Waddingham has only further cemented her position as one of the stage and screen’s most treasured stars. On top of her diverse and dizzying array of talents, Waddingham seems like a genuinely wonderful person. She’s kind, powerful, and inclusive, and she’s been a staunch LGBTQ+ ally since the very start. That, paired with her typical lack of a romantic partner, has many in the gay community praying that she numbers among our ranks, but Waddingham’s exact sexuality has never been crystal clear.

Hannah Waddingham’s sexuality

Its rare that Waddingham just directly addresses her romantic life, which leaves plenty of room for fan speculation. And, given Waddingham’s… well, everything, every camp on the planet wants her in their corner. The gay community is no different, and — whether or not she actually identifies as among us — Waddingham couldn’t be happier to be counted among our ranks.

Waddingham has never been married, but she’s dated men in the past, which largely points to her status as a straight icon. She’s been a staunch er of the LGBTQ+ community for ages, however. While she’s never dated any women — at least, not publicly — Waddingham has clearly stated that “being an ally is everything” to her. She walks the walk, too — participating in several programs specifically linked to the LGBTQ+ community, including RuPaul’s Drag Race, and she’s adamant in her of her queer peers.

Just ahead of the release of her dazzling holiday musical, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, Waddingham gushed about her ongoing of her gay friends, fans, and peers. She noted that “It wouldn’t cross my mind to not lift the LGBTQ community up,” and that she strives to look beneath the surface and truly enjoy everything — not just the obvious things — that make the LGBTQ+ community what it is.

So there you have it. While her dating background certainly doesn’t define her, history would indicate that Waddingham is straight, but a staunch gay ally. She doesn’t number among our ranks, but we of the LGBTQ+ community will always find in Waddingham. And, let me just add, as this article’s official representative of the gay community, that if Waddingham should ever (EVER) venture into our camp, we’d welcome her with open arms.

Hannah Waddingham just might take home the Outstanding ing Actress award at both ceremonies — her Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso is that good. I am not even going to invite debates on this universal fact, but I am ready to campaigns and fight for her after she wins.

So, 2024 marks Waddingham’s second Golden Globe nom and third Emmy nom. And like every Ted Lasso loyalist, I am hoping for her to win both awards like she won her first Emmy for the role back in 2021. But, for obvious reasons, I am not too eager for history to repeat itself.

This year, when Golden Globes 2024 finally begins its star-studded evening, actor and stand-up comedian Jo Koy will be there for the hosting duties, with the likes of Matt Damon and Jodie Foster ing him as award presenters. Then we will have game show host, Anthony Anderson, stepping into hosting shoes for the Emmys on Jan. 15, 2024. Hopefully, no one is planning to step into Seth Rogen’s shoes, even by accident.

I might be the only one — or one of the rare ones — who is infuriated when someone’s name is not pronounced right. As an individual who has spent her life responding to wrongly pronounced and spelled iterations of her name, hearing Rogen say “Waddington” instead of “Waddingham” while announcing the actress as the winner during the 2021 Emmys… well, let’s just say I am not looking forward to a replay.

Yes, difficult names are hard to say out loud but Rogen had only one job, say one name which was written on the card, and it was to honor a fellow actor whose name has been on everyone’s lips. If there is space for error here, then I should probably bury the hatchet about the gazillion people who love to utter every incorrect version of my name they can think of.

Now, Waddingham still won, and when questioned about it, she addressed the mishap with her usual brand of humor before putting forward the real problem — “They don’t listen, my friend.”

Sadly — and rather relatably — this was not the first time it had happened to her. There is nothing about it that does not rub the wrong way and so not saying that saying names correctly should be an in-born talent. No, instead you either ask someone how to pronounce their name or just observe how everyone else is saying it and practice. And if you still end up saying it wrong, acknowledge the mistake.

Here’s hoping that the next time Hannah Waddingham ascends the stage to grab an award, her name will be pronounced proudly, loudly, and correctly. Gives us hope that human beings can do the right thing, if they choose to. In case, the presenters at either ceremony need further help, here is the Winter Ridge actress providing a crash course on how to pronounce her name.

Golden Globes 2024 air on Jan. 7, 2024, followed by the Emmys on Jan. 15.

Light the beacons! Hannah Waddingham released a 2023 Christmas special — the season has been saved.

It didn’t necessarily need saving, but Waddingham’s recently-released Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas guarantees that, should any snags hit, they’ll be easily cured by the Ted Lasso favorite. She’s been dazzling in the seasonal Apple TV Plus release since it dropped on Nov. 22, as she bonds with a slew of celebrity darlings. The delightful special features a range of big names, on top of Waddingham’s own, including one or two Ted Lasso stars, and a major special guest requested by none other than Waddingham’s own daughter.

Who was the top request for Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas?

Plenty of people had thoughts on who should be included in Waddingham’s Christmas special, but only one opinion truly mattered: That of Waddingham’s young daughter, Kitty. Kitty had a single request for the show’s lineup of famous faces, and it was a tall order. She asked her mother to include award-winning Broadway icon and Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. in the November release, and Waddingham pulled through.

She revealed that Odom Jr.’s inclusion was the result of her daughter’s request during an interview with Seth Meyers. She noted, while discussing the demanding task, that she offered her daughter the opportunity to choose one of the guests for her special, and jokingly pointed out that it could have “gone horribly wrong” asking a child to select a special guest. Starkly opposing what Waddingham feared, however — no giant purple alligators here — her daughter immediately exclaimed her top pick as Leslie Odom Jr.

Waddingham was hesitant to guarantee anything, considering how busy Odom Jr. is, but within no time her daughter’s request was granted. Odom Jr.’s people got back to Waddingham’s, and the star was signed onto the special. The rest can be witnessed in all its wondrous, Yuletide glory over on Apple TV Plus.

While most of us were learning how to fully cope with the global coronavirus pandemic, Hannah Waddingham found herself ascending to a level of fame most people never get near thanks to the hit show, Ted Lasso.

But through it all, she’s kept her personal life well under lock and key. Here’s what we know about Waddingham’s love life and her relationship with Italian businessman Gianluca Cugnetto.

Is Hannah Waddingham married?

To date, Waddingham has never had a ring on her finger. She began a long-term relationship with hotel manager, Gianluca Cugnetto, before landing her current role as Rebecca Wetton on Ted Lasso.

She and Cugnetto were involved for over a decade and share a daughter, Kitty, to whom Waddingham gave birth in 2016.

Who is Gianluca Cugnetto?

According to Fashioneur, Cugnetto, an Italian national, studied Revenue Management in the United States at Cornell University. Beginning in 2007, he began a three-year directorial position at Starwood Hotels and Resorts. In November 2010, he began a similar position at Antara Hotels in Bangkok.

In 2015, one year before the birth of Kitty, he became General Manager at the U.K.-based Hotel Du Vin. He currently is the Director of Château de Codignat, a luxury castle hotel in Bort-l’Etang, .

Though Cugnetto still visits his daughter, he and Waddingham are no longer in a relationship. It is unclear when they split, but Waddingham has indicated that she has been a single mother for some time now.

What condition does Hannah Waddingham’s daughter have?

Waddingham’s daughter has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Henoch–Schönlein Purpura. This condition causes blood vessels to swell and raises areas of bleeding underneath the skin, as well as t and abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with the disease when Waddingham was away in Belfast filming scenes for SyFy’s Krypton series.

According to the Daily Mail, Waddingham asked the universe for a role that would allow her to work and still remain near her child:

“Can I thank you for what you’ve given me already, but can I just ask you for something that is close to home so I can do my main role, which is to be mama. And also can I ask that it’s something that really shows what I can do [as an actress]. And I hope that’s not asking too much.”

The answer came in the form of Ted Lasso. Waddingham met with producers only two months after her universal request.

Emmy Award-winning actress Hannah Waddingham is perhaps best known for playing Rebecca Welton on the Apple TV Plus breakout hit Ted Lasso. Waddingham, however, is also a mom — here’s what’s known about Waddingham’s daughter, Kitty, and whether Kitty will follow her mother’s footsteps into acting.

On the topic of being a parent, Waddingham revealed that the Welton part was a godsend even before the accolades came rolling in, as the character allowed her to be closer to her young daughter. As an actress, Waddingham, a single mom, was used to traveling for work and spending long periods away from home. Ted Lasso, however, films near where Waddingham lives in England. For this reason, Welton couldn’t have come at a better time, Waddingham said.

What do we know about Waddingham’s daughter, Kitty?

As Hannah Waddingham explained on the White Wine Question Time podcast and The Ellen Degeneres Show, her daughter Kitty, born in 2016, has an autoimmune disorder Henoch-Schönlein purpura, or HSP. HSP can cause blood vessels to swell and burst and form a rash. People typically recover, but kidney problems sometimes persist.

Speaking with Degeneres, Waddingham said that once Kitty was diagnosed, she asked the universe for a part that would keep her closer to Kitty.

Speaking to the powers that be, Waddingham said, ” … [C]an I just ask you for something that is close to home so I can do my main role, which is to be mama. And also can I ask that it’s something that really shows what I can do [as an actress]. And I hope that’s not asking too much” (via Daily Mail).

A few months later, Waddingham was cast as Welton, and Lasso filmed less than an hour away from where Waddingham lived.

Otherwise, not much else is known about Hannah Waddingham’s only daughter. As mentioned, she was born in 2016, making her still young, and understandably, Waddingham, who was 49 in 2023, keeps her out of the spotlight.

Waddingham does, however, share photos of Kitty on social media, with her face turned away from the camera, to protect her privacy.

It’s also too soon to know if Kitty is interested in acting or singing. While promoting her 2023 holiday special, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas on Late Night with Seth Meyers, however, Waddingham did indicate Kitty did have a taste for show business.

According to her mom, Kitty requested one guest star for her mother’s festive outing: Hamilton‘s Leslie Odom Jr., Waddingham said.

Who is Kitty’s father?

One final detail that is known about Hannah Waddingham’s daughter, Kitty: Her father is Italian Gianluca Cugnetto. Cugnetto and Waddingham were together more than ten years before their relationship ended. They never married.

As for Kitty’s mom, Ted Lasso season 3, the show’s final season, was released in 2023. Late that same year, Deadline reported Waddingham would next appear alongside Octavia Spencer in an unnamed new comedy series on Prime from Tessa Coates. A Lasso spinoff starring Waddingham as Rebecca Welton was reportedly shelved, Deadline added.

Ted Lasso aired its third and final season in 2023, forcing its legion of fans to say goodbye to one of the best shows on television.

Its a bittersweet goodbye, after three seasons of the wholesome show, which chose the exact right moment to start airing. Its charming, uplifting vibe was a perfect antidote to the crushing weight of the pandemic, and the stellar cast — from Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein to Hannah Waddingham — that carried the show through each of its three seasons earned a special place in fan hearts.

Those same stars are finally finding time to appear in projects other than Ted Lasso, and —while we’ll always miss the sports dramedy — its a delight to see them cropping up in new pursuits. One of the most popular characters on the Apple Plus series was hands-down Rebecca Welton, the initially stern saboteur turned mentor and friend. Played to utter perfection by Hannah Waddingham, the character became a quick crowd favorite, and aided Waddingham in becoming a superstar.

She was always popular among a certain fanbase, but even Game of Thrones wasn’t enough to earn Waddingham the name recognition she currently boasts. That’s all thanks to Ted Lasso, the show that exposed just how talented the stunning actress really is.

How old is Hannah Waddingham?

Waddingham’s clear skill in Ted Lasso, paired with her statuesque beauty and timeless appeal, are huge culprits behind her skyrocketing popularity. The stunning actress plays a woman in her middle age, maybe even a bit older, in the delightful series, something that a few viewers found hard to believe.

Sure, Waddingham looks like a mature woman, but the idea that she’s much over 35 feels a bit hard to swallow. That makes the revelation of her real age all the more shocking — would you believe that Waddingham is nearly 50? She rang in 49 in 2023, but barely looks like she’s flirting with 40.

Waddingham is absolutely gorgeous, and the only real tell, when it comes to her age, is her grace and maturity. She does put off a serene sort of wisdom, in television appearance and in roles, making the star’s true age a bit easier to believe. Still, she looks utterly ageless in her television and film appearances, which seems to be part movie magic, part incredible genes, and part Waddingham’s infectious energy.

Ted Lasso legend Hannah Waddingham is so much more than the co-star of 2024’s The Garfield Movie, enviable polyglot, and rightful heir to Benedict Cumberbatch’s “Most British-Sounding Name” throne. 

She’s also a multi talented performer with – and this is just context-based speculation – at least one more project on her contract with Apple TV Plus. With that firmly in mind, we present to you: Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas.

A throwback to a bygone era of singing, dancing celebrity holiday concerts, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas brings its namesake Game of Thrones star to the stage in festive, bombastic fashion. Featuring twinkle-lit cheer, more saxophones than you see most days, and a seasonally-specific tidal wave of sleigh bell noises, it promises to be a new Yuletide classic for certified non-Scrooges.

Waddingham – whose last name sounds like a large rabbit side character in the Paddington Bear cinematic universe – won’t be performing alone. It would border on the egregious to invite AFC Richmond’s Rebecca Welton back to Apple’s streaming service without extending the courtesy to her fellow Ted Lasso alums. Phil Dunster, AKA Jamie Tartt (doo dooo doo-doo-doo) is confirmed to the proceedings, as is Juno Temple, Brendan Hunt, and a bevy of as-yet undisclosed “surprise guests.” Featured non-Lasso reunion appearances will be made by Luke Evans, Leslie Odom Jr., and Sam Ryder.

Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas is set to stream on Apple TV Plus exclusively. Barring unforeseen delays, it will be available for subscribers to watch beginning on November 22, 2023.

The Marvels failed to ignite your hype for the inevitable collision of Kevin Feige’s action figure collection that’s coming our way in Avengers: Secret Wars? Well, then, luckily for you, Sony is beating Marvel to the punch by launching its own surprise multiverse in the form of The Garfield Movie.

Not to be confused with 2004’s Garfield: The Movie — see, it’s a totally different title — The Garfield Movie is a CG-animated reboot of the lasagna-loving house cat’s adventures. While we may have lost the perfect casting of Billy Murray as the titular tabby from the earlier ’00s films, and Chris Pratt isn’t many people’s idea of a perfect replacement, at least the ing cast is a cornucopia of A-list talent, which brings together fan-favorite faces from across the Marvel, Ted Lasso, and Saturday Night Live universes.

In total, we have 2 SNL stars, 2 Ted Lasso vets, and 5 Marvel heroes, not to mention a DC player too. Why hate Mondays when every new week brings us a little closer to The Garfield Movie getting here, and besting Marvel at its own game?

Chris Pratt

Fresh off concluding the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy as the Legendary Star-Lord, Chris Pratt seems keen to go back to his roots by playing a schlubby, lazy comic character like Parks and Rec‘s Andy Dwyer — it’s just has to be an animated cat so we’re not distracted by his post-MCU super-bod. There’s a definitive whiff of Lightyear to this whole endeavor, with Pratt acting as the Chris Evans to Murray’s Tim Allen, but Pratt already won us over as Mario, so don’t count him out yet.

Samuel L. Jackson

What new cinematic universe would be complete without an obligatory appearance from the king of franchises himself, Mr. Samuel L. Jackson? The Nick Fury icon is on board The Garfield Movie as Vic, the father of Garfield. Yes, Sam Jackson as Chris Pratt’s dad was a casting I wasn’t expecting to see in my life either. Fingers crossed Vic turns up for a post-credits scene in which he recruits that egg with the legs from Garfield and Friends to appear in the sequel.

Ving Rhames

Yes, Mission: Impossible legend Ving Rhames is indeed a Marvel veteran, as he had a brief cameo as Charlie-27 — one of Sylvester Stallone’s team of OG Guardians in Guardians 2 — although sadly he didn’t return opposite Sly in Guardians 3. Assuming that the voice cast didn’t record their roles together, this makes the second time Rhames has featured in a film headlined by Pratt without probably ever actually meeting the guy.

Nicholas Hoult

Commiserations to Nicholas Hoult. With the news that Marvel is choosing Kelsey Grammer over him as the MCU’s Beast, he must be looking for alternate employment. Joking aside, he’s a smart choice for Garfield’s owner/pet, Jon Arbuckle, especially the more sincere depiction teased in the trailer. Let’s just hope The Garfield Movie doesn’t continue Hoult’s unfortunate box office jinx (see Renfield and Dark Phoenix).

Harvey Guillén

What We Do in the Shadows fave Harvey Guillén is threatening to be typecast after following up his turn as vampire sidekick Guillermo with turns as Antonio Banderas’ sidekick in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Susan Sarandon’s sidekick in DC’s Blue Beetle. His character in The Garfield Movie has yet to be revealed, but if he turns out to be another sidekick — maybe Otis starts talking? — then someone’s getting kicked.

Cecily Strong

It’s about time Cecily Strong got some more Hollywood recognition. She’s the longest-running female cast-member in SNL history — let’s see her get some more movie roles, people. Again, no word yet on who Strong is playing in The Garfield Movie, but she could well steal the show. In the meantime, go watch Schmigadoon!.

Bowen Yang

Strong’s SNL co-star Bowen Yang, on the other hand, already seems to be going places in Hollywood, following on from his roles in LGBTQ+ romcoms Fire Island and Bros and role in the Wicked adaptation. Again, expect Yang and Strong to deliver the biggest laughs of the film.

Hannah Waddingham

when Barbie contained about half the cast of Sex Education and we were left to assume Greta Gerwig was bingeing the show while casting? Clearly, The Garfield Movie director Mark Dindal and his team were marathoning Ted Lasso during pre-production on this one. First up, we have newfound Christmas icon and the only good part about Hocus Pocus 2, Hannah Waddingham…

Brett Goldstein

… And also Brett Goldstein! Don’t forget, Goldstein is yet another Marvel graduate in this cast, given that he cameod as Hercules during the credits of 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder and has done precisely nothing in the MCU since. So while Marvel drags its feet in having him share the screen with one of the Hollywood Chrises in Thor 5, at least we can catch him act opposite Pratt in this one. I’ll say it again; The Garfield Movie is Sony’s Secret Wars.

The weight is over, as the film’s feline body-shaming tagline puts it, when The Garfield Movie hits theaters on May 24, 2024.

British actress Hannah Waddingham became widely recognizable through her role as Rebecca on the Apple TV Plus show Ted Lasso.

However, the award-winning 49-year-old has actually been in the industry for years, racking up quite a name (and bank ) for herself. Her roles in everything from major films to cameos in hit TV shows have made her not only widely known and appreciated, but relatively wealthy.

Waddingham is quite the singer as well, and even had a role in the Award-winning 2012 adaptation of the musical Les Misérables. She played a Factory Woman, likely lending her vocals to the soundtrack. It is unclear what Waddingham would have made in this role, but seeing as the film grossed nearly $150 million, according to The Numbers, at the very least she hopefully got a generous paycheck.

Waddingham has also had rolled on several hit TV shows, including Game of Thrones and Sex Education. She played Septa Unella on eight episodes of Game of Thrones, Jax-Ur on 13 episodes of Krypton, Sofia Marchetti on 14 episodes of Sex Education, and Lady Bellaston on 3 episodes of the mini-series Tom Jones. According to Backstage, actors and actresses in roles like hers commonly make up to $3,000 a day for TV show appearances. Not too shabby.

Though she has appeared in a whole host of films, one of her most recent was the role of the Mother Witch in Hocus Pocus 2. Though her salary for the long-awaited sequel is unclear, Entertainment Weekly reports was one of the most streamed Disney Plus films of all time, so they likely cut her a nice check.

Of course, her most iconic role will always be in Ted Lasso. For three seasons she graced our screen as Rebecca Welton. Not only did the role earn her an Emmy, but by season three, Waddingham was also earning somewhere between $125,000 and $150,000 per episode, according to Slash Film.

The actress also has several, probably high-paying, projects including her very own Apple TV Plus Holiday special and a role in the 2024 Garfield movie. Her musical special Home for Christmas will premiere on November 22.

With so much behind her and so much on the horizon, Hannah Waddingham has certainly proven herself when it comes to being an actress and singer. While Ted Lasso fans may miss Rebecca, everyone is anxiously waiting to see what Waddingham does next. It’s only going up from here, as is her net worth of, according to Celebrity Net Worth, $4 million.

It’s the end of the line for Jason Sudeikis’ charming American football-turned-soccer coach Ted Lasso – the star of what has been arguably Apple TV Plus’ biggest hit yet. The last episode of season three and possibly the show as a whole aired Wednesday to split opinions from fans, ranging from disappointment to a lot of love. For the cast, there’s only the latter.

Apple TV released a featurette celebrating the show in the words of its considerably large cast, starting with soccer chants, moving on to the incredible “So Long, Farewell” musical number, and ending in tears.

The feeling among most of the cast seems to be that they were left wanting more. Brett Goldstein — who plays the sulking Roy Kent, and who occasionally wrote for the show — confessed that, if it were up to him, he’d “never do anything else.” Sudeikis, who helped create the show as well as write it, said Ted Lasso brought a lot of “fulfillment” and a range of other emotions, from warmth to goosebumps, to his life.

Between all the players, there’s only respect and appreciation. Toheeb Jimoh, the adorable Sam Obisanya, and Anthony Head, the menacing Rupert, both described the cast as their “family,” while Juno Temple described hers and Hannah Waddingham’s on and off-screen friendship as a “beautiful, magical whirlwind.”

As for the last day on set – it played out more like the crying Olympics. As each cast member says goodbye to Ted, the hope remains that the show could go on, even if in a new direction.

All three seasons of Ted Lasso are streaming now on Apple TV Plus. Make sure to read We Got This Covered’s review of the last season.

Dorothy is back in Kansas after Ted Lasso‘s series finale, with the uber-positive coach and titular character of this Apple TV fish out of water comedy drama finally back in the big blue sea of his home state. After a third season that many have – somewhat unfairly – been criticized for drifting away from gags into dramatics, the show resolved itself with an ending that was a little predictable, but in the most satisfying way; unless you’re a TedBecca hopeful, but not all of us can live in a fantasy world.

On that note, “So Long, Goodbye” begins with a TedBecca misdirect as we see a bed-headed coach come downstairs to his boss’s kitchen. We quickly discover Ted and Coach Beard’s neighborhood had to be evacuated thanks to a gas leak when Ted’s fellow American and his fiery – if we’re being nice – partner Jane also wander into the kitchen. The not so hard to guess cliffhanger the penultimate episode ended with is also confirmed: Ted is leaving A.F.C Richmond.

We’re soon at the team’s last training session, where we discover Nate isn’t back in the team as an assistant manager, but assistant kitman. Roy and Keeley have a slightly awkward meeting as we see the hardman grapple with his feelings towards the PR whizz and all-round nice person. We also see Trent Crimm’s (nearly) completed book about Richmond’s season, adding a meta element to the show.

Our second major glimpse of Rebecca comes next as she discusses her ex-husband’s new media woes, which include allegations of inappropriate relationships with his staff. The Richmond owner, who at the beginning of the season was still caught up in a battle with her ex, now seems to genuinely be over it — but she can’t talk about Ted yet. We then get another potential bombshell: Rebecca may sell Richmond, as its value is at an all-time high and could fetch her £2 billion.

There is, of course, a musical interlude, with the team finishing Ted’s final training session with a well choreographed and surprisingly tuneful rendition of the titular song of the episode, from The Sound of Music. The wholesomeness then hits a bump for a while as Roy and Jamie try to both work out their feelings towards Keeley, which devolved into a brawl, before she resoundingly tells them both it’s not their decision to make.

Those who’ve been complaining about the lack of soccer this season are treated to a long game sequence (and a cameo from ex-referee and famed chicken killer Mike Dean). Richmond find themselves two goals down at half-time, allowing Ted to make an emotional speech which ends with him quoting yet another Wizard of Oz line about there being no place like home, but A.F.C Richmond coming pretty close.

Despite the upbeat nature of the show, the heartbreaking ending of missing out at the last fits well with the Ted Lasso ethos, and definitely chimes in with the realities of soccer globally. Just like any big business (and as Roy said in the episode) money talks, and underdog stories like Richmond’s are incredibly rare, whereas painful near misses are universal. It would have almost felt wrong for a show that has captured British soccer culture near-perfectly to have gone for a Hollywood ending, especially given our great national time of taking the mick out of each other for attempts at improving (just ask any Brit soccer fan and they’ll tell you about the importance of schaudenfreude in the sport).

On the criticisms of its final series becoming too dramatic, the way Ted Lasso shifted from quirky to character driven has always been telegraphed, especially as mental health became a more consistent theme as the show wore on. Mixing humor with occasionally devastating emotion is something creator Bill Lawrence has executed well previously, and it mostly felt natural when episode times jumped from a tight 30 to near enough an hour, although some of the show’s charm was lost as storylines drifted apart. With that said, everything converged perfectly in the finale, and given how well characterized the Ted Lasso cast is, the fact things wrapped up as expected is more of a triumph of great writing than a failure to surprise. It’s not Agatha Christie, but that’s not why people watch this series.

Thematically speaking, the finale also got it spot on, with the key notions of redemption and trying to do the best by others running through the entire 70 or so minutes. Fatherhood, and the relationship between fathers and sons, has also always been a key thread weaving through the show, and Ted reuniting with his son Henry to avoid ing on his own missing-dad trauma was the perfect bow on top of that particular theme.

Ted Lasso wasn’t the only well regarded Anglo-American comedy drama to finish this week, with Succession also having its last hurrah. While the natures of the shows are intrinsically different, with Ted’s positivity starkly contrasted with the bitter, damaged Roys, they both made their finales easy to predict (if you were paying attention, anyway) yet didn’t disappoint, because they did what the best shows do: give us larger than life yet incredibly realistic characters, and make you care about their lives.

And, in the end, that’s why the 12th and final episode of Ted Lasso season 3 was a brilliant finale to a brilliant show: the series set out to show us that it’s okay to care, and to see the best in people instead of being cynical, and that’s what we’ve ended up doing. The Emmys are calling, and it would be a huge shock if there weren’t at least some nominations for this wonderful kiss of sunshine in a world of increasingly dark and gritty series’. But, even if it doesn’t get the rewards it deserves, Ted Lasso will have a special place in the hearts of those who watched it — even if Ted is a bit of a wanker.