Ted and Mae in Ted Lasso
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Ted Lasso season 4 star teases the real reason for Mae’s death, and it could involve Ted

The finale is going to be so emotional

Daisy Phillipson
1st October 2026, 16:21
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*Warning: Spoilers ahead for Ted Lasso season 4 episode 9*

It’s the end of an era for Ted Lasso, as season 4 episode 9 – aptly titled ‘Mae Rides the Bus’ – ended with the death of everyone’s favourite landlady, Mae Green (Annette Badland). 

Mae ventured away from her usual spot behind the bar at the Crown & Anchor to support the Lady Greyhounds’ crucial away game against the Bristol Rovers, where she bestowed her wisdom in an emotional locker room speech before the match. 

But when the team finally won, Mae – who was watching from the stands – jumped up to celebrate, only to collapse. Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) is informed that an “incident” involving Mae has happened, and she tearfully breaks the bad news to Ted (Jason Sudeikis).

Although it’s not explicitly said out loud, actress Annette Badland has confirmed in follow up interviews that Mae has, in fact, died. But she also teased that she’s leaving behind something that could impact the story in the Ted Lasso season 4 finale and beyond. 

Mae’s AFC Richmond shares could be key to what happens next

Mae in Ted Lasso
Credit: Apple TV

It’s easy to forget that Mae wasn’t just the landlady of the Crown & Anchor – she was also sitting on a surprisingly large stake in AFC Richmond. When Rebecca sold 49% of the club to its supporters at the end of season 3, Mae was shown with a stack of share certificates of her own.

Given the events of the latest episode and Mae’s death, those shares are now pretty important. Season 4 has seen Rebecca dealing with a mystery buyer quietly snapping up stakes in Richmond, initially leading the club to suspect Rupert (Anthony Head) was attempting to regain control.

But the latest episode finally revealed the real buyer to be billionaire Zelda Southport (Tracey Ullman), who is secretly attempting to acquire even more shares in the club. Exactly what she ultimately plans to do with them remains unclear, but it’s safe to say her intentions don’t look particularly good for Rebecca.

As such, Mae’s death leaves us with one pretty important question: what happens to all of her shares? According to Badland, this will be a pretty important plot point heading into the finale. 

Speaking to Deadline, the actress teased, “Well, she had a very large pile of shares. I mean, they were about ‘yay high’. She uses them to good effect. Her instructions are for them to be used in a particular way that is quite good.”

Of course, Badland did separately explain to TV Insider that Mae had the ultimate sendoff, especially after it looked like Ted Lasso wasn’t set to continue after season 3. 

“She was having one of the best days ever, you know? Things being fulfilled, and the female football as well as, you know, her immediate engagement with them,” she said. 

“But that is happening and couldn’t happen for her, and how difficult it is for women, and her as an older woman, still being accepted and involved… Her last day was probably her best. She was certainly very, very happy.”

But beyond giving Mae a fitting sendoff, it seems her death may serve another purpose when it comes to those shares – and that’s before we get to the Crown & Anchor. 

Mae’s death could set up a completely different future for Ted

Mae, Henry and Ted in Ted Lasso
Credit: Apple TV

Badland didn’t give much away when it came to what the plans are for her pub, but when Deadline’s Dessi Gomez said, “I hope it’s in good hands in the future,” she replied, “Oh yes.”

Already, fans have some predictions for the Ted Lasso season 4 finale, including that Ted may end up running the Crown & Anchor – and I have to agree. 

As one Redditor wrote, “I think that Ted’s mentoring will lead to Coach Chilton becoming manager and Ted ends up running the pub that was left to him by Mae. Ted would be ultimate pub owner dispensing life advice to all while still maintaining his love of Richmond. And this way he spends more time with Henry.”

Another pointed out, “I hope that Ted inherits Crown & Anchor, he makes a lot of sense to keep it (and Henry helps out too!), especially because Mae showed Ted ‘how the sausage gets made’, and him staying in the upstairs room would be a smooth transition to taking over the establishment. Ted would be the best bartender ever haha.”

A third added, “I’d actually love this! This is the first season where he has permanently moved to the UK and has a reason to stay outside of work. The pub would be a gorgeous new reason.”

Thankfully, we don’t have to wait too long to find out. The Ted Lasso season 4 finale lands on Apple TV at 6pm PT on Tuesday, October 6 – or Wednesday, October 7 if you’re not in the US.

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Featured image credit: Apple TV