Ted Lasso season 3 star Hannah Waddingham teases story details for her character, Rebecca Welton. Originally created as a series of commercials for NBC's defunct sports channel to promote the Barclay's Premier League, the Apple TV+ show centers on American football coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) after he is hired by Welton to manage the English football team, AFC Richmond. Following the show's release, Ted Lasso garnered much critical acclaim for its delightful blend of culture-shock humor, uplifting tone, and charming performances from its diverse cast.
Following Welton's public divorce from former AFC Richmond head, Rupert Mannion (Anthony Head), Welton hires the inexperienced Lasso as a way to assure the team's relegation to anger her ex-husband. However, she is won over her new manager's overbearing charisma and optimism. During her newfound love of the team and attempt to establish herself as a force to be reckoned with, Welton inadvertently strikes up a relationship with one of her players, Sam Obisanya (Toheeb Jimoh). Although she initially gives in to her desires, Welton later separates from Sam as she realizes the risk she is putting both herself and Sam in.
In an interview with EW, Waddingham teased Welton's upcoming story in Ted Lasso season 3. When asked how her character is feeling at the beginning of season 3, the actor shared that Welton ended season 2 "on a good note" but is still unsure about her feelings for Sam. Waddingham also revealed that Welton is still lacking in confidence going forward. She still has a decent distance to travel to arrive at a place of relative comfort and knowing who she is. Read what Waddingham said about Welton in season 3 below.
She did end on a good note. I think she ended on a confused note about Sam because there is an electricity and an ease between them but is she perturbed enough by the age gap to leave it behind or reignite it. Who knows? We shall see! But the biggest thing for me was, I was like, "Can she not be completely all together?" I don't feel like we've traveled with Rebecca all the way through this of her not knowing how to function to suddenly have her all collected so I was like, "If she takes a couple of steps forward, can she please take maybe three or four back instead of one?" And I'm pleased to say that she is as utterly clueless in her own life as before, as we all are really!
Although Welton has made strides as the owner of AFC Richmond, going from despising the team and wanting to destroy what Rupert loved, to stepping into her own as a fierce businesswoman and helping Lasso to pull the team back into the top flight, she still has a way to go in regard to firmly establishing herself as a major player in England's football world. But more importantly, she still has yet to achieve a sense of self-confidence to help her complete that part of her life's journey. According to Waddingham, Ted Lasso season 3 will find Welton still struggling in a relatable place of being "utterly clueless" as to what she's doing. However, she will likely be bolstered by her unflinchingly supportive friends such as Lasso and Keely Jones (Juno Temple).
With AFC Richmond securing promotion at then end of Ted Lasso season 2, Welton will find herself in facing off against West Ham United twice during the regular season, a team that has been purchased by her ex-husband. This will test Welton's resolve as she must go up against the man who effectively put her on a most tumultuous emotional ride. With Ted Lasso season 3 likely to hit Apple TV+ in 2023, audiences will have to be patient to witness Welton's conclusion to her journey.
Source: EW