Ted Lasso star pays tribute to Anthony Head as latest season 4 episode deals with his character Rupert

The latest episode of Ted Lasso ended with a tribute card to the late Anthony Head, who played Rebecca's villainous ex-husband Rupert in seasons 1-3 of the football drama, and passed away in June.

It's understandable why this was the instalment dedicated to Head - as with the last episode, this one referenced him explicitly, with Rebecca and Higgins believing that he was behind a plot to buy up shares in Richmond, and snatch it from under Rebecca's feet.

At the end of the episode, it was revealed that Tracey Ullman's Zelda was actually behind this plot, not Rupert. However, the team are yet to find this out, and currently still trust her.

It was a big episode, as it also saw the death of long-time character Mae, played by Annette Badland. Now, in an interview with Deadline, Badland has paid tribute to Head, calling him a "beautiful man" and saying that he will be "much missed".

While reminiscing about a season 1 scene in which Rupert and Jason Sudeikis's Ted play darts at Mae’s pub, she added of Head: "He was charming and funny and generous, and we’d have naughty little sort of asides."

Badland continued: "I assumed he would be in this last [season], and didn’t know, as I think very few people knew, he was ill and just couldn’t do it. We will miss him, I respect him, and it’s a great honour to be in the episode that is dedicated to him."

When Head's death was announced earlier this year, a number of his Ted Lasso co-stars paid tribute to him on social media.

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Brett Goldstein, Roy Kent star and writer on the show, said in an Instagram Story: "Anthony Head was a brilliant actor who played the worst person in the world, which was an incredible skill because he was the best person. Infinitely charming and kind and fun and a joy. He will be sorely missed. Love to his family."

Meanwhile, Higgins star Jeremy Swift said in an Instagram post: "Goodbye Tony, we adored you, Rest in Peace my friend."

Ted Lasso season 4 is available to watch on Apple TV, with new episodes releasing each Wednesday. You can sign up to Apple TV for a seven-day free trial.

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Authors

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.