No word on when “Sex Education” Season 4 premieres on Netflix this year, but with production wrapping earlier this month, it’s safe to say the hit show will return soon. So let’s call it late summer/early fall, similar to Season 3’s September 2021 debut. But expect the upcoming season to be the swan song for “Sex Education,” as yet another main cast member alludes to their exit from the series.
READ MORE: ‘Sex Education’ Season 4: Dan Levy & Others Join Hit Netflix Series
EW reports that Emma Mackey talked about her future on “Sex Education,” or lack thereof, backstage at the BAFTAs after winning the Rising Star Award at the ceremony Sunday night. When prompted about a potential Season 5 for the series, Mackey replied, “Season 5? I’ve just finished the fourth one last week!.” Then, Mackey confirmed her likely exit from the series. “No, I don’t think I’ll be in Season 5. I’ve said goodbye to Maeve.”
That makes Mackey the second major “Sex Education” cast member after Ncuti Gatwa, who plays Eric Effiong, to suggest their exit from the series this month. Gatwa basically confirmed his departure on Instagram two weeks ago, which comes with little surprise, as he’s about to become the fifteenth doctor on BBC‘s long-running “Doctor Who.” Other cast members left before “Sex Education” started production on Season 4, too, including Patricia Allison, Tanya Reynolds, Rakhee Thakrarand, and Simone Ashley. So, on top of the major shake-up of the series leaving behind Moordale Secondary, there will also be many new cast members this season.
Dan Levy leads the new Season 4 cast as a professor and cult author who teaches at Maeve’s university in the US, but his part may be only minor. Collider (via Variety) reports that another significant new cast addition comes with “Queen & Slim” actress Jodie Turner-Smith,” who said that Gatwa invited her to be part of the show. “First of all, all my scenes were with Ncuti Gatwa who – I DIE for him – and he’s my favourite character on the show,” said Turner-Smith, “So when he called me and asked me to do it I was like, I don’t care how much they’re paying I’m doing [it].” Other new cast members this season include Thaddea Graham, Marie Reuther, Alexandra James, Anthony Lexa, Felix Mufti, and Imani Yahshua.
Maeve and Eric exiting leaves “Sex Education” main character, Asa Butterfield‘s Otis Milburn, without a major love interest and a best friend heading into Season 5. That makes one wonder if the series, popular though it is, has much of a future beyond the upcoming season. Netflix hasn’t confirmed or denied if “Sex Education” Season 4 will be the last of the series, but with several characters already gone and more stars on the way out, it may be time for this really good thing to come to an end.
Expect Netflix to drop a trailer for “Sex Education” Season 4 sometime this spring, along with an official release date. And again, don’t be surprised if this season ends up as the show’s final one.