InTed Lassoseason 1, Jamie Tartt was easily the most unlikable character in the show. Tartt was played by Phil Dunster, who perfectly embodied an arrogant, obnoxious professional soccer player. However, throughout three seasons ofTed Lasso, fans started to like Jamie Tartt. This may have taken some fans by surprise, since many were completely against him from the premiere episode of the series, but Tartt’s character growth shows how good the writing was onTed Lasso.
It took Jamie Tarrt surprisingly getting traded to another club at the end ofTed Lassoseason 1, and then returning to AFC Richmond as a slightly more apologetic version of himself, for this character growth to begin. InTed Lassoseason 3,Tartt had apologized for his previous immature behavior, and had strong bonds with his teammates and coaches. However, the version of Jamie Tartt that viewers saw almost didn’t exist, since Phil Dunster originally auditioned to play a differentcharacter inTed Lasso.
Phil Dunster Auditioned To Play Dani Rojas In Ted Lasso
Dani Rojas Was Supposed To Be The Annoying AFC Richmond Teammate
Jeremy Egner’s bookBelievedetails the making ofTed Lasso, and reveals that the character of Jamie Tartt was originally envisioned to be South American. The cocky Latin American character the writers ofTed Lassohad in mind was originally going to be named Dani Rojas, who ended up being a completely different character, played by Cristo Fernández. InTed Lasso, Fernández played Dani Rojas as an extremely likable character and positive presence on AFC Richmond, whereasDunster’s Jamie Tartt took on the role as the cocky, annoying teammate.
Is AFC Richmond A Real Team? What Ted Lasso’s Football Club Is Based On
Ted Lasso’s football club, AFC Richmond, is so believable and even has merchandise so that American fans may wonder if it’s actually a real team.
Phil Dunster actually originally auditioned to play Dani Rojas inTed Lasso, even though he wasn’t Latin American, like the writers envisioned the character to be. Therefore, it’s clear thatthe show would be drastically different if the writers stuck to their original vision of Dani Rojas. Most likely, Dunster wouldn’t have been part of thecast ofTed Lasso, and the show would have been missing one of its best characters.
How Phil Dunster Became Jamie Tartt In Ted Lasso
Jamie Tartt Was A Great Villain In Ted Lasso Season 1
Since Dunster was a non-Latin American auditioning for the role of Dani Rojas, he had an uphill battle with hisTed Lassoaudition. However, Dunster ended up convincing theTed Lassowriters to go in a different direction. After originally auditioning with a Spanish accent, he was asked to do another audition with a UK accent. Dunster chose a Manchester accent, andconvinced the writers that he would be perfect as a cocky version of Jamie Tartt.
The writers and Dunster developed the character over the course of the series, and Jamie Tartt ended up being one of the best characters by the end ofTed Lassoseason 3.
Therefore,the writers abandoned their idea of having an arrogant Latin American player inTed Lassoseason 1, and Fernández’s Dani Rojas became a rootable character on the show. Dunster’s Jamie Tartt took the role of one ofTed Lasso’smain villains, and was a constantly annoying presence in the first season of the show. However, the writers and Dunster developed the character over the course of the series, and Jamie Tartt ended up being one of the best characters by theend ofTed Lassoseason 3.
Will Phil Dunster Return As Jamie In Ted Lasso Season 4?
Dunster Might Not Return As Jamie Tartt
Ted Lassowas viewed by much of the creative team as a show that only needed three seasons. Therefore,Ted Lassoseason 3 was meant to serve as a definitive end to the series. However, given the massive critical and commercial success of the series, there are now rumors of a potentialTed Lassoseason 4. A fourth season of the show hasn’t officially been greenlit, but it is reportedly being worked on.Ted Lassoseason 4 likely wouldn’t include Ted in a major role, since he is now living with his son in Kansas, andit doesn’t sound like Dunster would return as Jamie either.
A report from August 2024 reported thatJamie Tartt won’t be inTed Lassoseason 4, due to scheduling conflicts with Phil Dunster’s other shows. Dunster also stars in the AppleTV+ dramaSurfaceand the Prime Video showThe Devil’s Hour. Jamie is still a player on AFC Richmond at the end ofTed Lassoseason 3, so he would have to be written out of the show if Dunster can’t return, which would be disappointing for fans of the character.
Ted Lasso
Cast
Ted Lasso is an American football coach who moves to England, hired to manage a struggling soccer team, despite having no experience. With cynical players and a doubtful town, Ted will have to convince them that he’s fit for the job.
