Netflix is calling time on one of its most popular shows.
In September 2021, the popular streaming show Sex Education was renewed for a fourth season following critical praise for its third outing.
However, it was soon revealed that several cast members, from Simone Ashley to Tanya Reynolds, would not be returning.
Shortly after this, those who were reprising their roles, including Emma Mackey and new Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa, announced that the fourth season would mark their final appearances in the show.
Hopes that the series might continue were kept alive by the fact other stars, including Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson and Aimee Lou Wood, had not make similar announcements.
Sadly, this is not the case – creator Laurie Nunn has announced that season four will be the end.
On Wednesday (5 July), Nunn said in a letter to fans: “We are incredibly proud of Sex Education and feel indebted to our brilliant writers, cast and crew who put so much heart into making every episode. They have worked tirelessly to bring you the final series, and we can’t wait to share it with you.”
Butterfield, Gatwa, Mackey, Anderson and Wood will all return in the final season as Otis, Erica, Maeve, Jean and Aimee, alongside Connor Swindells (Adam), Kedar Williams-Stirling (Jackson) and Mimi Keene (Ruby).
George Robinson, Chinenye Ezeudu, Dua Saleh, Alistair Petrie, Samantha Spiro, Jim Howick, Rakhee Thakra and Daniel Ings will also appear.
In terms of new cast additions, there’s Schitt’s Creek star Dan Levy, Jodie Turner Smith, Thaddea Graham (Doctor Who), Lisa McGrillis (Somewhere Boy), Marie Reuther (Kamikaze) and comedian Eshaan Akbar.
One original cast member who won’t be in the series is Reynolds, who played the eccentric Lily.
Ncuti Gatwa in ‘Sex Education’ season 4— (Netflix)
“I’m not [returning], actually, which is sad, very sad,” she told Radio Times in July 2022: “It’s just the natural progression of these shows – when you have such big ensemble casts and so many characters, I think you have to let a few older characters go to make way for newer ones, which is absolutely the right thing, the way it should happen.”
She added: “I loved every minute of it and I loved Lily with my whole entire heart. Three seasons was just a really perfect amount for me.”
Patricia Allison, who played Ola, will also not be returning.
Sex Education arrived on Netflix in 2019. The final season will be released on 21 September.
