Emma Mackey, the star of the hit show Sex Education, has seemingly confirmed that season 4 will mark the end of her time on the show. The actress rose to fame in 2019 with her breakout role as Maeve Wiley on the Netflix series.
Since then, she has enjoyed a successful career with appearances in notable films such as Death on the Nile and Emily. While there was uncertainty surrounding Mackey’s return for season 4, she ultimately decided to reprise her role.
However, following season 3, the show has seen several key cast members leaving. As of now, there has been no announcement regarding the renewal of Sex Education for a fifth season, but if it does return, it is expected that more characters will exit the series.
Speaking to RadioTimes, Mackey confirms that Maeve will not appear in a possible fifth season of Sex Education. This development may not be a complete shock, as she had previously insinuated that her exit from the program was imminent.
Nevertheless, her latest response appears to be more conclusive. Read her statement below:
Season 5? I’ve just finished the fourth one last week! No, I don’t think I’ll be in Season 5.
Emma Mackey
Why are there so many departures?
Sex Education’s future seasons are uncertain as the show faces significant losses due to several main characters leaving the series.
Season 4 has already witnessed the departure of prominent cast members such as Rakhee Thakrar, Patricia Allison, Tanya Reynolds, and Simone Ashley, who play Emily Sands, Ola Nyman, Lily Iglehart, and Olivia Hanan, respectively.
Additionally, two more significant cast members, Ncuti Gatwa and Mackey, have confirmed their departures after the fourth season.
The main factor behind the mass departure was the availability of better opportunities. The show served as a springboard for the careers of several young actors who were able to expand their horizons.
Ashley decided to exit the series after the third season to take on a role in the highly praised Bridgerton. Gatwa’s announcement that he would not return for season 4 was no surprise as he had secured the starring position in the BBC’s science fiction series Doctor Who.
Allison similarly cited the emergence of alternative prospects as the reason for her departure from Sex Education.
According to some, such as Mackey, Sex Education has run its course and is declining.
Some cast members are exploring other opportunities, and age may be catching up to them in terms of portraying high school students.
Additionally, the show is evolving and may require the introduction of new characters, which could be why Reynolds and Thakrar left. Season 4 of Sex Education will reportedly take place in a different school, with new faces joining an already sizable cast. As with any long-running series, some stars have outgrown the show, while its growth may have left others behind.
About Sex Education
Sex Education is a British comedy-drama television series created by Laurie Nunn. The series premiered on 11 January 2019 on Netflix. It became a critical and commercial success for Netflix, with over 40 million viewers streaming the first season after its debut. The fourth season will be released some time in 2023.
The series follows the story of Otis Milburn, an insecure boy at Moordale Secondary School who is ambivalent about sex even though his mother is a sex therapist who is frank about all aspects of sexuality. After inadvertently assisting the school bully with his sexual performance anxiety, Otis sets up a sex advice business with Maeve, to help their fellow students with their sexual problems.
The series stars Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn, Emma Mackey as Maeve Wiley, Ncuti Gatwa as Eric Effiong, Gillian Anderson as Jean Milburn, Connor Swindells as Adam Groff, and Mimi Keene as Ruby Matthews.
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