In what can be called a massive disappointment for fans, actress Emma Mackey and actor Ncuti Gatwa will not be returning to portray their respective characters in Netflix's hit series Sex Education. Emma Mackey and Ncuti Gatwa will be seen portraying the character of Maeve Wiley and Eric Effiong respectively in Sex Education Season 4 for the last time. On Sunday, Emma confirmed the reports when she attended the 2023 BAFTA Awards. It means, there will be no Maeve and Eric after Sex Education Season 4. Now, the question arises why Emma and Ncuti are leaving the popular show Sex Education which is a global hit? Or simply what is ' Maeve and Eric's leaving' reason? Below is what everything we know so far-
As per Just Jared, Emma Mackey was asked about her return to the comedy-drama series in the upcoming season. Responding to the question, the 27-year-old British-French actress told RadioTimes, “Season 5? I’ve just finished the fourth one last week!” Adding further, she said, “No, I don’t think I’ll be in season 5. I’ve said goodbye to Maeve.” So, it looks like Sex Education season 4 will be the last time when we get to see Mackey play Maeve on screen. Notably, last week, Emma’s co-star from the show Ncuti Gatwa, who plays the role of Eric Effiong hinted about leaving it too. Sharing a picture of the door of his trailer with Eric’s name written on it, the actor wrote in an Instagram caption, “Last day. Last time. Bye bubs, thank you for all the lessons and for all the strength.”
Here's what Eric had wrote-
"Last day. Last time. Bye bubs, thank you for all the lessons and for all the strength," Ncuti posted on Instagram on Thursday evening, sharing a photo of his trailer door with the name "ERIC" written in bold font. Such a somber caption seems to confirm what was rumored for months — that Ncuti will not be returning for future installments of Sex Education after season 4. Ncuti's co-star Aimee Lou Wood, who plays Maeve's best friend Aimee, knows just how we feel. “My heart hurts badly,” she commented under the post.
Now, coming to the reason for leaving, in an earlier interview with TotalFilm, Mackey confirmed that, like Gatwa, she'll be bowing out of the show after the upcoming episodes. "You know, we're playing 17-year-olds, and we're all almost 30, it is a bit weird," she said. "It’s a blessing because it is a launchpad and it is something that has given us opportunities in different ways but it's something that I want to gracefully exit from, and be happy that it exists and protect it and enjoy it in the time that it has existed in but yeah, it needs to be left alone now I think."
"We can all move on and take what we learned from Sex Ed as well because it has been a school, quite literally, for all of us," she further added. So, there is a hint why starcast of Sex Education are leaving and it is AGE.
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Sex Education Season 4 Release Date
Now, coming to Sex Education Season 4 release date, Netflix hasn't confirmed a release date for season 4 yet, so it's likely we won't see anything on our screens until mid-2023, at least.