Emma Mackey is saying goodbye to Sex Education and her popular character Maeve Wiley after season four.
Mackey announced the news after winning the Rising Star Award at the 2023 BAFTAs.
When Radio Times asked if she would be starring in a potential fifth season of the hit Netflix series, she replied: “Season five? I’ve just finished the fourth one last week!
“No, I don’t think I’ll be in season five. I’ve said goodbye to Maeve.”
Mackey’s recent admission comes a few months after she opened up to the aforementioned publication about filming the forthcoming season.
“It feels very familiar. And it’s a bit more sporadic because we have more characters. So there’s… I’m not in it as consistently,” she revealed.
“But we’re in the middle of filming now, and I’m excited to be back. And yeah, I’m intrigued to know what’s going to happen – because I also don’t know. I’m also finding out as we go along, so it’ll be fun.”
The Emily star isn’t the only Sex Education cast member to announce their departure.
On 8 February, Ncuti Gatwa revealed that season four would be his last outing as the beloved character Eric Effiong.
“Last day. Last time. Bye bubs, thank you for all the lessons and for all the strength,” he wrote on Instagram.
His co-star Aimee Lou Wood, who plays fan-favourite character Aimee Gibbs, mourned his departure, writing: “My heart hurts badly.”
Gatwa has played Eric since the first season of the Netflix comedy, for which he has received universal critical acclaim and a BAFTA TV Award nomination for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme.
The new batch of Sex Education episodes are set to pick after the events of season three, which featured the gang thrust out of Moordale Secondary after its closure.
The official synopsis for season four reads: “Following the closure of Moordale Secondary, Otis and Eric now face a new frontier — their first day at Cavendish Sixth Form College. Otis is nervous about setting up his new clinic, while Eric is praying they won’t be losers again.
“But Cavendish is a culture shock for all the Moordale students — they thought they were progressive, but this new college is another level. There’s daily yoga in the communal garden, a strong sustainability vibe and a group of kids who are popular for being… kind?!”
For more information about Sex Education season four, click here.