Netflix’s ‘Sex Education’ Is Losing Three of Its Best Supporting Characters

Netflix’s Sex Education has been producing and fostering a lot of U.K. talent, but that also means saying goodbye to more characters as they go on to new adventures. Deadline has reported that actress Tanya Reynolds, who plays Lily on the hit show, won’t be returning for the upcoming season.

“I’m not [returning], actually, which is sad, very sad,” Reynolds told the U.K.’s Radio Times. “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.”

This news comes after Patricia Allison, who plays the queer character of Ola Nyman on the hit Netflix show, announced that she “won’t be joining the team” for Sex Education season 4, because she wants to pursue “some other little things.” As shared on TechRadar, Simone Ashley, who, due to her obligations on Bridgerton, will also be unable to reprise her role as Olivia Hanan.

I was originally saddened by the loss of Ola because of her relationship with Lily, but it looks like at least we can end the series knowing they made up. Maybe Ola’s issues with missing her mother will lead the character to go spend time with that part of her family, and Lily went with. Olivia has mostly been a background player, but her dynamic with Ruby and the other popular crowd kids will be missed. Also, would anyone complain about more Simone Ashley being gorgeous onscreen?

Sex Education has become one of the most beloved teen dramas out now due to its candid discussions about sex and sexuality without coming across as exploitative like other teen series involving sex. It was renewed for a fourth season, which may end up being its final. All good things must come to an end, but with the MVP of the show Ncuti Gatwa, who played Eric Effiong, on his journey to be the next Doctor on Doctor Who and crossing over to American media in the new Barbie film, it seems like there will be a lot of characters leaving.

Better to let them graduate with dignity than to keep writing them off.

(via TechRadar, featured image: Netflix)