This week Netflix shared some very exciting news: Sex Education will be returning for a fourth season.

“This is what you’ve been waiting 4. we’re back bébés. welcoming @danjlevy as Mr Molloy,” said the TV Show’s official Twitter.

“Dan joins a returning cast that includes Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Aimee-Lou Wood, Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells, Kedar Williams-Stirling, Mimi Keene, George Robinson, Chinenye Ezeudu, Dua Saleh, Alistair Petrie and Samantha Spiro,” Sex Education then said in a follow-up Tweet.

Thrilled fans turned online to share their thoughts about the announcement: “Season 4 finally, now I can breathe. Have been waiting for a minute,” Tweeted one.

“Dan Levy in season 4 of sex education all my dreams have come true,” said a second.

“Emma mackey returning for sex education season 4. thank god, i could not live without maeve wiley,” said a third.

So now that the fourth season is officially confirmed, it’s time to get up to date with everything we know so far about the forthcoming series.

Where did we get to?

The Netflix show, which first aired in January 2019 is set in Britain and focuses on Moordale Secondary School student Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield). He is initially ambivalent about sex because his mum, Jean (Anderson), is a sex therapist, but then ends up setting up an (informal, non-accredited) sex therapy clinic with his friend Maeve (Mackey). Otis becomes attracted to Maeve, creating problems for their joint venture.

The second series saw an influx of new students at the school, which naturally shook things up. Otis gets a girlfriend who isn’t Maeve, and there’s a chlamydia outbreak at school. Then, in series 3, it’s a new school year and Otis has another new girlfriend, Ruby. There’s also a baby on the way (for Otis’s mum, played exquisitely by Gillian Anderson) and a new headmistress.

At the end of series 3, Maeve left to study in the US, precipitating an emotional farewell between the two friends. Plus Moordale Secondary School shut down after a sexual revolution of sorts. So, what will happen next? Will Maeve return to the UK? What will happen at the new sixth form school?

Release date

It’s still all speculation at this point, but, according to Radio Times, the filming will continue into 2023, indicating that a spring or summer 2023 release date – at the very earliest – should be expected.

Cast

The big announcement this week was mostly focused on the cast, with Dan Levy, best known for his Emmy-winning turn as David Rose in Schitt’s Creek (which he also co-wrote, produced and directed) joining the production. He is set to play Maeve’s Ivy League college tutor.

It had already been revealed that several of the show’s main cast, such as Tanya Reynolds (Lily), Patricia Allison (Ola) and Rakhee Thakrar (Miss Sands) would not be back for the new series.

Speaking to Radio Times about the change, Reynolds previously said: “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.”

So, who is joining? And who will play who?

So far no further details have yet been shared about who the additional cast members will play, but we can still get excited about them.

Thaddea Graham (Doctor Who) and newcomers artist Felix Mufti, actor and singer Anthony Lexa, deaf actor Alexandra James, and Bella Maclean (Silent Witness) are completely new to Sex Education, while Marie Reuther (Kamikaze), Reda Elazouar and Imani Yahshua will be getting more screentime.

Plot

Netflix has also treated audiences to an outline. The streaming giant said: “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?!

“Viv is totally thrown by the college’s student-led, non-competitive approach, while Jackson is still struggling to get over Cal. Aimee tries something new by taking an Art A Level and Adam grapples with whether mainstream education is for him. Over in the U.S., Maeve is living her dream at prestigious Wallace University, being taught by cult author Thomas Molloy. Otis is pining after her, while adjusting to not being an only child at home, or the only therapist on campus.”

Creator

The series has been created by British screenwriter and playwright Laurie Nunn, who was shortlisted for the prestigious playwriting Bruntwood Prize for her first full-length play King Brown in 2017.

She was on to a winner when she fought for Sex Education to be made – according to Netflix, Sex Education had over 447 million viewing hours from September 12 to October 24, 2021 alone.

Speaking to The Guardian about the show, Laurie said, “The pitch of the show is so heightened. It’s about this kid who gives out sex advice in the toilet cubicle. It needed a really heightened world to match it. Moordale’s not a real place: it’s almost like a comic book, a teenage utopia.”

Is there a trailer yet?

No, sadly not. At the moment the show is still being filmed, so we haven’t even got a short teaser yet. Lots to look forward to, though.

Can you catch up?

Yes. For those of you joining the TV series now, you’re not too late. Sex Education seasons 1-3 are available now on Netflix, and you have plenty of time before season 4 is released to get caught up.