- Not to be confused with Jamie Tartt, his son.
James Tartt Sr is a recurring character featured in the Apple TV+ series, Ted Lasso, and the father of Jamie Tartt.
History[]
Jamie mentioned his father for the first time during the 'ghost cleansing' ritual when he donated football boots which his mother had bought him to throw into the bin, and he vowed to make his mother proud through enjoying the game and being a good role model rather than taking his father's approach of acting tough. It was the first time for the team hearing Jamie talking about his personal life, his parents, and everyone got a glimpse of his personality and why he behaved the way he was.
The Bully[]
Rebecca Welton transferred Jamie back to Manchester City F.C. after the 'ghost cleansing' ritual that united the team, and it made him bitter. He then spent his time talking down about his former club during interviews. Jamie told Keeley Jones that Ted tried to get into his head by being nice on television, which she replied that "Not everyone in your life is out to get you."
Although Jamie was instrumental to the Man City victory which sent Richmond down from the Premier League, James was very unhappy with the way in which his son had conducted himself. Ted Lasso caught the elder Tartt yelling at his son for making a final pass in front of goal, rather than taking the shot himself. His father even threw a shoe at him but missed. In a partial attempt to counteract James' negativity, Ted sent a note to Jamie via Coach Beard, along with a little green toy soldier, praising his act of team-spiritedness, even though it came at Ted's personal expense of relegation.
The Reality[]
Jamie left Manchester City Football Club right at the start of the new season to pursue a reality TV career, including an appearance on Lust Conquers All; a popular competitive romance reality show. Jamie is eliminated and voted off from the show which surprised him and his co-stars because everyone thought he was going to win.
During an interview with iTV's This Morning with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby he expresses his desire to start taking chances and living life the fullest. Phillip asks him whether he'd return to Man City, and Jamie thinks that Pep Guardiola will take him back. Both presenters show him a video clip of Vinai Ahuja interview, telling Lloyd the reporter, that Jamie will not coming back to the club and wishes him luck. The news stunned Jamie and he goes to see his manager, Uri, who tells him that nobody wants him because he is a liability for acting like an asshole and disappear on Man City.
Jamie meets Ted at the The Crown & Anchor pub and admits that he's doing worse and wants to come back to Richmond, but Ted says that Jamie has burned a lot of bridges with everyone. Jamie also admits that the reason why he left Man City and joined a reality show is because he was fed up with his father. Ted assures everyone that Jamie will not return to AFC Richmond, however, everyone is shocked when they sees the ex-Richmond striker take to the training pitch.
The Abuser[]
James demands some tickets to the AFC Richmond game against Man City in the FA Cup semi-final and Jamie duly obliged. Jamie then asks Leslie Higgins some tickets for his dad and his mates, Denbo Cullens and Bug. Jamie doesn't care where Higgins put them because the only reason he's doing this is just to get them off his back. Before the match, James and his cronies enters the ground sporting Manchester City F.C. jerseys and merchandise, despite his son playing for Richmond. During the game, he heckles the Richmond players including his own son and even jeers at the people around him.
After Richmond's devastating loss, James burst into the Richmond dressing room to gloat and starts making fun of his son's performance during the game. He then tells Jamie to allow him and his friends to get photographs of themselves on the pitch. When Jamie says no, his father insults his son further, and the rest of the team, calls Jamie a “pussy” and aggressively shoves him. Jamie then proceeds to punch James in front of his teammates. The players are shocked and not able to do anything about it, however, at the same time Moe Bumbercatch, Declan Cockburn, and Paul Reynolds want to help Jamie but they get restrained by Jack Dawkins and Kukoč so the situation won't escalate. James is furious and tries to attack Jamie in retaliation, but he is bundled out of the dressing room by Coach Beard, leaving a distressed Jamie to be comforted by Roy Kent. Ted can't stand the situation because it reminds him of his father who committed suicide and leave the locker room.
Feud with Coach Beard[]
While roaming the city after the match, James along with his friends, Bug and Denbo, accidentally sees a depressed Coach Beard alone. James remembers that Coach Beard drags him outside the Richmond dressing room, deliberately hit his head on the door, and kicked him out of the stadium. His temple has a band-aid, and he immediately smiles menacingly to see Coach Beard seemingly lost. James starts to berate about how the real football happens in the street, but Coach Beard decides to run.
The three hooligans chases after him, and corners him in a dead-end alley. James has no hesitation throwing the first punch, and the rest of them starts beating and kicking Coach Beard until he falls on the ground. However, Coach Beard refuses to stay down and keeps fighting until Denbo restraint him and James pick up a tire-iron from the ground, ready to hit the coach on the head. But Coach Beard is saved by Darrin, who has been looking for him to return his missing wallet. Darrin punches and hit both James and Denbo, while Bug runs away.
Coach Beard never say any word regarding the feud to everyone, not even to Jamie.
Rehab[]
James never showed up again during the course of season three, until it is revealed that he is in a rehab facility, watching his son's performance and match on TV, rooting for him. In the end, Jamie visits his father, apparently making amends and forgive him.
Trivia[]
- According to Jamie, his father's friend, Bug, is named like that because he eats bugs for money.
- During a conversation with Roy, Jamie confesses that his father hired a sex worker in Amsterdam for him when he was only a teenager so he could lose his virginity. It is considered to be a sexual assault against a minor and a trauma for Jamie.