Leslie Higgins is a main regular character featured in the Apple TV+ show, Ted Lasso, the husband of Julie Higgins, the father of their five children Lindsay Higgins, Kris Higgins, Dana Higgins, Steve Higgins, Terry Higgins, a Director of Communications at AFC Richmond, and Rebecca Welton's assistant.
He has many delegated tasks as well, such as when he arrange accommodation and housing information for Ted Lasso and Coach Beard when they arrives at Nelson Road Stadium, and getting Jamie Tartt some tickets for James Tartt and his cronies. Before Rebecca took over the ownership of the club, he had to assist Rupert Mannion's every demand and affair including arranged his boss' meeting with other women.
Working Hard For The Money[]
When Rebecca takes the ownership of the club, she is removing Rupert's expensive decorations from the office, and she offers Higgins a painting by Hockney, which he feels inadequate to accept because it must've been worth a million pounds, so she immediately put it in the auction piles. She fires George Cartrick which surprises Higgins because he is afraid that Rebecca would fire him too, especially when she's aware that he helped Rupert with his affairs behind her back.
When Ted first arrived, he is immediately being rushed to have a press conference. As the press asks him tough questions, mostly even mock him, Rebecca chides the reporters and the journalists for being rude to Ted and then assures everyone that everything is going to change with the way things everyone does things, and that thing is the "Lasso Way".
Higgins compliment Rebecca after the press conference for being supportive of the new manager, but Rebecca coldly calls Ted a wanker and hopes he'd fail miserably. He is shocked to find out that his boss is planning to sabotage Ted and the club because she wants to torture Rupert for revenge as the club is the only thing he loves, so she asks Higgins to help her. He at first is reluctant, but Rebecca promotes him to new director of football operations with a substantial pay rise.
Promotional image of Higgins
Higgins has no choice but to accept the promotion slash blackmail as it would help his career and his family's life. However, it is proven difficult for Higgins to sabotage Ted as he becomes a close friend with him, even having lunch and joking together. He even attends Sam Obisanya birthday party at the locker room and eats some birthday cake.
Rebecca advises Ted to hangout with Keeley Jones so they can figure out how to support Jamie Tartt especially his relationship with other team players such as Roy Kent. Meanwhile, Higgins hires a paparazzi per Rebecca's instruction to take some pictures of Ted and Keeley, to besmirch Ted's reputation and put a strain on the relationship with Jamie. However, Keeley was told by her friend who work in the tabloid that there will be unflattering pictures of them together a day before they're being published and manage to postponed it. It infuriates Rebecca as she calls Higgins at his home and demands to get his butt to the office. His children are listening to the phone conversation but seems to used of their father being yelled at by his boss.
Rebecca then hires Trent Crimm to make a profile on Ted, knowing that Trent will be scathing with his report and article. Higgins then reading the early draft of the article, and shocked to find out that Trent has written a positive spin about Ted.
During the 10th Annual Benefit for Underprivileged Children event, Higgins finds out that singer Robbie Williams is not available at the last minute, and Rebecca tasks him to find a replacement. After finding out that Rupert is the one who sabotaged the booking, Ted decides to take matters into his own hand, and he grabs Higgins along to recruit Cam Cole for the event. The night is saved, and everyone, including Higgins are dancing and celebrating the event.
Moral Dilemma[]
One morning, Julie drives him to his office building and he apologizes. She thanked him that they are able to get the other car fixed and cheerfully demand that their children, who are sitting the back of the car, to agree with the assessment - which their sons answer with a lack of enthusiasm. After kissing her husband goodbye, she wishes that Rebecca would get a heart disease, indicating that she knows just how awful his boss treating her husband. The whole family watches Ted bumps his head on the door frame of the office building very hard and cringes.
Rebecca and Higgins' work relationship is still strained because he doesn't approve of her trying to sabotage Ted. He admits that he can't even talk freely to her, compare to Keeley who tells her to 'fuck off' in a joking manner. During a training session, Dani Rojas is injured; which players and staff members attributes this to a curse at the club. Ted decides to call every player to pub and tell them to listen to Higgins and Mae telling a story about the origin of the curse. Ted suggests that they should come to the treatment room and bring an item from each player at midnight to do a 'ghost cleansing' ritual ceremony.
Everyone, including Higgins and Rebecca throw items into a bin and pay respect to prospective footballers and soldiers who fought in the war and had sacrificed things close to them. Higgins throw a collar with a bell belonged to his cat Cindy Clawford to a bin, and tells everyone how much the cat meant something to his family. Higgins and Ted then invites a now recovered Dani into the field, to the delight of the team players but with a glare from Rebecca after she finds out that Higgins planned the whole thing. They surrounds the burning bin and sings "Richmond 'Till We Die" together, making AFC Richmond truly united. Unfortunately, Rebecca decides to give Jamie back to Manchester FC the next day, which angers Ted.
As a punishment, Rebecca tells Higgins to stay in London instead going to Liverpool as she asked Keeley to assist her during the match against Everton F.C.. Higgins then spend his vacation with his family watching the match on television and celebrating the winning. At Richmond, Ted tells everyone including Nathan Shelley that he slept with Flo Collins, and contemplating of telling Rebecca about it. He doesn't want any secret between them, and suggests that Rebecca would never keep a secret from him, which prompts Higgins to gagged in reflex because secretly he knows she is trying to sabotage Ted.
Diamond Dogs
Everyone is telling Ted to cut some slack and not to be too hard on himself, which Ted then suggests that they form a support group called "Diamond Dogs" where they can talk about their personal problems. When Roy comes to them about his relationship, everyone is supportive and tells him to be mature about it, and then all the members are howling.
When Higgins reports to Rebecca that there are ten thousands empty seats at the stadium, Rebecca suggests that they sell them to the Manchester City F.C. fans so it would anger Rupert. Higgins remind her that the club is on the brink of relegation and it would hurt their club, but she demands him to do it - which angers him as he tells her to 'fuck off'. He tells her that her pain will not go away even when she's trying to hurt Rupert by hurting others. Rebecca angrily asks him about his morals when he let Rupert had sex with women in their house, and she thought that Higgins was her friend. Rebecca calls him a 'pussy' and Higgins realizes that she's right; that he should've been braver. He then quit his job, but Rebecca mocks him that he would grovel to come back, which she says that she will make his life miserable.
A few weeks later, Rupert visits Rebecca in her office, announcing that Bex is pregnant, and cruelly tells her that the reason why he didn't want have a baby back when they were both married was because he didn't want a child with Rebecca. Realizing that Rupert is a cruel man, and she doesn't want to be like him, she goes to Ted and tell him the truth about how she had been sabotaging the club. Ted forgives her and the two make amends. Higgins is playing jazz with his bass when she knocks the window of his house, surprising him. Rebecca apologizes to Higgins about everything and asks him to come back which he accepts.
Higgins attends along with his children and wife the crucial AFC Richmond game against Manchester City F.C. in an effort to avoid relegation. At the VIP balcony, Higgins introduces his family to Rebecca and Keeley, which his boss makes a comment that he has a lot of children more than she realised.
Nomad Worker[]
AFC Richmond starts the Championship season with seven draws and Dani gets a penalty that could have given them the first win of the season. Unfortunately, a tragic event interrupts the penalty as AFC Richmond's mascot Earl runs after a bird near the goal post. As Dani kicks the ball, it hit the dog and killed it. The tragedy leaves Dani traumatized, so Higgins suggests to brings a sports psychologist, Dr. Sharon Fieldstone to help him with his trauma. After a few sessions, Dani manages to get better, and Higgins decides to hire Sharon for the remaining season to help other players. He gives up his own office so Sharon can occupy it, while he's sitting outside in the guest area. Throughout the season, Higgins has been moving around, sitting in different places along with his works.
During Christmas time, the family spends time together and invites AFC Richmond players from abroad England for a Christmas dinner. During dinner, Higgins acknowledge the players that it is an honor to have them with the family to share the traditions and make new ones. After the toast, the family and the players heard Rebecca and Ted singing with a bunch of street buskers outside their house. Everyone goes outside and happily singing and dancing together in the street.
Higgins is telling the story to Rebecca of how he met Julie; during the punk era, he was in a pub and played air bass when the song "She's A Rainbow" by The Rolling Stones came on, but he had a pint in his hand and ended up pouring beer all over his head. Everyone in the pub laughed except one person who handed him a damp bar towel - it was Julie. They are now have been happily married for 30 years. Before a game, Higgins is waiting for Julie at the stadium and sees her wearing blue sweater, blue jeans, and blue parka - matches by the song lyrics. They both hug each other then walk to the VIP seating area together.
Jane Payne and Beard get back together again and he announces it to the Diamond Dogs. While everyone seems nonchalant about it, Higgins voices his concern that their relationship is not a good idea. Beard seems offended that Higgins doesn't approve, but he runs away to call Jane when he finds out that she miss-called him twice. Higgins is worried that Beard and Jane's relationship is not healthy since Jane is very over-domineering. After the team wins against Tottenham Spurs AFC, Higgins tell Beard that he deserves better - which prompt Beard to hugs Higgins very tight.
A Good Mentor[]
James demands some tickets to the AFC Richmond game against Man City in the FA Cup semi-final and Jamie duly obliged so he asks Higgins, who works in the janitor closet, 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. Higgins tell Jamie that he try to love his dad for who he is and forgive him for who isn't.
Higgins is supposed to choose a new mascot, and the candidates are Macy Greyhound or Tina Feyhound, two female greyhound puppies. Keeley also asks for his advice as she is being offered her own PR firm and financed by Bantr. She is afraid of hurting Rebecca who was generous for giving her a job at Richmond FC. Higgins then wisely says that "Keeley, a good mentor hopes you will move on. A great mentor knows you will."
Trivia[]
Actor Jeremy Swift is married to actress Mary Roscoe (Julie Higgins) in real life.