Rebecca Welton (formerly Mannion) is a main regular character featured in the Apple TV+ show, Ted Lasso, the owner of AFC Richmond, the ex-wife of Rupert Mannion, the boss of Leslie Higgins, Ted Lasso, Coach Beard, Nathan Shelley, Sharon Fieldstone, and Roy Kent, the godmother of Nora, daughter of Deborah, and best friend of Flo Collins and Keeley Jones.
Meeting Ted Lasso[]
When Rebecca takes the ownership of the club, she is removing Rupert's expensive decorations from the office, and she fires George Cartrick which surprises her assistant, 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.
Upon arriving at her office at Nelson Road Stadium, Rebecca takes Ted to a tour around the stadium area and shoves him to a press conference. Ted is overwhelmed by the questions from the journalists and reporters such as Trent Crimm, Marcus, and Lloyd who disapprove with the hiring of American coaches who don't know anything about UK Football.
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".
Ted is trying to be nice and friendly by baking her a box of biscuits as he tries to make a new tradition for both of them. At first she balks and refuses but when she tastes the biscuits, she becomes addicted to them. Ted decides to bake her biscuits everyday from then on. She pretends to hate them, but eats them anyway.
A Cunning Plan[]
Promotional image of Rebecca Welton
Higgins compliments Rebecca after the press conference for being supportive of the new manager, but Rebecca coldly calls Ted a wanker and hopes he fails miserably. Rebecca 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.
Rebecca advises Ted to hangout with Keeley so they can figure out how to support Jamie Tartt especially his relationship with other team players such as Roy. 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, but then she 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 she is shocked to find out that Trent has written a positive spin about Ted.
Mind Games[]
Ernie Lounds, a reporter for The Sun asks Rebecca, whom he wrongly refers to as "Rebecca Mannion", what her thoughts are on her husband seeing another woman who revealed to be Bex. She responds by saying that her ex-husband can see whoever he wants now they are not together.
Ernie trying to bait her by mentioning that Rupert was already having an affair with the woman even when Rebecca was still married to him. Rebecca only grits her teeth and smiles, and say "Oh." and mentions that she thought Rupert couldn't multitask. According to Keeley, Rupert's new girlfriend is also named 'Rebecca', so the media dubbed her 'Bex' and called Rebecca as the 'old Rebecca'.
Rupert crashes the 10th Annual Benefit for Underprivileged Children and essentially takes over the event. Rebecca finds out that singer Robbie Williams is not available at the last minute, thanks to Rupert, so she tasks Higgins to find a replacement. She let Rupert handling the players auction and watches Bex having a bidding war with Keeley. Rebecca confides to Ted that she is the only one who can see Rupert's mean streak, while others only sees him as this charming person. As a final gesture to 'help' Rebecca reach her fundraising target from the Benefit, Rupert produces a personal cheque for one millions pounds and hands it over.
By cancelling Robbie Williams, Rupert wants to humiliate Rebecca by not having a famous singer therefore making her look bad by the media and her peers. She is also confides to Keeley in the bathroom noting how important it is for people to be held accountable, which is something that she can't do with Rupert, but Keeley can do with Jamie. Keeley apologizes to Roy for using him as a bidding war with Bex and breaks up with Jamie.
Keeley and Rebecca on a party rickshaw
After finding out that Rupert is the one who sabotaged the booking, Ted decides to take matters into his own hands and recruits Cam Cole for the event - who is a street busker from outside the pub down where Ted and Coach Beard live. The night is saved, and everyone dancing and celebrating the event. Rupert congratulates Rebecca while going home with Bex, while she and Keeley are having some drinks on a party rickshaw.
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 The Crown & Anchor 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 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.
She instead throws a trashy tabloid into the bin and say "Fuck the haters." 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 City F.C. the next day, which angers Ted.
Blast From The Past[]
Rebecca offers Keeley a job as the head of the Richmond's marketing team, which she accepts. Having grown closer to Keeley, she invited the younger woman to join her at Richmond's match against Everton F.C. at Goodison Park in Liverpool. As a punishment for making the team united, Rebecca tells Higgins to stay in London instead. Both Rebecca and Keeley shares a hotel suite together but she is upset because the hotel reminds her of Rupert, especially it's their supposedly wedding anniversary. Keeley hugs her and give her a comfort she needs, and promises a wonderful weekend.
However, a sudden appearance by her old best friend Sassy a.k.a Flo Collins surprises her especially when she's also calling her 'Stinky', a nickname she had when they were still in middle school. She reminds Rebecca that they were so close back then, even she became the godmother to Nora, Sassy's daughter. They immediately catch up and the three of them shares a friendship bond during dinner. Sassy even tries to make Rebecca hook up with a waiter named Geoff, but she isn't ready to move on from Rupert.
After Richmond wins against Everton, the club celebrates at a Karaoke pub for which Sassy makes Rebecca sing. Rebecca sings Frozen song "Let It Go" to the players much to their delight, apart from Ted who has a panic attack during the performance due to pressures of divorcing his wife, Michelle Lasso the night before. Rebecca comforts Ted and he appreciates it a lot, however, he just wants to be left alone. Rebecca watches Sassy leaves with the team players and Keeley going back with Roy, and she decides to throw caution to the wind and hook up with Geoff that night.
Playing Games[]
Rebecca and Ted goes to the The Crown & Anchor to meet with The Milk Sisters; two minor shareholders for the club, but instead they are greeted by Rupert who already convinces the sister to sold their shares to Bex, his new fiancée. She buys a 2.9% ownership stake in the team with Rupert’s money, much to Rebecca’s chagrin.
Ted plays darts and bets that if he loses, Rupert can choose starting line up for the remaining two games of the season. But if Ted wins, Rupert and his fiancée can never be allowed in the owners box. Rupert agrees and is about to win, but Ted beats him on the last throw. Rupert respects the bet afterwards and leaves but he coos at Bex and tells her that she is his consolation prize. Rebecca happily treat all the patrons in the pub free drinks to celebrate the winning.
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 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. However, Keeley barrels in to her office to reveal that she and Roy has discovered it was Rebecca who hired the paparazzi photographer. She confronts Rebecca about it angrily, and tells her off by saying she needs to tell the truth to Ted, or she will.
Keeley demands that Rebecca tells Ted that she tries to sabotage him and the club, or else she will not forgive her and change her feeling about her. The boss lady seems to be taken aback from her demand and seems sad that her best friend now think of her as this manipulative person. When Rupert announces that Bex is pregnant and cruelly tells her that he never wanted to have a child with her when they were married, Rebecca decides to tell Ted the truth.
She calls herself "a fucking bitch", admits that she has lied, and apologize to Ted about the whole thing; how manipulative she was being and how she was trying to sabotage the head coach every step of the way because she wanted to cause pain and suffering just like Rupert did to her, not caring that she hurt other innocent people on the way. To her shock, Ted forgives her without hesitation. He says that divorce is hard, revealing that he and Michelle are in a process of divorce.
Rebecca asks Ted for forgiveness
Ted says that this job changed his life and he offers his hand as a sign of forgiveness, but Rebecca hugs him tight instead and cries. Ted then says that she needs to be downstairs more often because she light up the place, which makes her smile. Later on, Higgins is playing jazz with his bass when Rebecca knocks the window of his house, surprising him. Rebecca apologizes to Higgins about everything and asks him to come back which he accepts.
Rebecca notes how Ted sees the game from a totally different perspective compared to other managers as he had never played, seen, or understood English football before. This means he can cause confusion and chaos for opposition teams. Inspired by this, Ted decides to drum up some trick plays with the Richmond players. Unfortunately, despite their effort, the team lost the match and they are relegated. Rebecca sits among the players in the locker room, listening to Ted's speech that they should be "Goldfish" and move on.
In her office, Ted understands if Rebecca is going to fire him, but she informs him that they have a lot of work to do next season and asks him to stick around. Rebecca says that relegation is not the end of the world because the club can get promoted next season, so Ted giddily says that they will win the whole fucking thing, which surprises her because he never swears before. When both of them drinks their drinks, Ted spits and sprays fizzy water at her accidentally because he thought it was a regular water.
Friendship and Dating Life[]
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.
Sharon introduce herself to Rebecca and thanking her for the basket of bottled water, and Rebecca welcomes her but gets distracted by a commotion on the field. They see that Jamie has arrived and returns to Richmond. She gives Keeley a knowing look that this would complicate things with Roy, especially their relationship.
When Ted is at Rebecca's office, she receives a text message from John Wingsnight. She and Keeley are so giddy because according to Rebecca, he is her gentleman's suitor and has been very good to her. Rebecca wants to move on from Rupert Mannion and decides to date again. Apparently, John and Rebecca have been on a date a couple of times, and she thinks that this man probably the one. Ted is happy for Rebecca especially being included to their girl-talk.
During a double date at a restaurant, John is telling a story about Martin Short and Broadway's life as he works at the theatre industry. Although Roy and Keeley are being polite, it's obvious that they are not to keen with John, especially Roy, who keeps asking for more drinks whenever John being a cringe.
Rebecca asks Keeley and Roy about their opinion of John, and surprise to hear that her friends seems unenthusiastic about him. Although Keeley politely says that John is fine for Rebecca; such having an appropriate age and not shy, Roy seems to disagree with the assessment. Roy thinks that Rebecca deserves a better man and someone who makes her feel like she's been struck by a lightning, and tells her not to settle with a fine guy. Roy's opinion makes her ponder about their relationship.
During a lunch date, John keeps talking about himself and the celebrities he encountered while he was in Broadway, failing to see a distraught Rebecca who seems to realize that he isn't right for her. When John asks her whether there's something wrong, he realizes that Rebecca is breaking up with him. He accepts her apology and without drama, accepts the break-up.
The morning after a passionate night, Rebecca's casual lover, Luca, makes some tea in the kitchen while naked. Rebecca warns him to put on some clothes because she fears that Mina the cleaner would see him when she arrives. But instead of Mina, it is Deborah, Rebecca's mother. Luca, not bothered at all, greets her and mistook her as the cleaner. Deborah, also not bothered, announces that she left Rebecca's father.
Deborah explains to Keeley, Ted, and Rebecca the reason why she left her husband is that she needs to take control of her life after being disrespected by her husband. Rebecca is not too concerned about this split as her parents have fallen into a habit of separating every few years, and usually, within two weeks her father would buy an expensive environmentally sound gift, apologize, and then they reunite. Rebecca refuse to tell her mother to get a divorce because last time she did that, her mother wouldn't speak to her for months. Knowing that her mother will eventually reunite with her father, she keeps her silence.
During a match against Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Ted suddenly runs away from the stadium which makes everyone confused. But Rebecca who is watching from the VIP Box sees the way he's running, and immediately knew that there's something wrong with him. Especially remembering what happened during the karaoke party a year ago. Rebecca tries to find him but with no avail, and then goes home and finds out that her mother has reunite with her father as he bought her a Tesla.
Boss Ass-Bitch[]
Sassy visits Richmond and explains to Ted that Nora will be staying at Rebecca's house while she attends a conference. Rebecca promises that she will take care of Nora after haven't seen her for six years and will grant any wishes for her. Nora and Rebecca are spending some time at a Tea Room café where the majority of the patrons are little children wearing princess gowns, and it embarrasses the godmother when she realizes that Nora is no longer six years old.
While they are sight-seeing at Richmond upon Thames, Rebecca offers to see The Mousetrap, an Agatha Christie show where murders happens every second, which Nora says it's up to her godmother but without any enthusiasm. While they are talking, they bump into Roy and his niece Phoebe. Rebecca says to Roy that it's been nice reconnecting with Nora but she's exasperated because it seems the teenager is not interested with the activities she organized, to which Roy explain that kids usually just want to feel included and being a part of their loved ones' lives, not just constantly being entertained by a schedule.
Later that night Rebecca asks Nora whether she wants to accompany her to work for a whole day and join her for meetings. She warns her it might be boring, but to her surprise, Nora actually wants to go with her and see how Rebecca runs a football team. Rebecca is delighted to hear that and ponder whether she finally get through her goddaughter.
At the office, Nora meets Keeley, who mentions that she is working on a new dating app called Bantr. Nora immediately interested and asks about the concept to Rebecca's surprise. Nora thinks that it's a cool project and seems to in-tune with the activity around the office, which delighted Rebecca.
When Sam Obisanya walks into the office, it's obvious that Nora has a crush on him. Rebecca introduces her goddaughter, and Sam mentions that he heard so much about Nora and his boss used to watch Frozen together. Sam then asks Rebecca and Keeley that he wants to pull out from Dubai Air advertisement because Dubai Air's parent company, Cerithium Oil is destroying the Nigerian environment and he can't be the face of one of their subsidiaries. Sam apologizes to Keeley and Rebecca tells him that she will do something about it.
Rebecca calls one of Rupert Mannion's friends, Richard Cole; a CEO of the Ceritihium Oil and asks for a favor by telling him that Sam Obisanya can't be a part of Dubai Air ad campaign and she is hoping that he'd be able to make that go away without a fuss. The billionaire agrees with one condition; Rebecca needs to get rid of Sam Obisanya.
Facing with a dilemma, Rebecca is confused with what action she should take, but Nora tells a story about how she got in trouble for smoking in the school's bathroom - her friend 'Pimp' was busted by a teacher while she was hiding in the loo, and as the teacher reprimanded her friend, she decided to come out and faced the punishment together. The point she was trying to make is that "sometimes you have to do the right thing even if you lose".
Later that night, Rebecca writes an email to Richard Cole, while Nora is providing a colorful commentary next to her. Rebecca follows Nora's spoken and curses words but changes them with more formal words, although at the end she signs the email with "Sincerely, Boss-Ass Bitch".
Before the match against Coventry City F.C., Sassy returns and sits with Rebecca and Nora at the VIP box, and watches Sam and the rest of the team covers the Dubai Air logo on their uniforms with black tape as an act of protest. Richard Cole texts Rebecca angrily but she doesn't reply and closes the phone, to which Nora happily look at her role model and says "Boss-Ass Bitch!".
Complicated Relationship[]
Rebecca is chatting to a mystery man on Bantr, and he asks her to meet at a restaurant called Le Tucci. Initially, Rebecca meets Sam there and the pair thought it's a coincidence, but eventually, they realize that they have been talking to each other all along. Sam is able to convince Rebecca to stay for dinner, not as a date but as a friend. The two actually has a nice time together in the restaurant. Sam then takes Rebecca home in which they kissed in front of her home.
After the loss in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, Rebecca sends Sam a text asking if he is around and he gives her his address. Unbeknownst to Rebecca, Sam turns up at her house as she is getting ready to leave. They embrace and step inside her house together. For the next few weeks, Sam has been seeing Rebecca secretly. One day while they are being intimate in her kitchen, Rebecca's mother Deborah appears suddenly and announces that her husband has died. Sam and the rest of the team go to the church for the funeral, where they both talk awkwardly and pretend that there is nothing romantic between them.
At the funeral, Deborah welcomes Rupert and his new wife, Bex, who brings their newborn baby daughter. She mentions to angry Rebecca that she is just being polite to her daughter's ex husband. When Keeley, Sassy, and Nora asks who is Rebecca's secret lover is, Deborah mentions that she knew that her daughter is seeing Sam. She also knew that Rebecca broke up with Sam during the wake because she knows her daughter very well.
Deborah is confronted by her daughter about Paul's infidelity and how Rebecca and Sassy found out years ago that her father was having an affair, and then some. Rebecca admits that she still hate her father, and she hate her mother for being a pushover. During an emotional eulogy, Rebecca sings "Never Gonna Give You Up" along with other mourners in church.
After the funeral, Rupert thanked Rebecca and Deborah for their hospitality, even tells his ex-wife that she can have the remaining shares of the club as a gift, and the fact that his current wife is now busy with the baby. Before he leaves, he whispers something to Nate's ear and pats him on the back. Rebecca sees the gesture and being suspicious about it, especially after seeing Nate smiles.
What's Next?[]
While they are practicing a dance routine for Sharon's goodbye party, a private helicopter lands on their practice field, and billionaire Edwin Akufo arrives with his entourage. He meets with Rebecca, Keeley, Ted, and Higgins at the office and announces that he wants to buy Sam's contract. He wants to create a new African Football Club and Sam would be a part of it. Rebecca seems shocked about it and then confesses to Ted that she had a relationship with Sam a few weeks before, which surprises him.
Rebecca questions her objectivity because Sam is a talented player and the best one in Richmond, and whether she wants Sam to stay in the club because he's a good player or because of her feelings to him. She thinks that she shouldn't stand on his way, but if she let him go, she will regret it for the rest of her life. Ted tells her to listen to her gut instinct and she will make the right decision. Rebecca decides to tell Sam that she cannot be with him but at the same time she doesn't want him to leave the club.
When the story of Ted's panic attack written by Trent Crimm is published, Rebecca gives him a sympathy and support. She threatens to speak with the owner of the paper and see who the anonymous source was, but Ted rejects the idea and defends Trent for doing his job.
Keeley asks Higgins for an advice because near the end of Richmond's season after relegation, Bantr's investors offers to finance her opening of a PR firm and 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." Keeley then talks to Rebecca, and they both cry while being supportive at each other. Keeley thanked Rebecca for making her a lion, reminiscing their conversation a year ago.
While having a hearty conversation with Keeley, Rebecca finds out that Rupert is now the new owner of West Ham United F.C. and realizes why he gave the remaining shares of the AFC Richmond to her. Rebecca asks Keeley to never accept a job offer from Rupert, and Keeley answers that Richmond is her home. Rebecca then gives Keeley an advice as a new boss: "Hire your best friend." Which makes both women cry again.
During the match against Brentford F.C., Sam is able to score a goal and it leads them closer to their club's promotion. They finally win the match in a tie, and everyone is celebrating. Edwin is waiting for Sam and thinks that Sam will accept his offer but Sam politely declines and is thankful that he was being considered, but he still has a lot of things to do in AFC Richmond. Edwin gets upset and throws a tantrum for being rejected by Sam.
Ted congratulates Rebecca for the club's promotion, and she informs him about Rupert bought West Ham United. Sam goes to the office to tell Rebecca about Edwin Akufo, but Ted is there too. So he tells both of them that he rejected Edwin's offer and now the billionaire has left. Ted asks why he'd decide to stay, in which Sam stares at him and declares that he stays because it's what's best for him and his personal journey, and not because of his feelings to Rebecca, although he doesn't say that part out loud.
Rebecca is stunned hearing Sam's confession and gulp her drink after Ted informs her that the young man probably was talking to her.
Seeing a psychic[]
On the day of the Zava signing event, Rebecca is furious that Zava has not turned up and makes her look ridiculous. Higgins also confirms to Rebecca that Zava’s e-signature is legally binding, but he didn’t use a signature, instead signing the contract with “You’re welcome”. Rebecca decides they need to go and figure out the situation, given that Zava has not arrived. They enlist Higgins to keep the crowds entertained while they are away. They make their way into Rebecca’s office where they find Zava is sitting at Rebecca’s desk, where he comments on the biscuit crumbs there. He greets everyone there individually, saying Ted is his leader and he is there to be moulded for example. He then makes his way down to the Richmond dressing room where Ted follows to make sure he doesn’t get lost.
Rebecca meets Tish, the psychic her mother recommended seeing. The pair exchange awkward jokes, then Tish asks Rebecca to hold a bowl with her as she plans to read her. There she mentions a green matchbook and a “shite in nining armour”, which causes Rebecca to want to leave. As she does so, Tish says Rebecca will have a family and be a mother. Rebecca objects to this strongly, citing Tish is dangerous and cruel. After Richmond go on a win streak, Sam invites members of Richmond to his restaurant to eat. Sassy is at the restaurant Rebecca is called out on dumping Sam. During the evening, Rebecca is jealous of Sam as he is speaking to another woman, and is made more uncomfortable as Sam presents her with a green matchbook to commemorate the restaurant experience - what the psychic foretold.[1]
Notes[]
- Apparently, Rebecca and Dani have a similar shoe size.
- Rebecca's celebrity friends are Elton John, Daniel Craig, and Rachel Weisz.