I have been doing my tours for a year in July '23 & I can honestly say that 'Tedheads' are the best fans in the world; so sweet, so authentic, so kind. I am so very lucky to have made so many friends in the US & am eternally grateful to Bill Lawrence, Jason Sudeikis, Joe Kelly, & the entire writing room & producers who made this show possible. A special thank you also to Chris Bunyan, senior locations manager, & his team.
Guys, I hope you know you created more than a TV show.
You created a lesson in how to strive to be a good human.
TED LASSO TOUR'S BACK-STORY
(IT'S A GOOD'UN!)
All good tours start with a Cinderella-esque story ;)...
I was VERY late to to the show. I had a four month old baby (Willow) in January 2023 and all new parents know the challenges of getting their little one off to sleep for their naps. I used to do laps outside Ted's Pub, 3 minutes from my home in Richmond, as the motion of the cobbles on the pram got her off to sleep.
I wondered why there were always so many of 'my people' (I LOVE the USA!) there taking pictures, and what this yellow 'BELIEVE' sign was that I kept seeing around the area.
One day a Manhattanite asked me to take his picture with an old skool camera & we got chatting. as I lived there for a year. He gave me a proper dressing down (in that firm-but-loving way that only New Yorkers can ;), for living in Richmond and never having seen the show.
That evening I went home and watched the first episode. Because all I was doing was (cluster!) breastfeeding my baby on a couch, with my Mum down to help (thanks Mum!), I was able to bingewatch S1 & S2 in 3 days!
The show & it's loving message got me through a challenging time. Willow's Daddy and I separated around that time & it gave me the strength I needed to get through that transition period.
From the first ep on, I was a DIEHARD TEDHEAD! Then I naturally started to show people where to go when out napwalking Willow, I was so happy to share the joy of Ted with the tourists! They always tried to tip me, & said I should set up my own tour! Just so kind!
Then one day a local resident, asked me could she pay me to create a little tour for her visiting American in-laws. I did so, and, the Ted Lasso Tour was born! Troy, Reece & Tom at the Princes Head pub were wonderful & supporting too! I simply could not believe that no one had already set up a tour! I ran my first tour July 2nd (thanks Douglas & daughter!) and I am so grateful to say business has been booming ever since! I did not know what I was going to do financially as a (co-parenting) single Mamma, but the tour ensured I was able to get on my feet, and most importantly made me financiallly able to 'stay in the game' as an actor & keep auditioning & working periodically, which is priceless.
Victoria joined the team in March 2023 to meet demand & we shall be expanding our tour to other Lasso locations in other areas of London too!
This is my chance to say thank you to the tour patrons & the local Richmond businesses for supporting my tour, especially Claudio & Cristina at La Reale Camiceria for making me my fab Lasso uniform! http://www.realecamiceria.co.uk
