BBC scores with Dear England
FIRST LOOK: Joseph Fiennes is Gareth Southgate in Dear England, James Graham’s adaptation of his own stage play about the England men’s football team coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2026.
A fictionalised account of Southgate’s time managing the England men’s football team, Fiennes stars alongside Jodie Whittaker as team psychologist Pippa Grange while Will Antenbring is Harry Kane.
With the worst team track record for penalties in the world when he takes over as manager, Gareth knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take England back to the promised land. The country that gave the world football has delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t the England team win at their own game?
The cast also includes Jason Watkins as former FA chairman Greg Dyke and John Hodgkinson is reprising his stage role as former FA chairman Greg Clarke. Daniel Ryan is Steve Holland, former assistant manager for the England men’s team. Sam Spruell stars as fictional coach Mike Webster.
Adam Hugill, Josh Barrow and newcomer Lewis Shepherd are reprising their respective stage roles as Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford and Dele Alli. Edem-Ita Duke is Marcus Rashford, Francis Lovehall is Raheem Sterling, Abdul Sessay is Bukayo Saka, Jacob Greenway is Jude Bellingham, David Shields is Jordan Henderson, Hamish Frew is Eric Dier, Alfie Middlemiss is Phil Foden, Riess Fennell is Jadon Sancho, Daniel Quincy Annoh is Ollie Watkins, Bobby Schofield is Wayne Rooney and newcomers Dom Rayner and Alexander Parsons are Cole Palmer and Jesse Lingard, respectively.
It is produced by Left Bank Pictures (This City is Ours, The Crown). The four-part series is written by Graham, with stage show director Rupert Goold directing episode one. Paul Whittington will direct episodes two to four. Tina Pawlik (Ted Lasso, Top Boy) is the producer.
The executive producers are James Graham and Rupert Goold, Andy Harries and Rebecca Hodgson for Left Bank Pictures, and Jo McClellan for the BBC.
Sony Pictures Television will distribute Dear England internationally.
The series will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in 2026.
tagged in: BBC iPlayer, BBC One, Dear England, James Graham, Jodie Whittaker, Joseph Fiennes, Left Bank Pictures, Sony Pictures Television