A new television drama about one of England’s most famous football managers is on the way. Dear England, a four-part series coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2026, will tell the story of Gareth Southgate‘s time leading the national men’s team. The show is based on the award-winning stage play by James Graham, which was a major hit in London’s West End. Actor Joseph Fiennes, known for The Handmaid’s Tale, will play Southgate again after starring in the theatre production.
The first official pictures from the series show Fiennes as Southgate during the team’s Euro 2024 Semi-Final celebrations. The story will explore Southgate’s attempt to change the team’s culture and its long history of painful losses, especially in penalty shootouts.
The Story Behind the TV Show
The drama is inspired by real events but uses a fictional story to explore national identity and pressure in sports. The title, Dear England, comes from an open letter Southgate wrote to fans in 2021. The stage version of the play was a big success. It premiered at the National Theatre in London in June 2023 and later moved to the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End. It won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2024.
Writer James Graham has confirmed the TV series will include events from UEFA Euro 2024, where Southgate’s team reached the final. This means the show will cover the manager’s journey more completely than the original play did.
The Cast Playing Football Icons
A large cast of actors will portray famous footballers and key figures from the Football Association (FA). Joseph Fiennes leads as manager Gareth Southgate. He is joined by Jodie Whittaker, the former star of Doctor Who, who plays the team’s psychologist Pippa Grange. Jason Watkins (The Crown) plays former FA chairman Greg Dyke, and John Hodgkinson appears as another former chairman, Greg Clarke.
The actors playing the England squad include many who performed the same roles on stage. Key casting includes:
- Will Antenbring as captain Harry Kane.
- Adam Hugill as defender Harry Maguire.
- Josh Barrow as goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
- Lewis Shepherd as midfielder Dele Alli.
- Edem-Ita Duke as forward Marcus Rashford.
- Jacob Greenway as Jude Bellingham and Abdul Sessay as Bukayo Saka.
Other players like Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, and Wayne Rooney will also be featured.
Also Read:
How the TV Show is Being Made
The series is being produced by Left Bank Pictures, the company behind popular shows like The Crown and Ted Lasso. Interestingly, the producers chose to make the series with the BBC despite receiving a larger financial offer from the streaming service Netflix.
James Graham, the writer of the original play, is writing all four episodes for television. Rupert Goold, who directed the play, will direct the first episode of the TV series. Paul Whittington will direct the remaining episodes. Filming started in the summer of 2025, with locations including Bethnal Green in east London.
The Successful Stage Play Continues Touring
While the TV series is in production, the stage play of Dear England is still being performed. A separate UK tour of the play began in late 2025 and will visit cities like Liverpool, Birmingham, and Southampton until March 2026. The touring production features a different cast, with David Sturzaker playing Gareth Southgate and Samantha Womack as Pippa Grange. This means audiences have two ways to experience the story: a live theatre tour now and a major BBC drama next year.
The play has received strong reviews. The Telegraph newspaper called it a “theatrical spectacle as uplifting as any England victory,” while Time Out described it as a “tremendous piece of entertainment”.
Also Read: Hulu’s New Thriller ‘Count My Lies’ Adds Game of Thrones Star Kit Harington to Its Cast
Credits: BBC Media Centre
