Football is a huge passion in this country, rivaled only by things like tea and chocolate biscuits. The new four-part drama, Dear England, explores the journey of the England football team and their improvement under manager Gareth Southgate from 2016 to 2024.
The show is based on a popular play exploring the intense pressures faced by professional athletes and the importance of the national football team to the country. Joseph Fiennes uncannily resembles Gareth Southgate in the lead role, with Jodie Whittaker playing team psychologist Pippa Grange and Jason Watkins portraying FA Chairman Greg Dyke.
I saw this play back in 2023 when it first opened at the National Theatre, and honestly, it was incredible! Everyone was talking about it. They called it a mix of historical drama and, like, a really good therapy session for people who love football – and it totally lived up to the hype. It was so popular, it moved to the West End, came back to the National for another run, and now it’s touring the UK, which is amazing!
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The play was a critical success, winning an Olivier Award, and several networks competed to turn it into a television show or movie.
Even though Netflix made a substantial offer, the BBC secured the rights to the show and plans to begin production in 2025.
What’s Dear England about?
When Southgate took over as England manager after Allardyce left, he and the team psychologist, Pippa Grange, totally changed things up. They ditched the old-school football mentality – you know, ‘tough it out, don’t show weakness’ – and really encouraged us players to think differently about the game and actually feel things, which was a huge shift. It was all about a new approach to how we played and dealt with pressure.
Instead of harsh criticism, this team focuses on support and helping players confront their fears openly. This approach leads to incredible growth and success for the whole team. It really feels like the heartwarming spirit of Ted Lasso, but set in a different location.
Who stars in Dear England?
You can expect to see the following stars in the TV adaptation:
The upcoming series features a talented cast portraying key figures from the England national football team and its management. Joseph Fiennes will return as Gareth Southgate, joined by Jodie Whittaker as Pippa Grange and Jason Watkins as Greg Dyke. John Hodgkinson will play Greg Clarke, while the players will be portrayed by Ben Chapman as Luke Shaw, Daniel Ryan as Steve Holland, Sam Spruell as Mike Webster, Adam Hugill as Harry Maguire, Josh Barrow as Jordan Pickford, Lewis Shepherd as Dele Alli, Will Antenbring as Harry Kane, Edem-Ita Duke as Marcus Rashford, Francis Lovehall as Raheem Sterling, Abdul Sessay as Bukayo Saka, Jacob Greenway as Jude Bellingham, David Shields as Jordan Henderson, Hamish Frew as Eric Dier, Alfie Middlemiss as Phil Foden, Riess Fennell as Jadon Sancho, Daniel Quincy Annoh as Ollie Watkins, Bobby Schofield as Wayne Rooney, Dom Rayner as Cole Palmer, Alexander Parsons as Jesse Lingard, and Lee Chapman as Jamie Vardy.
When can I see Dear England?
The BBC hasn’t announced when the show will be released, but filming started in the summer of 2025. We’re likely to see it either during the summer of 2026, coinciding with the World Cup, or more probably at the start of the regular football season in September.
What other sports dramas can I watch right now?
Looking for something fun to watch off the field? If you enjoy feel-good comedies, especially ones that feature football without needing you to be a fan, check out Ted Lasso. You can stream it on AppleTV.
If you’re looking for a fun, over-the-top show, all five seasons of the early 2000s series Footballers’ Wives are available on ITVX. It originally aired when people were first becoming fascinated with the wives and girlfriends of famous footballers.
Remember the comedy-drama The First Team from 2020? It was created by the same people behind The Inbetweeners – Iain Morris and Damon Beesley – and followed the lives and misadventures of three professional footballers, both on and off the field.
The latest issue of Living Legends, a vibrant 100-page tribute to Taylor Swift, is now available! You can purchase it at newsstands or online for only £8.99.
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2026-01-29 23:20