BREAKING: BBC unveils Dear England cast – Taking British audiences BACK to when Southgate rewrote Three Lions history – Reliving those Past Emotions in the most Authentic Way!
Doctor Who and Netflix The Recruit stars confirmed for England football drama series
The extensive cast with plenty of recognisable names has been revealed
Gareth Southgate presented with knighthood at Windsor Castle
An impressive cast for its forthcoming drama centred on ex-England manager Sir Gareth Southgate has been revealed by the BBC.
It is a TV adaptation of the acclaimed play, Dear England, that is currently under production.
The four-part series will be penned by renowned playwright James Graham, known for his work on Sherwood and Quiz.
Dear England delves into Southgate’s time as the national team manager, scrutinising the pressures of top-tier sport and the significance of the men’s football team in the nation’s consciousness.
Like the stage version, it will also investigate how Southgate reshaped perceptions of masculinity within the England squad.
Southgate’s tenure as England boss will be turned into a drama series (Image: Getty Images)
Despite a history of stumbling at international tournaments and notorious penalty shootout failures, Southgate managed to turn the tide.
His tenure saw the Three Lions reach the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the final of UEFA Euro 2020, the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the final of UEFA Euro 2024. This includes a remarkable record of winning three out of four penalty shootouts, reports Surrey Live.
Joseph Fiennes, who portrayed Southgate on stage, will reprise his role for the series. Fiennes is also recognised for his roles in The Handmaid’s Tale and Shakespeare in Love.
Joining him are former Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker, who will play Pippa Grange, the psychologist for the England men’s team. Jason Watkins (The Game, The Crown) will portray former FA chairman Greg Dyke, while John Hodgkinson (Small Axe, Life After Life) will return to his stage role as ex-FA chairman Greg Clarke.
The series is based on the play Dear England (Image: Marc Brenner)
Daniel Ryan, known for his roles in ‘The Bay’ and ‘The Hack’, is set to portray Steve Holland, the former assistant manager of the England men’s team. Sam Spruell, who has appeared in ‘The Gold’ and ‘Fargo’, will also feature as the fictional coach Mike Webster.
The BBC has announced the actors who will be portraying legendary footballers, with some reprising their roles from a stage production and others making their screen debuts as they embody some of the world’s most renowned footballers.
Adam Hugill (Sherwood) – Harry Maguire
Josh Barrow (Hostage) – Jordan Pickford
Lewis Shepherd – Dele Alli
Will Antenbring (Mr Loverman) – Harry Kane
Edem-Ita Duke (Mr Loverman) – Marcus Rashford
Francis Lovehall (A Thousand Blows) – Raheem Sterling
Abdul Sessay (Piglets) – Bukayo Saka
Jacob Greenway (The Dream Lands) – Jude Bellingham
David Shields (Masters of the Air) – Jordan Henderson
Hamish Frew (Generation Z) – Eric Dier
Alfie Middlemiss (Waterloo Road) – Phil Foden
Riess Fennell (The Football Fantastics) – Jadon Sancho
Daniel Quincy Annoh (The Recruit) – Ollie Watkins
Bobby Schofield (Unforgivable) – Wayne Rooney
Dom Rayner – Cole Palmer
Alexander Parsons – Jesse Lingard
Playwright Graham expressed his delight, saying: “Bringing the national game to the National Theatre over two years ago was one of the most rewarding moments of my writing life.”
He added: “Getting to tell this inspiring story of Gareth’s quiet revolution, and its themes of redemption, resilience, kindness and compassion in sport. To kick off its journey on screen now, and on our national broadcaster, is a huge opportunity and I’m so grateful to world class cast and creative team we’ve assembled.”
