The BBC has released the first look at James Graham’s drama, Dear England.
The 4-part series, set to air next year is based on Graham’s Olivier-award winning play, about Gareth Southgate and the England football team.
Produced by Left Bank Pictures (This City is Ours, The Crown), it also features Jodie Whittaker as team psychologist, Pippa Grange and Will Antenbring, who’ll star as Harry Kane.
Joseph Fiennes reprises his Olivier-nominated role as England manager, Southgate.
The new images show scenes depicting England’s Euro 2024 semi-final celebrations, where the men’s team reached their first final of a major tournament on foreign soil.
Jason Watkins (The Game, The Crown) is former FA chairman Greg Dyke and John Hodgkinson (Small Axe, Life After Life) is reprising his stage role as former FA chairman Greg Clarke.
Daniel Ryan (The Bay, The Hack) is Steve Holland, former assistant manager for the England men’s team. Sam Spruell (The Gold, Fargo) stars as fictional coach, Mike Webster.
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The England team features:
Adam Hugill (Sherwood), Josh Barrow (Hostage) and screen newcomer Lewis Shepherd who reprise their respective stage roles as Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford and Dele Alli.
Edem-Ita Duke (Mr Loverman) is Marcus Rashford;
Francis Lovehall (A Thousand Blows) is Raheem Sterling;
Abdul Sessay (Piglets) is Bukayo Saka;
Jacob Greenway (The Dream Lands) is Jude Bellingham;
David Shields (Masters of the Air) is Jordan Henderson;
Hamish Frew (Generation Z) plays Eric Dier;
Alfie Middlemiss (Waterloo Road) is Phil Foden;
Riess Fennell (The Football Fantastics) is Jadon Sancho;
Daniel Quincy Annoh (The Recruit) is Ollie Watkins;
Bobby Schofield (Unforgivable) is Wayne Rooney;
and newcomers Dom Rayner and Alexander Parsons are Cole Palmer and Jesse Lingard respectively.
Dear England is a fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams, based on extensive research and interviews by James Graham.
The drama was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama.
Graham wrote the series, with Rupert Goold (Judy, King Charles III, The Hollow Crown), who directed Dear England on stage directing episode one.
Paul Whittington (This Town, The Crown, White House Farm) 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.
