L-R: (Top) Jodie Whittaker (Image: Pip), Jason Watkins (Image: Natasha Merchany), John Hodgkinson (Image: Michael Shelford), Daniel Ryan (Image: Simon Annand) (Bottom) Sam Spruell (Image: Pip), Adam Hugill (Image: Harry Livingstone), Josh Barrow (Image: Ori Jones), Lewis Shepherd (Image: Harry Livingstone).
Filming is now underway on ‘Dear England‘, the hotly anticipated BBC adaptation of James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning play, and the cast has just added some major star power. Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Toxic Town), Jason Watkins (The Crown, The Game), and Daniel Ryan (The Bay, The Hack) are among the new names joining Joseph Fiennes, who reprises his celebrated role as England manager Gareth Southgate.
The four-part series is adapted from Graham’s acclaimed National Theatre production and charts the journey of Southgate as he attempts to turn around the fortunes of the England men’s football team. A squad haunted by decades of penalty shootout failures and near-misses. But this isn’t just a sports story. It’s a portrait of national identity, resilience, and redemption.
Jodie Whittaker plays team psychologist Pippa Grange, while Jason Watkins appears as former FA chairman Greg Dyke. John Hodgkinson (Small Axe, Life After Life) reprises his stage role as Greg Clarke, and Daniel Ryan takes on the part of Steve Holland, former assistant manager of the England men’s team. Sam Spruell (The Gold, Fargo) also joins the cast as fictional coach Mike Webster.
Several members of the original stage cast are returning, including Adam Hugill (Sherwood) as Harry Maguire, Josh Barrow (Hostage) as Jordan Pickford, and newcomer Lewis Shepherd as Dele Alli.
L-R: (Top) Will Antenbring (Image: Finn Daragh), Edem-Ita Duke (Image: Michael Wharley), Francis Lovehall (Image: Ruth Crafer), Abdul Sessay (Image: Olivia Spencer), Jacob Greenway (Image: Anthony Yates), David Shields (Image: Lee Malone), Hamish Frew (Image: Dan Pick), Alfie Middlemiss (Image: James Melia), Riess Fennell (Image: Adam Hills), Daniel Quincy Annoh (Image: YellowBelly Photo), Bobby Schofield (Image: Ian Lyset), Dom Rayner (Image: M.A.D Photography) and Alexander Parsons.
The drama also features Will Antenbring (Mr Loverman) as Harry Kane, Edem-Ita Duke (Mr Loverman) as Marcus Rashford, Francis Lovehall (A Thousand Blows) as Raheem Sterling, Abdul Sessay (Piglets) as Bukayo Saka, Jacob Greenway (The Dream Lands) as Jude Bellingham, David Shields (Masters of the Air) as Jordan Henderson, Hamish Frew (Generation Z) as Eric Dier, Alfie Middlemiss (Waterloo Road) as Phil Foden, Riess Fennell (The Football Fantastics) as Jadon Sancho, Daniel Quincy Annoh (The Recruit) as Ollie Watkins, Bobby Schofield (Unforgivable) as Wayne Rooney, and newcomers Dom Rayner and Alexander Parsons as Cole Palmer and Jesse Lingard.
The series is directed by Rupert Goold, who also helmed the original play, and Paul Whittington, whose credits include The Crown, This Town, and White House Farm. It is produced by Left Bank Pictures (The Crown, This City is Ours) for BBC One and iPlayer.
Writer James Graham said “Bringing the national game to the National Theatre over two years ago was one of the most rewarding moments of my writing life. Getting to tell this inspiring story of Gareth’s quiet revolution, and its themes of redemption, resilience, kindness and compassion in sport… is a huge opportunity and I’m so grateful to the world-class cast and creative team we’ve assembled.”
Executive producer Andy Harries added “This is a premier league creative team and alongside the brilliant original team of James Graham, Rupert Goold and Joseph Fiennes we are over the moon to be reunited with Paul Whittington. Jodie is pitch perfect as psychologist Pippa Grange and we are joined by a team of exciting actors joining the England squad. We are ready for kick off!”
‘Dear England‘ premieres in 2026 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
Images provided by the BBC.
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