The BBC has released the trailer and new images for ‘Dear England’, the upcoming four-part drama based on James Graham’s multi-award-winning play about Gareth Southgate and the England men’s football team, which comes to BBC iPlayer and BBC One this May.
Made by Left Bank Pictures, the team behind This City is Ours and The Crown, the series stars Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Southgate, charting a fictionalised version of his attempt to transform the England men’s team after decades of “years of hurt”, penalty heartbreak, and a national football psyche held together with hope, disappointment, and the occasional waistcoat.
When Southgate takes over, England has one of the worst penalty records in world football. Rather than simply trying to fix what happens on the pitch, he begins looking at the deeper emotional scars around the team, the expectations of a football-obsessed nation, and why the country that gave the world the game has spent so long struggling to win at it.
‘Dear England’ is based on extensive research and interviews, and follows the struggles and successes of the England men’s team through a dramatic lens. The original National Theatre production won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2024.
Joining Joseph Fiennes are Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Toxic Town) as England men’s team psychologist Pippa Grange, Jason Watkins (The Game, The Crown) as former FA chairman Greg Dyke, and John Hodgkinson (Small Axe, Life After Life) as former FA chairman Greg Clarke. Daniel Ryan (The Bay, The Hack) plays former England assistant manager Steve Holland, with Sam Spruell (The Gold, Fargo) starring as fictional coach Mike Webster.
The England squad includes Adam Hugill (Sherwood) as Harry Maguire, Josh Barrow (Hostage) as Jordan Pickford, and screen newcomer Lewis Shepherd as Dele Alli, all reprising their respective stage roles. They are joined by 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, Sam Baker Jones (Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man) as Jack Grealish, with newcomers Dom Rayner and Xander Westcarr-Parsons as Cole Palmer and Jesse Lingard respectively.
Behind the camera, James Graham writes the series, based on his National Theatre play. Rupert Goold (Judy, King Charles III), who directed ‘Dear England’ on stage, directs episode one, with Paul Whittington (This Town, The Crown) directing episodes two to four. Tina Pawlik (Ted Lasso, Top Boy) produces, with executive producers Andy Harries and Rebecca Hodgson for Left Bank Pictures, Jo McClellan for the BBC, and James Graham, Rupert Goold and Paul Whittington. Sony Pictures Television handles international distribution.
‘Dear England’ premieres Sunday, 24th May 2026 at 9pm on BBC iPlayer, with episodes one and two available from launch. Episodes three and four arrive Sunday, 31st May 2026. The series also airs on BBC One on Sunday and Monday nights at 9pm from Sunday, 24th May 2026.
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