BBC to adapt Dear England, starring Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate
The National Theatre production is being adapted for the screen as a new BBC series.
From the stage to the screen, Dear England has been announced as one of the new series in BBC's impressive slate of upcoming dramas.
The production originally ran at London's National Theatre, transferred to the West End and is now being brought to the small screen with Joseph Fiennes reprising his role as England football manager Gareth Southgate for the new BBC series, which will be produced by Left Bank Pictures (The Crown).
The new four-parter will be based on the play which was written by James Graham (Sherwood, The Way). Graham will also be writing the series, which will be directed by Rupert Goold (Judy) who also directed the stage production of the tale about the England men's football team.
According to the series synopsis: "It’s time to change the game. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t the England team win at their own game? With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.
"Dear England is a fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams, based on extensive research and interviews. The stage play premiered at the National Theatre to five-star reviews and a sell-out run in 2023, before transferring to London’s West End."
The Handmaid's Tale actor Fiennes stars in Dear England as Southgate, who is following on from a long string of match losses in the play.
As the stage production's synopsis reads: "With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land."
The stage production transferred over to the West End's Prince Edward Theatre after a sold-out run at the National Theatre, with critical acclaim being bestowed upon Fiennes for his portrayal of Southgate.
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On the announcement of the new series, Andy Harries, CEO of Left Bank Pictures and executive producer on Dear England, says: “Dear England is a theatrical tour de force from one of the most exciting playwrights of our generation.
"Left Bank Pictures are thrilled to be working with James Graham once again and I’m certain that theTV adaptation of Dear England will be as ground-breaking as the play itself.”
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Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama says:“Dear England was a back-of-the-net triumph on stage, and we could not be happier to work with James Graham, Joseph Fiennes, Rupert Goold and the team to give it the perfect home on the BBC. A story about the England team, football, national identity and so much more, this is hugely entertaining must-see television drama.”
Dear England will likely have an extensive cast to account for the entire England squad, with further announcements about the new series to be made in due course.
Dear England will be coming to BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
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Authors
Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.
