Casting revealed for 'Dear England' TV series, including Joseph Fiennes and Jodie Whittaker

The series is due to air on BBC One and iPlayer in 2026, with filming currently underway in the south of England.

The cast has been revealed for the BBC's screen adaptation of James Graham's Olivier Award-winning play Dear England.

The four-part drama follows football manager Gareth Southgate as he tries to secure an international title win for the England team.

The series is due to air on BBC One and iPlayer in 2026, with filming currently underway in the south of England.

Joseph Fiennes reprises his Olivier Award-nominated role as Southgate, with Jodie Whittaker joining as team psychologist Pippa Grange. The cast also includes Jason Watkins as former FA chairman Greg Dyke, John Hodgkinson returning as Greg Clarke, Daniel Ryan as assistant manager Steve Holland, and Sam Spruell as fictional coach Mike Webster.

Other returning cast members from the stage show include Adam Hugill as Harry Maguire, Josh Barrow as Jordan Pickford, and Lewis Shepherd as Dele Alli.

The team also stars Will Antenbring as Harry Kane, Edem-Ita Duke as Marcus Rashford, Francis Lovehall as Raheem Sterling, Abdul Sessay as Bukayo Saka, Jacob Greenway as Jude Bellingham, David Shields as Jordan Henderson, Hamish Frew as Eric Dier, Alfie Middlemiss as Phil Foden, Riess Fennell as Jadon Sancho, Daniel Quincy Annoh as Ollie Watkins, Bobby Schofield as Wayne Rooney, with Dom Rayner and Alexander Parsons playing Cole Palmer and Jesse Lingard respectively.

In a review of the play's encore run at the National Theatre last year, our critic said: "You do not have to know very much about football to be caught up in the whirlwind of emotion in the production, from the delirious joy of a win, to the hope and expectation weighing on such young shoulders, and the disturbing racism inflicted on Black players."

Graham returns as writer and executive producer, with episode one directed by the stage show’s director Rupert Goold. Paul Whittington will direct the remaining three episodes.

The Dear England stage show will begin a new tour later this year.

Read our review of Dear England from the National Theatre in 2024.

Photo credit: Joseph Fiennes and Jodie Whittaker. (Courtesy of production/agent)