BBC's new football drama Dear England debuts today, and is set to be a truly special watch. Starring Joseph Fiennes as England manager Gareth Southgate, the series is a fictionalised account that follows the hardships and success of the England men's football team under Southgate's leadership from 2016 to 2024.
The drama is based on James Graham's play of the same name, and the synopsis reads: "With the worst team track record for penalties in the world when he takes over as manager, Gareth knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take England back to the promised land.
"The country that gave the world football has delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can't the England team win at their own game?"
Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker, who stars as the team's psychologist Pippa Grange, has teased what viewers can expect from her character when she shared: "The drama is a fictionalised account, but these people do exist, and they did have these roles within English football history."
She went on to say : "What was great about the role was the freedom to interpret James' writing, and I knew from the cast of the play that everyone had approached Pippa's character in different ways, as they all had different interpretations of the part.
"I felt excited by the fact that this could be my version and not feel like I needed to do an impression of the real person. It was helpful that she's written an incredible book about the psychology around fear and our approach to it."
What to Read Next
As Whittaker mentioned, the characters that you will most likely be enraptured by over the course of the next four episodes were based on real people. So if you want a sneak peek of what they look like, and whether Dear England gets its casting spot on, then keep scrolling.
Joseph Fiennes – Gareth Southgate
Joseph Fiennes steps into this portrayal of Gareth Southgate, a role he previously took to the stage with in the theatre play, and we think we can all agree the likeness here is uncanny.
The actor will also be remembered for his noteworthy role in Shakespeare in Love, where he played The Bard, however in a more recent role he starred in Young Sherlock, where he played Silas Holmes.
Jodie Whittaker – Pippa Grange (psychologist)
You will come to know Whittaker as psychologist Pippa Grange, but before that she starred as the Time Lord in Doctor Who.
She has also become known for her roles in detective drama Broadchurch alongside David Tennant, and Netflix's Toxic Town.
Will Antenbring – Harry Kane
Antenbring starred as Tim in the wonderful BBC drama Mr Loverman, but for now you can rediscover his acting talents as Harry Kane.
Edem-Ita Duke – Marcus Rashford
Duke also starred in Mr Loverman alongside Antenbring, and he's also done a few one-episode stints in Vera and War of the Worlds.
Francis Lovehall – Raheem Sterling
Lovehall's most recent roles include Steven Knight's brilliant A Thousand Blows, where he gives a fantastic performance as boxer Alec Monroe.
Elsewhere the actor stared in the brilliant drama Small Axe, as well as Criminal Record and Masters of the Air.
Abdul Sessay – Bukayo Saka
You may recognise Sessay for his roles in My Oxford Year, Doctor Who and Piglet.
Now, he's portraying popular Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.
Bobby Schofield – Wayne Rooney
As Schofield steps into the role of one of the most famous faces on the football pitch, viewers may remember him from his other performances in Unforgivable, SAS Rogue Heroes and Netflix's Eric, to name a few.
Adam Hugill – Harry Maguire
Hugill has appeared on the big screen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and the war epic 1917, also taking TV roles in Sherwood and Pennyworth.
In Dear England, he plays Harry Maguire.
Josh Barrow – Jordan Pickford
Hostage, Vera and Temple are just some of the productions that you may remember Barrow from, before he takes on the role of Jordan Pickford here.
Lewis Shepherd – Dele Alli
A star of the stage, Shepherd also had a part in the detective drama Lynley before taking on Dele Alli in this BBC series.
David Shields – Jordan Henderson
Shields' small screen CV includes roles across Masters of the Air, Black Mirror and The Crown – and now he's in Dear England, as Jordan Henderson.
Jacob Greenway – Jude Bellingham
Greenway appeared in Sally Wainwright's BBC drama Riot Women, as well as having past credits in Father Brown and Emmerdale. Now, he's portraying Jude Bellingham in Dear England.
Riess Fennell – Jadon Sancho
This isn't the first footie series you will recognise Fennell from, as the actor also starred in the BBC children's series The Football Fantastics. Fennell, now in the role of Jadon Sancho, also previously had a one-episode part in the soap Doctors.
Daniel Quincy Annoh – Ollie Watkins
Annoh will be most recognised for his role in The Recruit. The actor has starred in a few shorts, such as Heaven, I Wanna Go There and Crab No.7.
In Dear England, he's Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins.
Alfie Middlemiss – Phil Foden
Emmerdale fans will know Middlemiss for his role as Harry Murray, while he has also had parts in Doctors, and cosy crime series The Madame Blanc Mysteries.
Hamish Frew – Eric Dier
Frew starred alongside House of the Dragon star Olivia Cooke in The Girlfriend, and Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner in Joan.
Dom Rayner – Cole Palmer
Dear England is Rayner's breakout role, and we can't wait to see his performance as Cole Palmer.
Daniel Ryan - Steve Holland
He was Graham in Such Brave Girls and D.I. Tony Manning in The Bay, and now Ryan is football coach Steve Holland in Dear England.
Dear England is available to watch on BBC One at 9pm and can be streamed on iPlayer.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
Deputy Picture Editor, Entertainment
Andrea has 20 years' experience working in print and digital media.
She started out as an intern at ELLE magazine and has worked on the picture desk of numerous national magazines such as Red, Reveal, Now, Woman and Women's Weekly before making the switch to digital and then joining Digital Spy. Andrea's role recently expanded to cover Hearst UK's entertainment portfolio, which includes DS and its fellow entertainment titles Best and Inside Soap.
Andrea loves a good period drama – hello Bridgerton, Call the Midwife, The Crown, Stranger Things and Outlander!
