Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker will join Joseph Fiennes in the BBC’s TV adaptation of Dear England, a play about former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate.
Whittaker, known for her portrayal of the Doctor in BBC’s Doctor Who and her role in Netflix’s Toxic Town, is set to join the series as Pippa Grange, the England men’s team’s psychologist.
Jason Watkins, who won a Bafta for his lead role in The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies and is known for his role in The Crown, has also been announced to play former FA chairman Greg Dyke.
They will be joined by The Bay star Daniel Ryan who is set to play Steve Holland, former assistant manager for the England men’s team.
The series, which will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in 2026, is an adaptation of James Graham’s Oliver-winning play Dear England, a fictionalised account of Sir Gareth Southgate’s time as the England football manager.
The Handmaid’s Tale star Fiennes, who was widely acclaimed for his turn as Southgate in the stage production, will reprise his role for the BBC series.
The plot follows the story of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams, based on extensive research and interviews.The four-part series will be written by Graham, directed by the play’s director Rupert Goold and produced by Left Bank Pictures, the company behind Netflix juggernaut The Crown.
Dear England had a sell-out run at the National Theatre before it transferred to the West End in 2023, securing best new play at the Olivier Awards last year.
Writer and executive producer 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.
“To kick off its journey on screen now, and on our national broadcaster, is a huge opportunity and I’m so grateful to (the) world-class cast and creative team we’ve assembled.”
The play will soon take to the road for a 16-venue tour across England, kicking off in Plymouth on September 15, with stops in major cities including Newcastle, Liverpool and Birmingham, until the tour comes to a close on March 14 2026.
