The BBC has released the trailer and new pictures for Dear England, confirming that the four-part drama will launch on BBC iPlayer from 9pm on Sunday 24 May.
Based on James Graham’s multi award-winning play of the same name, Dear England stars Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate and follows the England men’s football team through a fictionalised account of their struggles, reinvention and successes under his leadership. Episodes one and two will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 9pm on Sunday 24 May, with the final two episodes arriving on Sunday 31 May. On BBC One, episodes will air on Sunday and Monday nights at 9pm from 24 May.
The 90-second trailer sees Southgate facing the pressure of taking on one of the most scrutinised jobs in football, with one voice asking: “England manager… who’d want to take on this poisoned chalice?” As he attempts to open up a new chapter for the national team, the series explores England’s long history of painful near-misses, penalty heartbreak and the emotional weight of expectation.
“Keep believing. Keep going right up until the final whistle, because one day you’ll look back and give anything to be here again.”
Fiennes is joined by Jodie Whittaker as England men’s team psychologist Pippa Grange, with Jason Watkins as former FA chairman Greg Dyke, John Hodgkinson as former FA chairman Greg Clarke, Daniel Ryan as former assistant manager Steve Holland and Sam Spruell as fictional coach Mike Webster.
The England squad includes Adam Hugill as Harry Maguire, Josh Barrow as Jordan Pickford, Lewis Shepherd as Dele Alli, 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, Alfie Middlemiss as Phil Foden and Sam Baker Jones as Jack Grealish.
For CultureCues, the draw here is not just the football, but the psychology of a team carrying years of national expectation. With Graham adapting his own Olivier-winning play and Fiennes stepping into one of the most recognisable roles in modern English football, Dear England looks set to turn the beautiful game into proper Sunday night drama. We’ll be on the sofa for kick-off.
Dear England launches on BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Sunday 24 May, with episodes airing on BBC One from Sunday 24 May at 9pm.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.