Dear England trailer released and launch date announced

The BBC has released a 90-second trailer and new pictures for the hotly anticipated new drama Dear England. The four-part series is based on James Graham’s multi award-winning play of the same name about Gareth Southgate and the England men’s football team. It is made by Left Bank Pictures (This City is Ours, The Crown) for the BBC.

Episodes one and two of Dear England will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 9pm on Sunday 24 May, with the following two episodes arriving on BBC iPlayer the following Sunday 31 May. On BBC One the episodes will air on Sunday and Monday nights at 9pm from Sunday 24 May.

• Add Dear England to your Watchlist on BBC iPlayer

The trailer sees Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate as he aims to start a new chapter with the England men's team. 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?

Dear England is a fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of the England men’s team, based on extensive research and interviews.

Joseph Fiennes is joined by Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Toxic Town) as England men’s team psychologist Pippa Grange, Jason Watkins (The Game, The Crown) is former FA chairman Greg Dyke and John Hodgkinson (Small Axe, Life After Life) is former FA chairman Greg Clarke. Daniel Ryan (The Bay, The Hack) is Steve Holland, former assistant manager for the England men’s team. Sam Spruell (The Gold, Fargo) stars as fictional coach, Mike Webster.

Forming the England squad is Adam Hugill (Sherwood), Josh Barrow (Hostage) and screen newcomer Lewis Shepherd are reprising their respective stage roles as Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford and Dele Alli. Will Antenbring (Mr Loverman) stars as Harry Kane, Edem-Ita Duke (Mr Loverman) is Marcus Rashford, Francis Lovehall (A Thousand Blows) is Raheem Sterling, Abdul Sessay (Piglets) is Bukayo Saka, Jacob Greenway (The Dream Lands) is Jude Bellingham, David Shields (Masters of the Air) is Jordan Henderson, Hamish Frew (Generation Z) is Eric Dier, Alfie Middlemiss (Waterloo Road) is Phil Foden, Riess Fennell (The Football Fantastics) is Jadon Sancho, Daniel Quincy Annoh (The Recruit) is Ollie Watkins, Bobby Schofield (Unforgivable) is Wayne Rooney, Sam Baker Jones (Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man) is Jack Grealish and newcomers Dom Rayner and Xander Westcarr-Parsons are Cole Palmer and Jesse Lingard respectively.

Dear England (4x60) was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. James Graham wrote the series based on his National Theatre play, which won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2024, with Rupert Goold (Judy, King Charles III), who directed Dear England on stage, directing episode one. Paul Whittington (This Town, The Crown) will direct episodes two to four. Tina Pawlik (Ted Lasso, Top Boy) is the producer. The executive producers are Andy Harries and Rebecca Hodgson for Left Bank Pictures, Jo McClellan for the BBC, and James Graham, Rupert Goold and Paul Whittington. Sony Pictures Television will distribute Dear England internationally.

EJ

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