Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker Joins Joseph Fiennes in BBC’s Gareth Southgate Drama Dear England

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It’s been a while since there were any updates about James Graham’s forthcoming BBC adaptation of the popular play Dear England, but now, we have some news! We finally know who else will be starring alongside Joseph Fiennes in the highly anticipated drama.

Previously, it was made known that Fiennes would again take on the role of Gareth Southgate for the BBC series. Now, it has been officially confirmed that he will lead the cast, working alongside Jodie Whittaker from Doctor Who, who is slated to portray Pippa Grange, the psychologist for England’s men’s team in the show.

Recently, I had the privilege to spearhead the ensemble in the Netflix series, “Toxic Town.” To add an unexpected twist, I also popped up as the Thirteenth Doctor in the grand finale of Doctor Who’s Season 15.

The remaining actors in “Dear England” include several well-known faces from British television.

I’m thrilled to announce that Jason Watkins, famously known for “The Game,” has stepped into the role of the former Football Association (FA) chairman Greg Dyke in our upcoming project. Meanwhile, Daniel Ryan from “The Bay” will bring his talent to portray Steve Holland, a former assistant manager for the England men’s team. Sam Spruell, best recognized as “The Gold,” will breathe life into a fictional coach named Mike Webster. Lastly, John Hodgkinson reprises his stage role from “Dear England” as Greg Clarke, another former FA chairman. This talented ensemble is sure to make our project an unforgettable experience!

The remaining characters have been finalized as well, with several expected soccer player roles now disclosed.

In the reprisal of their initial stage performances, Adam Hugill (as Sherwood), Josh Barrow (in the role of Hostage) and newcomer Lewis Shepherd portray professional football players Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford, and Dele Alli respectively.

In addition, it has been verified that Will Antenbring takes on the role of Harry Kane, Edem-Ita Duke portrays Marcus Rashford, Francis Lovehall plays Raheem Sterling, Abdul Sessay is cast as Bukayo Saka, Jacob Greenway represents Jude Bellingham, David Shields acts as Jordan Henderson, and Hamish Frew assumes the role of Eric Dier in this production.

In a different casting, Alfie Middlemiss from Waterloo Road plays Phil Foden, Riess Fennell, known for The Football Fantastics, takes on the role of Jadon Sancho, Daniel Quincy Annoh from The Recruit becomes Ollie Watkins, and Bobby Schofield, star of Unforgivable, portrays Wayne Rooney.

In this new setup, Dom Rayner and Alexander Parsons will step into the positions previously held by Cole Palmer and Jesse Lingard respectively.

Speaking about the cast reveal, writer and producer James Graham expressed that announcing the national sport at the National Theatre around two years ago was among the most fulfilling moments in his writing career.

Sharing the heartwarming tale of Gareth’s silent uprising, focusing on its messages of second chances, determination, empathy, and care within sports.

Our project is making its debut on both the big screen and national television now, which presents a tremendous chance. I am immensely thankful for the exceptional cast and creative crew we have put together.

Lindsay Salt, head of BBC Drama, expressed her excitement about the remarkable cast assembled for “Dear England,” adding that watching the camaraderie among this talented group during filming has been a delightful experience.

Under the direction of Rupert Goold and Paul Whittington, with Joseph Fiennes and Jodie Whittaker as the main actors, and Left Bank Pictures handling production, BBC audiences can expect an unforgettable viewing experience.

The play with four acts is derived from a stage performance that initially played at the National Theatre in London, but was later moved to the West End because of high audience interest and positive reviews.

Last year, it was revealed that The Handmaid’s Tale actor Fiennes will lead the upcoming series as Southgate. The plot for the series goes like this: “Taking over as manager with the worst team record in history for penalties, Gareth is aware he must embrace new ideas and confront his past pain to guide England back towards their long-awaited glory.

The nation renowned for inventing football has been struggling with a heartbreaking sequence of defeats. How is it that the English team can’t triumph in their own sport?

A Tale of England’s Football Teams: Trials and Triumphs – An Imaginative Retelling from Extensive Study and Conversations

Or simply:

A Fictional Narrative of England’s Football Journey: Struggles and Victories – Drawing on Research and Interviews.

Following its triumphant stage performance, there’s little doubt that fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of football excitement on their screens, all the more so since a talented ensemble has been gathered to bring it to life on screen.

Although a specific launch date hasn’t been announced yet, it’s been made clear that the show will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer around 2026. Filming has already begun in the southern parts of England.

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2025-07-07 13:34