Joseph Fiennes reveals his “reservations” about reprising Gareth Southgate role in the BBC’s Dear England – and what changed from the play

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The new four-episode BBC series, Dear England, focuses on Gareth Southgate‘s time as manager of the England national team. However, this story has been dramatized before.

Actually, the series Dear England is based on a popular stage play of the same name, written by James Graham.

Adapting the play for the screen required many changes, but Joseph Fiennes reprised his role as Southgate, a part he originally performed on stage.

Ralph Fiennes and his co-star Jodie Whittaker recently discussed the new series with TopMob, where Fiennes shared he was initially hesitant about returning to the character in a different format.

Fiennes explained how the TV show began: he was finishing up a project with National Television when they secured a deal to move it to the West End. He understood that James had received offers from several broadcasters, including both Netflix and the BBC, but ultimately chose to work with the BBC.

I thought that approach was fantastic, as it really captured the national mood and felt like the perfect fit. However, I was initially concerned about how to convincingly portray Gareth, especially knowing how much close-up shots reveal.

From the audience, if you’re sitting somewhere central and looking closely, you might think, ‘That could be Gareth!’ It’s a fun illusion, but I was worried I wouldn’t be able to pull it off as convincingly.

He explained that football—the players and the sport itself—can be a powerful way to explore larger issues. It allows us to examine things like harmful ideas about masculinity, racism, the intense pressures faced by young athletes, and the mental side of the game.

To address Ralph Fiennes’s concerns about resembling Gareth Southgate, the production used prosthetics and makeup, creating a noticeable difference from the stage version.

From an outside view, authenticity was key, especially when it came to the costumes. Our designer was incredibly meticulous and focused on historical accuracy. The hair and makeup team shared that same dedication and were equally diligent in ensuring everything looked genuine,” Fiennes explained.

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I feel incredibly fortunate to have had such a supportive network around me. I really dove deep into his work – I listened to his audiobook constantly, practically living with headphones on! But honestly, research can only get you so far. What really fascinates me is pinpointing a key turning point in his life, and I think that moment was in 1996.

Life is full of both wonderful and difficult experiences, and it’s about how you recover, rebuild your confidence, and learn from them. I was particularly fascinated by exploring the psychological impact of past experiences – the way they linger and resurface. You’ll see this theme develop throughout the series, as those past issues come back to affect the present.

The series follows Gareth Southgate’s time as manager of the England national team, covering the years 2016 to 2024. The cast includes Jodie Whittaker, known for ‘Doctor Who,’ along with Will Antenbring (‘Mr Loverman’), Jason Watkins (‘The Game’), John Hodgkinson (‘Small Axe’), Daniel Ryan (‘The Hack’), and Sam Spruell (‘The Gold’).

Dear England will begin on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm on Sunday 24 May 2026.

Don’t miss Dear England! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a global TV production company. He holds a BA in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-05-19 17:04