The creator of the new BBC drama 'Dear England' and the actor portraying Gareth Southgate have urged the current England squad not to watch the series before the World Cup. Writer James Graham and star Joseph Fiennes said the four-part adaptation, based on the Olivier Award-winning West End play, could prove a distraction during the tournament.
Graham said: 'No, I wouldn't want them to watch it. I think they've got to really focus on what they're doing. I wouldn't want to be the one responsible who disrupted one of our best chances in a long time.' He added that his admiration for the players 'knows no bounds' and that he would understand if they chose to wait until 'they got the job done.'
The drama, which starts later this month, charts Southgate's tenure as England manager, including his role in transforming the team's mindset and overcoming penalty shootout trauma. Fiennes stressed that the series is intended for fans, not players: 'It's for an audience... The more the fans understand what is being delivered here, they will bring that to the players. And the players will in effect feel supported, in a way previously they maybe weren't.'
The cast includes Joseph Fiennes as Southgate, Jodie Whittaker as psychologist Pippa Grange, Will Antenbring as Harry Kane, and Jason Watkins as former FA chairman Greg Dyke. Whittaker praised Southgate's decision to bring in a psychologist, calling it 'revolutionary' and highlighting the importance of mental health in sport.
Fiennes also recalled meeting the real Gareth Southgate at a charity event, describing him as 'a remarkable man' and 'an absolute gent.' Graham, who met Southgate while researching the play, said the former manager was generous despite admitting he would never watch the drama.
