The creator of the new BBC drama Dear England and the actor portraying Gareth Southgate have advised England players not to watch the series before the World Cup. The four-part adaptation, based on the acclaimed West End play, explores how Southgate transformed the mindset of the national squad, instilling confidence and overcoming the trauma of penalty shootout defeats.
Set to air on BBC One and iPlayer from May 24, Dear England stars Joseph Fiennes as Sir Gareth Southgate and Jodie Whittaker as team psychologist Pippa Grange. The drama charts Southgate's tenure as England manager, leading the team to two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final.
Writer James Graham explicitly discouraged players from watching the drama for inspiration. "No, I wouldn't want them to watch it," he said. "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!" Graham praised players like Harry Kane as inspirational figures, adding, "I'd be really understanding and happy if they didn't want to watch the TV drama until they got the job done."
Fiennes echoed this sentiment, explaining that the drama is intended for audiences to foster empathy and support for the team. "It's for an audience," he said. "If the fans can see it and understand the way James has delivered the lives fictitiously, but with great detail and research, of these young men who have extraordinary pressures, then they will bring that to the players. The players will in effect feel supported, in a way previously they maybe weren't."
The cast also includes Will Antenbring as Harry Kane, Jason Watkins as former FA chairman Greg Dyke, and Daniel Ryan as assistant manager Steve Holland. Dear England originally sold out at the National Theatre before transferring to the West End in 2023 and winning Best New Play at the Olivier Awards in 2024.
At the premiere, Fiennes recalled meeting the real Southgate at a charity event. "I got a tap on the shoulder and turned around, and there was me! I had a weird out-of-body experience and got very gushy and asked for a selfie. Gareth was a remarkable man and an absolute gent." Graham also met Southgate while researching the play, noting that Southgate said, "I'm never gonna watch this, but how can I help?"
Whittaker praised Southgate's decision to hire a psychologist for the team. "It was revolutionary. In 2026, mental health is a topic of conversation, and masculinity is being redefined. Gareth knew that psychological pressure is one of the hardest things to harness, so bringing in someone like Pippa was essential."
Dear England premieres on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Sunday, May 24 at 9pm.
