Joseph Fiennes has revealed the 'nerve-wracking' experience of portraying Gareth Southgate in a new BBC television drama. Created by James Graham, Dear England chronicles the journey of the former England player as manager of the national team from 2016 to 2024. The four-part series, adapted from Graham's Olivier Award-winning stage play, stars Jodie Whittaker as psychologist Pippa Grange and Jason Watkins as former FA chairman Greg Dyke.
From Stage to Screen
Although Fiennes had previously played Southgate in the stage production, he told Metro that adapting the role for television presented a unique challenge. 'The play is fictitious,' he explained. 'There's a disclaimer at the top of our show stating that these events are interpreted with careful examination and detail. In theatre, the audience might squint and believe I could be Gareth Southgate. But with the camera lens right in front of me, it's a different thing. I was very nervous about the conceit of playing Gareth.'
Beyond Football
Fiennes hopes viewers will move beyond surface-level impressions. 'You want them to accept it and then focus on the more exciting aspects beyond waistcoats and mannerisms,' he said. 'Dear England goes beyond football. Through the lens of the beautiful game, we examine trickier conversations.'
Directed by Rupert Goold and Paul Whittington, the series follows Southgate as he confronts past failures to lead England to success. Central to this is Pippa Grange, whom Whittaker described as 'fascinating'. She noted: 'The biggest takeaway for me is how at an international level, fear is seen as something you must pretend to be immune to. In James's writing, and in Pippa's own words, fear should not be a vulnerability. It's so simple that you can't believe it's not still being implemented.'
Defending Southgate
Creator James Graham emphasized that the series is not endorsed by Southgate or the FA. 'But I want to defend him,' Graham said. 'My admiration for the people involved, including Pippa and Gareth, is clear. They identified that one of the biggest problems in the England dressing room was that no one had ever asked players what England means to them. They didn't feel connected.'
The first two episodes of Dear England air on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday, May 24 at 9pm, exploring the psychological rebuilding of the England men's football team and their transformation of team culture.
