{"id":46375,"date":"2024-02-21T21:15:05","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T20:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1996311"},"modified":"2024-02-21T23:03:22","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T22:03:22","slug":"bbc-to-adapt-dear-england-starring-joseph-fiennes-as-gareth-southgate","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/bbc-to-adapt-dear-england-starring-joseph-fiennes-as-gareth-southgate\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC to adapt Dear England, starring Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate"},"content":{"rendered":"

The National Theatre production is being adapted for the screen as a new BBC series. <\/p>

By Morgan Cormack\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 21 February 2024 at 20:15 PM<\/p>

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From the stage to the screen, Dear England has been announced as one of the new series in BBC\u2019s impressive slate of upcoming dramas.<\/p>\n

The production originally ran at London\u2019s National Theatre, transferred to the West End<\/a> and is now being brought to the small screen with Joseph Fiennes reprising his role as England football manager Gareth Southgate<\/a> for the new BBC series, which will be produced by Left Bank Pictures (The Crown<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The new four-parter will be based on the play which was written by James Graham (Sherwood<\/a>, The Way<\/a>). Graham will also be writing the series, which will be directed by Rupert Goold (Judy) who also directed the stage production of the tale about the England men\u2019s football team.<\/p>\n

According to the series synopsis: \u201cIt\u2019s time to change the game. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can\u2019t the England team win at their own game? With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.<\/p>\n

\u201cDear England is a fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England\u2019s football teams, based on extensive research and interviews. The stage play premiered at the National Theatre to five-star reviews and a sell-out run in 2023, before transferring to London\u2019s West End.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rupert\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Rupert Goold, James Graham and Joseph Fiennes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Alan Chapman\/Dave Benett\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/a> actor Fiennes stars in Dear England as Southgate, who is following on from a long string of match losses in the play.<\/p>\n

As the stage production\u2019s synopsis reads: \u201cWith the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.\u201d<\/p>\n

The stage production transferred over to the West End\u2019s Prince Edward Theatre after a sold-out run at the National Theatre, with critical acclaim being bestowed upon Fiennes for his portrayal of Southgate.<\/p>

On the announcement of the new series, Andy Harries, CEO of Left Bank Pictures and executive producer on Dear England, says: \u201cDear England is a theatrical tour de force from one of the most exciting playwrights of our generation.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeft Bank Pictures are thrilled to be working with James Graham once again and I\u2019m certain that theTV adaptation of Dear England will be as ground-breaking as the play itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n