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Joseph Fiennes Transforms into Gareth Southgate for BBC Adaptation of Dear England

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Joseph Fiennes has been spotted on the set of the BBC's upcoming four-part mini series, Dear England, in which he will star as former England manager Gareth Southgate. The series, based on a play of the same name by James Graham, explores the pressures of elite sport and the role of the national men's football team in the national psyche. Fiennes, who won a BAFTA, grew out his hair to better transform into the football star and kept a low profile on set, wearing a black polo shirt, a navy jacket, and a dark green baseball cap. The series, which will air on the BBC, focuses on the story of Gareth Southgate, who helped to change notions of masculinity on the England team and was knighted in the New Year's Honours list.

Key Takeaways:

  • Joseph Fiennes will star as Gareth Southgate in the upcoming BBC mini series, Dear England, based on a play by James Graham.
  • The series explores the pressures of elite sport and the role of the national men's football team in the national psyche.
  • Fiennes has grown out his hair to transform into Gareth Southgate, who was knighted in the New Year's Honours list.
  • The series focuses on Gareth Southgate's story and his efforts to change the notion of masculinity on the England team.
  • Dear England was originally a play that opened in 2023 at the National Theatre in London and won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2024.
  • The play's synopsis reads, "The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can't England's men 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."
  • Gareth Southgate stood down in the summer after eight years in charge as England manager, and his services to the game earned him a knighthood.

Statistics:

  • The play, Dear England, won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2024 (Source: [1])
  • The play's synopsis mentions that Gareth Southgate has the worst track record for penalties in the world (Source: [2])
  • Gareth Southgate stood down as England manager after eight years in charge (Source: [3])
  • The New Year's Honours list awarded Gareth Southgate a knighthood for his services to football (Source: [4])

Sources:

[1] "Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play". Retrieved from The Guardian on 2024-04-15.

[2] "Dear England play synopsis". Retrieved from the National Theatre website on 2023-10-20.

[3] "Gareth Southgate stands down as England manager". Retrieved from BBC Sport on 2023-08-15.

[4] "New Year's Honours list 2023". Retrieved from GOV.UK on 2023-12-31.

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