Gareth Southgate’s dramatic tenure as England manager is set to be turned into a Netflix series following the roaring success of National Theatre play

• Sources say Netflix bosses have commissioned a series based on Dear England 
• The play, written by James Graham, stars Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate

Gareth Southgate’s rollercoaster ride as England manager is to be turned into a screen drama.

Sources say that bosses at Netflix have commissioned a series based on the play Dear England, which has enjoyed a well-reviewed run at London’s National Theatre and been seen by 75,000 people since it opened in June.

The play, written by James Graham and starring Joseph Fiennes as Southgate, tells the manager’s story from when he took over from Sam Allardyce in 2016 right up to England’s World Cup bid in Qatar last year. But it also includes a flashback to when he missed a penalty in Euro 96.

Dear England, starring Joseph Fiennes (pictured) as Gareth Southgate, has enjoyed a well-reviewed run at London’s National Theatre

Gareth Southgate’s rollercoaster ride as England manager is to be turned into a screen drama. The England manager is pictured at the UEFA Under-21 Euro 2023 final match between England and Spain at Batumi Arena on July 8 in Batumi, Georgia

A source said: ‘The show has been an unmitigated success – but so far only people who can make it to the theatre in London, and afford the tickets, have been able to see it. It is such a fantastic story that Netflix have come up with the plan of making it more accessible.’

Netflix’s plan comes after it was revealed last week that the play – which has been described as ‘an uplifting dramatisation’ – is to move from the National Theatre to the West End.

The drama’s eight-week run at the National ended on Friday, but not before attracting a crowd of famous faces – particularly footballers.

Ex-England captain Gary Lineker, who features as a character in the play, was spotted cheering in the audience, and fellow pundit and former England forward Ian Wright was also in attendance.

Oscar-winning actors also enjoyed the show, including Emma Thompson and Daniel Kaluuya.

Dear England will open at the Prince Edward Theatre on October 9.

James Graham said: ‘I really hoped it would become a crossover play with loads of lads in their football shirts mixing along with regular theatre-goers.’

The play, written by James Graham and starring Joseph Fiennes as Southgate (pictured), tells the manager’s story from when he took over from Sam Allardyce in 2016 right up to England’s World Cup bid in Qatar last year

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