Dear England

David Sturzaker (Doctors, BBC) plays former England manager Gareth Southgate in this gripping examination of nation and game. He is joined by stage and screen actress Samantha Womack (Eastenders, BBC; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) as team psychologist Pippa Grange.

A co-production with JAS Theatricals.

How did a football story become one of the most moving nights in British theatre?

Join Clare Balding and James Graham for an insightful four-part conversation on the making of Dear England. From Gareth Southgate’s quiet revolution to the power of vulnerability on and off the pitch.

PART 1: The Pitch

“It feels like a national play — and it should be on the road.”

In Part 1, James Graham and Clare Balding explore why Dear England resonates far beyond the pitch, and why now is the perfect moment to take this story across the nation.

PART 2: The Psychology

'The lads were really struggling, and they didn't know how to talk about it.'

In Part 2, Clare Balding and James Graham unpack the influence of team psychologist Pippa Grange, whose emotional toolkit helped the England men’s team confront pressure, failure, and fear — themes that drive Dear England’s heart.

PART 3: The Culture

“The England team belongs to everybody.”

In Part 3, James Graham and Clare Balding discuss how Southgate redefined leadership and belonging — and why Dear England has become a play for the nation.