Dear England cast guide: The actors in the BBC drama compared to the characters they are playing

BBC's new football drama Dear England debuts today, and is set to be a truly special watch. Starring Joseph Fiennes as England manager Gareth Southgate, the series is a fictionalised account that follows the hardships and success of the England men's football team under Southgate's leadership from 2016 to 2024. The drama is based on James Graham's play of the same name, and the synopsis reads: "With the worst team track record for penalties in the world when he takes over as manager, Gareth knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take England back to the promised land. "The country that gave the world football has delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can't the England team win at their own game?" Doctor Who 's Jodie Whittaker, who stars as the team's psychologist Pippa Grange, has teased what viewers can expect from her character when she shared : "The drama is a fictionalised account, but these people do exist, and they did have these roles within English football history." She went on to say : "What was great about the role was the freedom to interpret James' writing, and I knew from the cast of the play that everyone had approached Pippa's character in different ways, as they all had different interpretations of the part. "I felt excited by the fact that this could be my version and not feel like I needed to do an impression of the real person. It was helpful that she's written an incredible book about the psychology around fear and our approach to it." As Whittaker mentioned, the characters that you will most likely be enraptured by over the course of the next four episodes were based on real people. So if you want a sneak peek of what they look like, and whether Dear England gets its casting spot on, then keep scrolling. BBC/Getty Images Joseph Fiennes – Gareth Southgate Joseph Fiennes steps into this portrayal of Gareth Southgate, a role he previously took to the stage with in the theatre play, and we think we can all agree the likeness here is uncanny. The actor will also be remembered for his noteworthy role in Shakespeare in Love, where he played The Bard, however in a more recent role he starred in Young Sherlock, where he played Silas Holmes. BBC/Getty Images Jodie Whittaker – Pippa Grange (psychologist) You will come to know Whittaker as psychologist Pippa Grange, but before that she starred as the Time Lord in Doctor Who. She has also become known for her roles in detective drama Broadchurch alongside David Tennant, and Netflix's Toxic Town . BBC/Getty Images Will Antenbring – Harry Kane Antenbring starred as Tim in the wonderful BBC drama Mr Loverman, but for now you can rediscover his acting talents as Harry Kane. BBC/Getty Images Edem-Ita Duke – Marcus Rashford Duke also starred in Mr Loverman alongside Antenbring, and he's also done a few one-episode stints in Vera and War of the Worlds. BBC/Getty Images Francis Lovehall – Raheem Sterling Lovehall's most recent roles include Steven Knight's brilliant A Thousand Blows, where he gives a fantastic performance as boxer Alec Monroe. Elsewhere the actor stared in the brilliant drama Small Axe, as well as Criminal Record and Masters of the Air . BBC/Getty Images Abdul Sessay – Bukayo Saka You may recognise Sessay for his roles in My Oxford Year , Doctor Who and Piglet . Now, he's portraying popular Arsenal star Bukayo Saka. BBC/Getty Images Bobby Schofield – Wayne Rooney As Schofield steps into the role of one of the most famous faces on the football pitch, viewers may remember him from his other performances in Unforgivable , SAS Rogue Heroes and Netflix's Eric, to name a few. BBC/Getty Images Adam Hugill – Harry Maguire Hugill has appeared on the big screen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and the war epic 1917 , also taking TV roles in Sherwood and Pennyworth . In Dear England , he plays Harry Maguire. BBC/Getty Images Josh Barrow – Jordan Pickford Hostage, Vera and Temple are just some of the productions that you may remember Barrow from, before he takes on the role of Jordan Pickford here. BBC/Getty Images Lewis Shepherd – Dele Alli A star of the stage, Shepherd also had a part in the detective drama Lynley before taking on Dele Alli in this BBC series. BBC/Getty Images David Shields – Jordan Henderson Shields' small screen CV includes roles across Masters of the Air , Black Mirror and The Crown – and now he's in Dear England , as Jordan Henderson. BBC/Getty Images Jacob Greenway – Jude Bellingham Greenway appeared in Sally Wainwright's BBC drama Riot Women , as well as having past credits in Father Brown and Emmerdale . Now, he's portraying Jude Bellingham in Dear England. BBC/Getty Images Riess Fennell – Jadon Sancho This isn't the first footie series you will recognise Fennell from, as the actor also starred in the BBC children's series The Football Fantastics. Fennell, now in the role of Jadon Sancho, also previously had a one-episode part in the soap Doctors . BBC/Getty Images Daniel Quincy Annoh – Ollie Watkins Annoh will be most recognised for his role in The Recruit . The actor has starred in a few shorts, such as Heaven, I Wanna Go There and Crab No.7 . In Dear England , he's Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins. BBC/Getty Images Alfie Middlemiss – Phil Foden Emmerdale fans will know Middlemiss for his role as Harry Murray, while he has also had parts in Doctors, and cosy crime series The Madame Blanc Mysteries. BBC/Getty Images Hamish Frew – Eric Dier Frew starred alongside House of the Dragon star Olivia Cooke in The Girlfriend, and Game of Thrones ' Sophie Turner in Joan. BBC/Getty Images Dom Rayner – Cole Palmer Dear England is Rayner's breakout role, and we can't wait to see his performance as Cole Palmer. BBC/Getty Images Daniel Ryan - Steve Holland He was Graham in Such Brave Girls and D.I. Tony Manning in The Bay, and now Ryan is football coach Steve Holland in Dear England. Dear England is available to watch on BBC One at 9pm and can be streamed on iPlayer.