Dear England writer to begin adapting West End play for BBC series after Olivier Award win - with Joseph Fiennes returning as Gareth Southgate

The writer of Dear England will begin adapting the sell out West End play for a BBC series, he announced last night after winning an Olivier Award. A new BBC four-part series had already been announced with James Graham returning as writer and Joseph Fiennes reprising his uncanny role playing England football manager Gareth Southgate. James Graham, who wrote Dear England, said he would be writing a screen play adaptation for the BBC as he accepted his Olivier Award last night The West End show saw Joseph Fiennes play England football manager Gareth Southgate Graham added that he did not want to be 'a cliche' but he 'really wasn't expecting' the prize. Fiennes will now reprise his uncanny role for the four-part BBC screen adaptation Gareth made 57 appearances for England as a player, but is arguably best remembered for missing a crucial penalty kick against Germany in the Euro 96 semi-final at Wembley The play shone a light on the pressures of penalties and Gareth's 'cultural reform' of the England men's national team in his six years as manager 'The experience of working on This House at the National Theatre 10 years ago changed my life as an emerging writer. It wouldn't feel right,' Southgate said at the time The play ran at the Olivier Theatre from June 10 to August 11 last summer Fiennes looked the spitting image of Southgate throughout the play, sporting Southgate's signature goatee and slicked ack hair After winning the Olivier for best actress in a play, Sarah Snook spoke of sharing her one-woman show The Picture Of Dorian Gray with her Succession cast members.