How to watch 'Dear England' – stream story of Gareth Southgate's football success

Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate in Dear England — (Image credit: BBC)

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All you need to know

"Dear England" is a dramatized deep dive into the incredible story of Gareth Southgate's eight-year reign as England manager. Football fever is about to sweep the globe with the impending 2026 World Cup, so there's no better time to investigate how it nearly came home, with Joseph Fiennes starring as Southgate.

Here's how to watch "Dear England" online from anywhere with this VPN — and potentially for free.

"Dear England" - How to watch, release dates, streaming options

The first episode of "Dear England" will air on BBC One on Sunday, May 24 at 9 p.m. BST. The four-part series will be available on BBC iPlayer after the first episode has aired on TV.

• WATCH FREE — BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
• Australia — Binge (May 28)
• Watch BBC anywhere — use Norton VPN (try risk-free)

When Southgate took over the England men's national team in 2016, the Three Lions were at a pretty low ebb, having been knocked out of the European Championships by minnows Iceland. The former defender transformed the team in a short space of time, and in 2018, he led them to the World Cup semi-final.

It was ultimately another case of heartbreak, of course, but in the following years, England reached the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, losing to Italy, and were again runners-up, this time Spain, at Euro 2024. Though silverware always eluded Southgate, he and his players lifted the spirits of the whole nation and made England one of the most formidable teams in the world once more.

Naturally, then, this story was given the dramatic treatment. "Dear England" was first turned into a stage play, and James Graham has adapted his own work into a television series starring Fiennes and Jodie Whittaker, the latter as psychologist Pippa Grange.

Relive the highs and lows of the England journey with this inspiring interpretation. Here's how you can watch "Dear England" online and from anywhere.

Can I watch 'Dear England' for free?

"Dear England" will stream for free in the U.K. on BBC iPlayer.

A U.K. postcode (e.g. SE1 7PB) and a valid TV license are required to watch.

Outside the U.K. on holiday? Unlock "Dear England" with Norton VPN (try risk-free).

How to watch 'Dear England' from anywhere

Thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network), "Dear England" should be available to Brits no matter where they are. The software allows your devices to appear to be back in the U.K. and watch iPlayer for free, as if you were back home.

Not all VPNs works for this – but Norton VPN (try risk-free) does (we use it daily) and you can get our exclusive free gift card offer below:

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Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. Try Norton VPN (try risk-free).

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away from the U.K. and want to view a U.K. service, you'd select U.K. from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the show. Head to BBC iPlayer to watch "Dear England" online and on-demand.

Watch 'Dear England' in the U.K.

British flag — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

All four episodes of "Dear England" will be available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer from Sunday, May 24, 2026.

If you'd rather watch them on linear TV, the first episode airs on BBC One on Sunday, May 24 at 9 p.m. BST with the second to follow on Monday 25 at 9 p.m.. Episode three airs on Sunday, May 31 at 9 p.m. BST and episode four will follow on Monday, June 1 at the same time.

Outside the U.K.? You don't have to miss this show if you are a Brit living abroad because you can watch your usual streams from anywhere with a VPN. We'll explain how to do that below...

Can you watch 'Dear England' in the U.S. or Canada?

In the U.S. and Canada, there is no streaming service showing "Dear England".

Other BBC shows sometimes appear months after release on BritBox, and that might be the case here. We'll keep an eye out if "Dear England" gets added at a later date.

Are you a Brit on vacation or working in the U.S. or Canada right now? Norton VPN can unlock your stream so you can watch all the episodes for free on BBC iPlayer from across the pond.

How to watch 'Dear England' in Australia

Australian flag — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

You can catch "Dear England" on Binge in Australia. The episodes will start airing Down Under from Thursday, May 28.

You can sign up to Binge for just $5 for one month at the moment, so now could be the perfect time to prepare for World Cup 2026 kick-off by streaming "Dear England".

Remember, If you are a Brit working or on vacation Down Under you can catch the show on your usual domestic streamer by using a VPN such as Norton VPN.

'Dear England' — all you need to know

'Dear England' – cast

Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate
Jodie Whittaker as Pippa Grange
Jason Watkins as Greg Dyke
Daniel Ryan as Steve Holland
Bobby Schofield as Wayne Rooney
David Shields as Jordan Henderson
Adam Hugill as Harry Maguire
Will Antenbring as Harry Kane
Francis Lovehall as Raheem Sterling
Josh Barrow as Jordan Pickford
Jacob Greenway as Jude Bellingham
Hamish Frew as Eric Dier
Edem-Ita Duke as Marcus Rashford
Daniel Quincy Annoh as Ollie Watkins
Lewis Shepherd as Dele Alli
Alfie Middlemiss as Phil Foden
Abdul Sessay as Bukayo Saka

'Dear England' – trailer

Dear England ⚽🥅 | OFFICIAL TRAILER - YouTube

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'Dear England' - episode guide

Episode 1: With the England team at an all-time low after an embarrassing defeat to Iceland, Gareth Southgate becomes the new manager. Haunted by his own penalty miss with England, he inherits a broken team and a jaded fanbase. With psychologist Pippa Grange, he sets about changing the team’s mindset and tackling his and England’s biggest fear – penalties. (May 24)
Episode 2: After a breakthrough World Cup reignites belief, the England team return to a tournament on home turf, amidst the Covid pandemic. As the pressure to win increases, Pippa Grange questions her role. Meanwhile, Gareth tries to unite a divided country ahead of Euro 2020, where he hopes the team finally bring it home at Wembley. (May 25)
S2 Episode 3: Synopsis TBC (May 31)
S2 Episode 4: Synopsis TBC (June 1)

What else can I watch on BBC iPlayer?

Lots – including "The Other Bennet Sister", "The Apprentice", "Peaky Blinders", "The Young Offenders", "The Corinthians: We Were Champions", and "Berlusconi: Condemned to Win".

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Jakob has over 11 years of experience in journalism across sports, entertainment, tech, and politics. Now a freelance writer, he works with Future across a range of different brands including Golf Monthly, FourFourTwo, Tom's Guide and more.