Gareth Southgate drama Dear England casting is brutally mocked as critics say show 'must be comedy or parody' - as Jack Grealish fans joke he should SUE BBC over his depiction

BBC's TV adaptation of award-winning play Dear England has been slammed on social media over questionable casting of team players. 

The Olivier Award-winning play chronicles a fictionalised account of Gareth Southgate’s time managing the England men’s football team, with Joseph Fiennes taking the lead role and bearing an incredible likeness to the boss. 

While the stage show dazzled theatregoers, the casting for the BBC drama has been met with a shocked response - with many querying if the casting was satire. 

At the helm of the social media response was Sam Baker Jones, who stars as Jack Grealish, with many insisting there were no similarities between the actor and the heartthrob, who recently lost his spot on the England squad. 

Another hot topic was the casting of Dom Rayner as Cole Palmer, with many branding the casting 'spot on' while others were less convinced. 

Viewers were insistent Jack's casting was one of the worst, writing: 'Jack Grealish needs to take legal action against the BBC, if this clip from ‘Dear England’ is anything to go by… This is so disrespectful to Jack Grealish'. 

Others swarmed the site with shock at the cast, writing: 'Is this meant to be a comedy or satire?... Im baffled, please tell me this is a comedy... 

'New level of cringe unlocked. Just play football and try to win something.... I thought it was a p**stake parody lol.... I wonder who sat down and thought, yep. This is going to be a smash hit. It looks horrendous and cringe inducing.'

Having originally played the manager in the play, Joseph, 55, reprises his acclaimed role as Gareth in the story following England's Euro 2024 semi-final win.

A host of viewers claimed the show had 'blown its budget' with such a successful doppelgänger in Joseph that the rest of the cast were weaker.  

A synopsis for the drama 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?'

Also appearing in the adaptation is Jodie Whittaker - formerly of Doctor Who and Broadchurch - who is playing England men’s team psychologist Pippa Grange.

Mr. Loverman actor Will Antenbring is taking on the role of star striker Harry Kane.

Other cast members include Jason Watkins as Greg Dyke, John Hodgkinson as Greg Clarke, Sam Spruell as fictitious coach Mike Webster and Daniel Ryan as Steve Holland.

Returning from the play are Adam Hugill, Josh Barrow and Lewis Shepherd, making his screen debut, as Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford and Dele Alli.

They are joined by Edem-Ita Duke as Marcus Rashford, Francis Lovehall as Raheem Sterling, Abdul Sessay as Bukayo Saka and Jacob Greenway as Jude Bellingham.

Also featuring are David Shields as Jordan Henderson, Hamish Frew as Eric Dier, Alfie Middlemiss as Phil Foden and Riess Fennell as Jadon Sancho.

Daniel Quincy Annoh as Ollie Watkins, Bobby Schofield as Wayne Rooney and newcomers Dom Rayner and Alexander Parsons as Cole Palmer and Jesse Lingard respectively.

The stage play launched at the National Theatre to five-star reviews, winning an Olivier award for ‘Best New Play’ and a sell-out run in 2023.

Previously, Daily Mail critic Patrick Marmion gave the Dear England stage play a four-star rating - following a performance of Gwilym Lee playing Southgate.

He wrote: 'Boldly tackling the subject of the England football team's fear of penalties and the perception of perpetual underperformance, the play is still very funny.

'That's partly thanks to reliably gaffe-prone players – including skipper Harry Kane explaining how he dribbles 'left foot, right foot...mainly those two'.

'And tension remains in the re-creation of head-in-hands penalty shoot-outs.'