BBC Three Lions present is re-written to make Harry Kane sound sensible

An award-winning play about the England football team is being rewritten to make its Harry Kane character sound more intelligent ahead of a new four-part BBC series.

In the aftermath of England’s latest Euros heartbreak, playwright James Graham is adapting his production of Dear England, which enjoyed sell-out runs at the National Theatre and in the West End. 

The play focuses on England’s fortunes under Gareth Southgate, portrayed by Joseph Fiennes on stage.

Sources close to the production told The Mail on Sunday that key to the rewrite for the BBC production will be to revise the character of Kane, 30. 

He was affectionately sent-up as dim-witted in the original version.

Kane was played by Will Close, who depicted a lisping character who found it ‘confusing’ when the Euro 2020 was played a year late due to Covid. 

In another scene, Kane says: ‘I’m not great on words. I know people take the p***, about, like… my voice, my accent, how I sound’.

A source said: ‘James is aware that some people thought it was a little unfair on Harry and I think he is trying to explore that. It’s a balance and he’s keen to get right.’