Advanced Television

BBC acquires Goolagong drama

May 15, 2026

The BBC has acquired Goolagong, a drama following the story of legendary tennis player Evonne Goolagong from BBC Studios for BBC iPlayer and BBC Four. Airing in June, the three-part series stars Lila McGuire as Evonne Goolagong, Felix Mallard as Roger Cawley and Marton Csokas as Vic Edwards.

In 1958, an eight-year-old girl peered through the wire fence of the tennis courts near her small-town home in New South Wales, Australia. She was instantly hooked. Goolagong would later win 14 Grand Slam titles, challenging racial barriers in the process. But despite on-court success, a disturbing dynamic played out behind the scenes and threatened to derail everything – until Goolagong found the strength to step out from that shadow, reclaim her identity and follow her passion on her own terms.

Nick Lee, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, says: “The classic recipe for a sports drama is passion and talent to triumph over adversity, Goolagong does all this with heart. Fans of tennis will of course indulge in Evonne’s story and the matchplay, but whether familiar with her career or not, everyone will relate to the pure human spirit that’s been so authentically dramatised in this show.”

Goolagong (3×60’) was written by Steven McGregor and Megan Simpson Huberman, with Wayne Blair directing. The executive producers are Joanna Werner and Stuart Menzies, with Werner producing and Danielle MacLean co-producing for Werner Film Productions – with Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Roger Cawley as associate producers. BBC Studios is handling global sales.

Goolagong premiered on ABC TV and ABC iview in Australia.

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