BBC, Worldwide order Beckham football film

UK pubcaster the BBC and its commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, have co-commissioned David Beckham: For the Love of the Game, a 90-minute film in which the eponymous star will embark on a global footballing journey.

Beckham will play seven football games across seven continents for the film, which will be part of BBC One’s Christmas schedule and will also play on Worldwide’s international channels.

Beckham will join local communities and play football with them in the doc, which will see the star travel to locations including Antartica, Buenos Aires, Djibouti, Nepal and Papua New Guinea. The show will end with Beckham at Old Trafford, home ground of Manchester United, where he spent most of his playing career.

The 1x90mins programme will be produced by UK-based Long Way Round prodco Big Earth.

Beckham said: “I remember sitting on a plane and discussing this idea with friends, and never thinking it would become a reality.”

“This epic journey will allow me to show the positive side of the game I love and shine a light on the passion and selflessness of people that play this sport as a force for good.”

David Beckham: For the Love of the Game will be the second documentary the star has made for the BBC following David Beckham into the Unknown. BBC Worldwide sold that show into 165 countries worldwide.

Suzanne McKenna, commercial director of factual content at BBCWW, said: “From the remotest corners of the earth to its great metropolises, football has the power to bring people together and this shared passion will resonate with audiences everywhere.”