BBC Worldwide & BBC One Commission New David Beckham Doc

LONDON: A new 90-minute movie, jointly commissioned by BBC Worldwide and the BBC from Big Earth Productions, will follow football star David Beckham as he plays seven games in all of the seven continents around the world.

The project will chronicle the athlete as he journeys to the villages of Papua New Guinea, the foothills of Nepal, the desert plains of Djibouti, the manicured pitches of Miami and the frozen wastelands of Antarctica. The movie will seek to discover what the game means across the globe, in addition to exploring the lives of those who struggle to make a living in environments that present daily challenges and those who get to live the dream when they make it to the big leagues. The journey ends where it all began for Beckham, at Old Trafford, where he plays his final game with a host of internationally renowned footballing legends to bid a final farewell to the game.

David Beckham: For the Love of the Game is the second documentary that he has made for the BBC. Last year, David Beckham Into the Unknown was a global hit, with BBC Worldwide distributing the program to more than 165 countries.

Beckham said: “I remember sitting on a plane and discussing this idea with friends and never thinking it would become a reality. I’m genuinely excited now we can realize this ambitious idea. Whether as a player or out in the field for UNICEF and other charitable partners, I have seen the transformational effect that sport and in particular football has on people’s lives. 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.”

Suzanne McKenna, the commercial director of factual content at BBC Worldwide, said: “David Beckham has an incredible ability to connect with people globally through his love of football and we’re thrilled to work with him again on this unique and inspiring event. 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.”  
 
Charlotte Moore, the controller of BBC One, added: “David Beckham returns to BBC One for a special film following his long held personal ambition to play seven games of football in every continent around the world from Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Chile to Antarctica. David has set himself the challenge to highlight how the beautiful game can be a transformational force for good in the way it change lives and brings communities together amongst some of the most isolated and vulnerable people in the world.”
 
Maxine Watson, the BBC's ccommissioning editor of documentaries, commented: “David Beckham is a footballing icon whose passion for the game is well known; it’s the game that changed his life and continues to transform the lives of young players from Europe, The Americas to Africa and beyond. This challenge is also a voyage of discovery and a fitting tribute to the power of football.”