Former England manager Gareth Southgate, aged 55, is set to front a BBC documentary titled Gareth Southgate: Changing the Game for Young Men, airing on BBC One on June 8 at 9pm. The programme investigates the men's mental health crisis and the online 'manosphere', which promotes anti-feminist beliefs and traditional masculinity. According to the report, Southgate visited a prison, met young men struggling with employment and fatherlessness, and aims to alter the national conversation around young men's wellbeing.

Why Southgate, 55, is stepping into the 'manosphere' after Louis Theroux

The former England boss is following in the footsteps of documentary maker Louis Theroux, whose 2025 Netflix film Inside the Manosphere examined how male content creators influence young men's views on gender roles. Southgate's documentary, however, takes a more direct approach by meeting young men on the ground — in schools, job centres, and a prison. As the source notes, Southgate told The Sun: I hope this documentary will go some way towards changing the national conversation and encourage us all to support them in realising their potential.

A prison visit and conversations without father figures

One of the most striking elements of the documentary is a visit to a prison, where Southgate spoke with young inmates about why they turned to crime. The source reports that the film explores everyday issues including employment, identity, school performance, and the absence of father figures. Southgate said the experience gave him a beter understanding of the challenges they face and thanked those who were brave enough to share their sotries.

What the BBC commissioner says about moving past 'polarised arguments'

Gian Quaglieni, Commissioning Editor for BBC Current Affairs, stated: This film steps away from polarised arguments and instead listens to how young people really feel and what they’re dealing with. The BBC's approach, per the source, aims to cut through the often-divisive online discourse about masculinity and mental health, focusing instead on the lived realities of young men across the UK.

Can 'Changing the Game' really alter the national conversation?

The documentary's tagline borrows Southgate's own phrase about helping young men move in the right direction, but questions remain about its reach . the source does not specify how the BBC plans to promote the film to the very demographic it seeks to help — young men who may be deep inside the 'manosphere' on platforms like YouTube or TikTok. the source also leaves unclear whether Southgate's football credibility will be enough to attract skeptical viewers . It remains to be seen whether a 90-minute TV special can shift deeply embedded online attitudes or if it will mainly preach to the converted .