The BBC has commissioned a visualised podcast titled Can You Beat Wayne Rooney? for release this autumn. The weekly series features former England captain Wayne Rooney competing in football trivia against guests from sport, entertainment, and popular culture. Comedian Alex Brooker hosts the series, which integrates football knowledge tests with anecdotal accounts of Rooney's professional career.
The production is handled by Persephonica, the company responsible for the BBC Sounds podcast Games Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast. Filming for the series takes place in Manchester. Each episode uses trivia questions to trigger discussions regarding dressing room experiences, international tournaments, and specific matches from Rooney's tenure at Manchester United and the England national team.
Distribution for the series spans multiple digital platforms. The visual components will be available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport Football YouTube channel. Audio versions will be distributed via BBC Sounds and other major podcast platforms.
The format relies on a competitive structure where guests attempt to outperform Rooney in football related questions. Rooney and Brooker both confirmed the competitive nature of the show in official statements. The series launches in the autumn window. Persephonica is based in Manchester.