Bear Grylls, Rural Recharge, football's religious roots

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The Chosen is the most successful crowdfunded drama in television history. It tells the story of Jesus of Nazareth through the eyes of his disciples, followers and opponents. Five series are now on the streaming service Amazon Prime Video, alongside a new spin off called The Chosen in the Wild. It's hosted by TV adventurer Bear Grylls and features the cast and crew taking on outdoor challenges. Farming can be one of the loneliest jobs in Britain. Men who work the land are twice as likely to take their own lives as the national average, with rural suicide rates the highest of any community type, according to Farmers Weekly. The Methodist Church in west Devon has set up Rural Recharge, a men's support group which offers a place to talk. Long before sponsorship deals and big money transfers, football grew up alongside the church. Victorian ministers believed sporting talent was God-given and saw the game as a way of drawing young men away from the pub. Clubs from Everton to Fulham trace their roots to a parish hall, and some of football's fiercest rivalries, Celtic and Rangers among them, are rooted in religion. As the new Premier League season kicked off this weekend, we explore this history. Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Katy Booth and James Leesley Studio Managers: Jack Morris, Amy Brennan and Isabelle Whitehead Editor: Tim Pemberton