A former Oldham schoolboy who swapped Chadderton for the Sunshine State is set to appear on Channel 4 after building a huge online following with his son. Tony Shard, born in Chadderton and educated at Radclyffe School in Oldham before later attending Royton and Crompton School, now lives in Orlando, Florida, where he and his son Keegan run the successful YouTube channel Kickin’ It with Keegan.

Tony, who was also on the schoolboy books at Oldham Athletic AFC, has kept strong ties with the borough since moving to the United States. He regularly returns to England to visit relatives in Royton and catch up with childhood friends across Oldham. His story of starting a new life across the Atlantic and launching a video channel from scratch will feature in an upcoming episode of the Channel 4 series Escape to Florida.

The Kickin’ It with Keegan channel has attracted more than 50,000 subscribers on YouTube and racked up over 23 million views on TikTok. The father-and-son duo produce videos focused on American theme parks, viral food spots, WWE events, conventions, travel experiences, and everyday family life in Florida – all from a distinctly British point of view.

Their content regularly takes viewers to attractions such as Disney parks, Universal Orlando’s seasonal celebrations, MegaCon Orlando, and WWE live shows. Alongside event coverage, the channel features restaurant reviews, livestreams, YouTube Shorts, and clips from their trips back and forth between England and Orlando.

The Channel 4 programme will explore how the family’s move to the United States inspired the creation and growth of the channel. Tony said: “Our goal is to make viewers feel like they’re experiencing everything alongside us. Being an English family living in Florida gives us a unique perspective, and sharing those experiences together as father and son is what makes the channel special.”

The family plan to keep expanding the channel, with more travel content, live event coverage, theme park experiences, and interactive videos for their growing audience. For Oldham readers, Tony’s story is a reminder that local talent can find success far from home while still holding onto their roots in the borough.