KSI makes docuseries about the takeover of Dagenham & Redbridge FC
British YouTuber KSI is taking a leaf out of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s book and creating a docuseries charting his purchase of a struggling lower-league British football club.
Earlier this week, the influencer and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judge – real name Olajide Olatunji – acquired a minority stake in Dagenham & Redbridge, which is currently languishing in the sixth tier of British football (one below Reynolds and McElhenney’s Wrexham AFC when they acquired it in 2021).
Variety can now reveal that KSI, along with production company After Party Studios, is producing ‘Race to the Top’, a ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ style documentary series that chronicles his takeover of the club and follows him as he sets his sights on a move to the Premier League.
“Race to the Top” will debut this summer on KSI’s YouTube channel – which currently has 17 million subscribers – and will be promoted on its social media with a combined reach of 33.5 million.
The series will continue into the 26/27 season and will be dubbed globally into 14 languages and will follow KSI as he “navigates the pressures and possibilities of steering the National League South club into a new era,” according to the description. Cameras will follow him as he takes the reins of the club, “providing unprecedented access to the daily trials and tribulations of running a non-league side in the modern football ecosystem, with board meetings and fan reactions to contend with.”
The project marks a milestone for director Ben Doyle, aka RVBBERDUCK, who previously produced KSI’s documentary “KSI: Can’t Lose,” which chronicled his evolution from YouTube star to crossover boxer.
“This is a really big deal for me. For the fans who have been with me since ‘Race to Division One’, it has come full circle from dreaming about online football to actually taking over a club,” said KSI. “Reuniting with Ben and After Party Studios makes it even more special. He captured every high and low, and I’m so excited for him to join me on this rollercoaster of a journey to Dagenham & Redbridge.”
Doyle added: “When KSI called me on a rainy Sunday morning last November and said he was buying a football club, I knew I had to be there to capture it. When we shot ‘KSI: Can’t Lose’ in 2018, I let the cameras roll as he redefined an entire sport – this feels like a real full-circle moment as we once again face a seemingly insurmountable challenge. This series will ensure we get more access than ever before, through the highs and lows as he strives to get the Daggers into the Premier League.”
‘Race To The Top’ is executive produced by Jamie MacDonald and James Byfield for After Party Studios and KSI and Mo Syed, head of content for KSI. Alysha Christal is the producer.
Production of the series is currently underway and will continue during next Saturday’s match against Dorking Wanderers – the first match KSI will attend as owner.
