Shindler unveils Quay Street Productions

Happy Valley and Last Tango In Halifax creator Nicola Shindler has unveiled Quay Street Productions, her new UK drama prodco launched with ITV Studios (ITVS).

Nicola Shindler

Late last year Shindler announced she was ending her time with StudioCanal, which invested in her Red Production Company in 2013 and made her CEO of its UK operations in 2018, and was teaming up with ITVS on a new venture.

Manchester-based Quay Street Productions will focus on producing premium drama for the UK and international markets and working with new and established writers.

The company is named after the famous Manchester street where Granada Television was based and where Shindler spent part of her early career. International distribution for Quay Street Productions will be handled by ITVS.

Shindler said: “I’ve been making television drama for over 20 years and still get the same thrill to tell amazing stories with incredible characters and work with the best talent. Having the opportunity to start this new chapter in my career with Quay Street Productions is a privilege and immensely exciting.

“I want to create a friendly, ambitious and exceptional new company where writers, producers, directors and actors feel they can bring their best work, see their ideas realised brilliantly and have fun.”

Over her 20-plus-year career Shindler has produced series including Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, Casanova, Burn It, Danny and the Human Zoo and Years & Years for the BBC; the ground-breaking Queer As Folk and Cucumber for Channel 4; Butterfly and five seasons of Scott & Bailey for ITV; The Five and Bedlam for Sky; and Netflix Originals Safe and The Stranger.

Forthcoming previously announced series executive produced by Shindler include It’s A Sin for Channel 4, Finding Alice and No Return for ITV, Stay Close for Netflix, Traces season two for Alibi and Ridley Road for BBC1.

Shindler launched her career at Granada Television as a script editor on Robbie Coltrane drama Cracker, which she credits as being the start of her passion for working with writers.

After winning her first Bafta as a producer on ITV drama Hillsborough, Shindler launched Red Production Company in 1998 with now cult hit Queer As Folk and the BBC’s Clocking Off, which ran for five seasons. In 2019, Shindler was awarded an OBE and took home one of Bafta’s highest honours, the Special Award, for her services to British broadcasting.