Quay Street Productions

What Quay Street Productions does

Quay Street Productions is an independent television production company headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, founded in 2021 by award-winning producer Nicola Shindler OBE. The company operates as a drama and comedy label within the ITV Studios group, the production arm of publicly listed broadcaster ITV plc. Quay Street develops, finances (typically via deficit financing arranged through ITV Studios), produces, and delivers scripted television series commissioned by UK broadcasters and global streaming platforms, placing writers and talent at the centre of its creative process and explicitly promoting diversity of storytelling. Its customer base spans the major UK broadcasters (ITV, BBC, Channel 4) and the principal global streamers (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+), with regional partners including UKTV/Alibi and STV.

Quay Street's production slate is anchored by long-term relationships with two of the most commercially valuable writer-props in global television: a multi-title Harlan Coben adaptation arrangement with Netflix (Fool Me Once, Run Away, Missing You, Stay Close) and an ongoing creative partnership with Russell T Davies (Nolly for ITVX, Tip Toe for Channel 4). The company has delivered 14+ named productions since inception, spanning thrillers (The Red King, Lazarus, Dead Hot, The Guest), crime and mystery (After The Flood, The Blame, Missing You), biographical drama (Nolly), true-story drama (Men Up), romantic comedy (Significant Other), and family drama (The Stolen Girl). Revenue is generated per production via commission, licence, and distribution deals rather than direct-to-consumer sales, with ITV Studios handling global distribution and providing financing infrastructure. The company is not technology-led and has no disclosed AI, software, or platform product; the underlying "product" is intellectual property in the form of commissioned television series, the value of which derives from writer talent, production execution, and the global distribution capability provided by its parent.

In 2025-2026 Quay Street is in an active scaling phase: leadership was restructured in November 2025 (Fiona McAllister promoted to Head of Development, Davina Earl appointed Executive Producer), the team has expanded across development, script editing, and production functions, and a North American streaming deal with STARZ (for Tip Toe) signals the start of direct international premium-streamer monetization beyond the UK. The company benefits from regional support through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority's £10.5m Production Fund and is positioned within Manchester's growing screen industry cluster as a key creative anchor outside London.

Name

Quay Street Productions

Legal name

Quay Street Productions

Website

https://quaystreetproductions.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Quay Street Productions is a Manchester-based independent television drama and comedy producer founded in 2021 by Nicola Shindler OBE, operating as a label within ITV Studios. It develops and produces scripted series for UK broadcasters and global streamers including Netflix, ITV, BBC, Channel 4, Amazon Prime, and Disney+.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Quay Street Productions is an independent television production company that develops and produces scripted drama and comedy series for UK and international broadcasters and streaming platforms. The company creates content commissioned by or licensed to Netflix, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and UKTV/Alibi, with a portfolio spanning original scripts and literary adaptations produced by a writer-centric team in Manchester.

Product overview

Quay Street Productions is an independent Manchester-based television production company founded in 2021 by Nicola Shindler as part of ITV Studios. The company produces drama and comedy series for UK and international audiences, working with broadcasters and streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime, ITV, Channel 4, BBC, Disney+, and Alibi. Its portfolio includes adaptations of Harlan Coben novels (Fool Me Once, Run Away, Missing You, Stay Close), original dramas by Russell T Davies (Tip Toe, Nolly), and original thrillers and dramas across multiple genres. The productions range from 30-minute comedies to 8-episode hour-long dramas, distributed through major UK and international streaming platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tip Toe A five-part Channel 4 drama by Russell T Davies about two neighbours in Manchester whose relationship deteriorates into deadly conflict, exploring tensions faced by the queer community. Produced for Channel 4 and distributed internationally by ITV Studios with STARZ acquiring US and Canada streaming rights.
• Fool Me Once

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• STARZminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 June 2026STARZ acquired exclusive US and English Canada streaming rights to Tip Toe, a five-part thriller drama from Russell T Davies produced by Quay Street Productions. ITV Studios handles global distribution of the series.
• ITV Studios (Global Distribution)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 June 2026ITV Studios handles global distribution of Quay Street Productions' content, including international licensing of series like Tip Toe to platforms such as STARZ in North America.
• ITV StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuay Street Productions is part of ITV Studios, operating as an independent production company under the ITV Studios umbrella. ITV Studios provides the infrastructure, distribution capabilities, and backing that enables QSP to produce and deliver content to global audiences.
• Edinburgh TV FestivalminorOthersThe Edinburgh TV Festival shortlisted Greater Manchester (where Quay Street Productions is based) as a candidate city to host the 2027 Edinburgh TV Festival, alongside Edinburgh and Newcastle. Nicola Shindler of Quay Street Productions responded positively to the shortlist.
• Greater Manchester Combined AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Greater Manchester Combined Authority launched a £10.5m Production Fund to attract major film and television projects to the region, with the ambition of becoming the UK's leading screen industry cluster outside London by 2028. As a Manchester-based production company, Quay Street Productions is a key player in this regional screen industry ecosystem.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Left Bank Pictures: UK drama producer (The Crown, Jack Ryan) owned by Sony Pictures Television. Direct peer producing premium drama for global streamers and US networks.
• Kudos (Banijay UK): Major UK drama producer (Broadchurch, Grantchester, Utopia) within Banijay UK. Direct competitor for premium drama commissions from BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and streamers.
• Hat Trick Productions: UK indie producer (Outlander, Derry Girls, Drop the Dead Donkey) with both drama and comedy slate. Direct peer in scripted production for UK and US buyers.
• Red Production Company: Also founded by Nicola Shindler and part of ITV Studios, producing critically acclaimed drama (It's A Sin, Queer As Folk, Happy Valley). Closest comparable as a sister label sharing founder DNA, talent relationships, and parent company.
• Sister Pictures: UK indie drama producer (Chernobyl, The Split, Giri/Haji) known for premium scripted content. Direct peer in the high-end drama segment for global platforms.
• World Productions: UK indie drama producer (Bodyguard, The Pembrokeshire Murders, The Capture) owned by ITV Studios. Direct peer in the same ITV Studios indie family, competing for the same drama commissions and talent.
• Baby Cow Productions: UK indie producer (Fleabag, Gavin & Stacey) owned by ITV Studios. Sister label within ITV Studios producing comedy-drama and drama for UK broadcasters and streamers.
• Mammoth Screen: UK drama producer (Poldark, Victoria, Noughts + Crosses), formerly run by Samantha McMillon before she joined QSP as COO. Direct competitor for the same high-end drama commissions and writing talent.
• Bad Wolf: Welsh-based drama producer (His Dark Materials, Industry, A Discovery of Witches). Direct peer in high-end TV drama for global streamers, competing for talent and commissions.

Broad incumbents

• ITV Studios: Parent company and broader UK/global production and distribution group. Relevant as the parent that owns QSP, plus competing indie labels, and as the distribution partner for QSP's content internationally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quay-street-productions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Quay Street Productions