TV producer Nicola Shindler awarded OBE for broadcasting services

Nicola Shindler, the founder of Manchester’s Red Production Company and a television producer from Rochdale, has been awarded the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year for her services to broadcasting.

Nicola, 50, who was born in Rochdale, founded the MediaCityUK-based company, in 1998, one of Britain’s foremost independent TV production companies behind ground-breaking shows such as Queer as Folk, Clocking Off, Happy Valley, Scott & Bailey and Butterfly.

Earlier this year, Nicola was presented with one of BAFTA’s highest honours, the Special Award, at the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards in May.

A former pupil at Bury Grammar School, Nicola started her career at Granada Television, becoming script editor on ITV drama in 1993. After working at the BBC, she left in 1998 to set up Red Productions, named after her favourite football team, Manchester United.

Since then, Red Productions has received awards from BAFTA and the Royal Television Society.

Nicola is married to writer Matt Greenhalgh, and they have three children.

The Red Production Company has been approached for comment.