Nicola Shindler
Encyclopedia
Nicola Shindler is a British television producer and executive, the founder of Red Production Company, one of the foremost independent television drama production companies working in the UK
today.
Shindler began her career working for Granada Television
, for whom she first came to prominence as a Script Editor on the renowned ITV
drama series Cracker (1993). She then went on to work as Assistant Producer on the BBC
's epic Our Friends in the North
(1996) and Producer on the critically acclaimed Hillsborough, a dramatised account of the tragic 1989 football stadium disaster
. All three of these starred actor Christopher Eccleston
, who has subsequently featured in several dramas for Schindler's own Red company.
Red - named after the nickname of Shindler's favourite football team, Manchester United ("the Reds") - was formed in 1998 and its first project, with Shindler herself producing, was writer Russell T Davies' controversial gay drama serial Queer as Folk. The praise for and discussion of Queer as Folk immediately gave Red a reputation as producers of noteworthy drama, and they followed this off with subsequent series for Channel 4
such as Love in the 21st Century (1999) and Queer as Folk 2 (2000).
Red has since produced dramas for both BBC ONE
and TWO
as well as main commercial channel ITV
. The most high-profile of these have included Clocking Off (BBC ONE
, 2000-03), Flesh and Blood (BBC TWO
, 2002), Bob and Rose (ITV
, 2001) and The Second Coming (ITV
, 2003).
As of February 2004, another Red series, Mine All Mine is due to start on ITV
later in the month, and they have several other productions for various channels in various stages of development.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
today.
Shindler began her career working for Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
, for whom she first came to prominence as a Script Editor on the renowned ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
drama series Cracker (1993). She then went on to work as Assistant Producer on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's epic Our Friends in the North
Our Friends in the North
Our Friends in the North is a British television drama serial, produced by the BBC and originally broadcast in nine episodes on BBC Two in early 1996...
(1996) and Producer on the critically acclaimed Hillsborough, a dramatised account of the tragic 1989 football stadium disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
. All three of these starred actor Christopher Eccleston
Christopher Eccleston
Christopher Eccleston is an English stage, film and television actor. His films include Let Him Have It, Shallow Grave, Elizabeth, 28 Days Later, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Others, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra...
, who has subsequently featured in several dramas for Schindler's own Red company.
Red - named after the nickname of Shindler's favourite football team, Manchester United ("the Reds") - was formed in 1998 and its first project, with Shindler herself producing, was writer Russell T Davies' controversial gay drama serial Queer as Folk. The praise for and discussion of Queer as Folk immediately gave Red a reputation as producers of noteworthy drama, and they followed this off with subsequent series for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
such as Love in the 21st Century (1999) and Queer as Folk 2 (2000).
Red has since produced dramas for both BBC ONE
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
and TWO
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
as well as main commercial channel ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. The most high-profile of these have included Clocking Off (BBC ONE
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
, 2000-03), Flesh and Blood (BBC TWO
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, 2002), Bob and Rose (ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, 2001) and The Second Coming (ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, 2003).
As of February 2004, another Red series, Mine All Mine is due to start on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
later in the month, and they have several other productions for various channels in various stages of development.