Northern Ireland

Funds in Stephen Nolan's production company have increased considerably since 'appropriate action' was taken following complaint

A shot from Nolan Inside Hydebank, produced by Third Street Studios
A shot from Nolan Inside Hydebank, produced by Third Street Studios

Funds in Stephen Nolan's main outside production company have risen considerably since "appropriate action" was taken against him following a harassment complaint in late 2018.

Third Street Studios, which has received several commissions from the BBC over the period, had approximately £1.5m in funds at the end of 2018.

By the end of March 2022, the amount of cash in bank and money owed had risen to close to £4m, including £900,000 in loans taken out by Nolan. However, over the same period, funds in a second company, Stephen Nolan Productions, decreased substantially from approximately £1.4m to £60,000.

In recent years, Third Street Studios is behind several productions though not all of them are listed on the company’s website.

Read more: 

  • Shares in Stephen Nolan's company transferred to entity controlled by leading bookmaker
  • Stephen Nolan remains the fifth-highest earning broadcaster on the BBC
The Top Table, which ran from 2017 to 2021
The Top Table, which ran from 2017 to 2021

They include The Top Table, which ran from 2017 to 2021, Great British Injustice, a one-off on the Maguire family, members of which were wrongly accused of explosive offences in the 1970s, and Nolan Inside Hydebank, a series about the young offenders’ centre.

This year, the BBC broadcast the six-part Feed Yourself Fitter. Third Street is also co-producer of Nolan Live on television.

Read more: 

  • Stephen Nolan sent unsolicited 'sexually explicit' images of a later convicted sex offender to work colleagues
  • Stephen Nolan 'driven' by growing up in the Shankill area as an only child

Last month, the Irish News published several stories on Nolan, including reporting the transfer of his shares in the production company to a company entirely controlled by the bookmaker, Paul McLean. Tsseot is the trustee of a new employee ownership trust.

In response, Nolan said he was “delighted that one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland will be advising the staff about all the business elements of running a company".

He added: “The aim is to grow Third St so that it can create formats, ip (intellectual property) and shows that will be successful locally , nationally and internationally - and hopefully that will mean more job  creation as well.

"Now that employee ownership is in play - I want creators to know that they can have a real stake in the business if they work for Third St.” The company reported having three employees at the end of March 2022.

"Third Street has been approached by an industry leader in London to discuss teaming up to develop programmes for the national and international market," Nolan said.

Read more: Stephen Nolan's production company outperforms Northern Ireland peers by millions

Nolan says Hydebank series attracted much interest, including from London and internationally
Nolan says Hydebank series attracted much interest, including from London and internationally

"We first came to their attention because of the massive audience success in terms of iplayer activations from the prison series Third St made for the BBC , both locally (Nolan Inside Hydebank) and for BBC3 network (Boys Banged Up)"

Third Street Studios previously listed on its website Ascot House in Shaftesbury Square as its headquarters. This was changed to the same address as the company's accountants following stories in the Irish News.  

Ascot House in Belfast was the listed address for Third Street Studios
Ascot House in Belfast was the listed address for Third Street Studios

The Irish News also reported funds in Third Street are far greater by millions than other high profile production companies in the north.