Nick J Thomas
Encyclopedia
Nick J. Thomas is a British
theatre producer and former puppeteer who founded Qdos Entertainment
. A producer since 1982, Thomas was listed in 2008 as the decade’s 5th most influential figure in UK Theatre by The Stage
.
The son of a garage proprietor and youngest of five children, Thomas moved to Scarborough, North Yorkshire, in 1968. It was here that in 1970 he saw Ken Dodd perform at The Futurist Theatre and he caught ‘the show-business bug’. Little did he know that his wife to be, Sandra, was one of Ken Dodd’s Diddymen in that show. At age 15, Thomas won the ITV talent show New Faces
in 1975 with his act 'Tommer Puppets'. Having won the TV show New Faces, Thomas left school before his O Levels and appeared in UK theatre shows with Dick Emery
, Mike & Bernie Winters, Ronnie Dukes & Ricky Lee, The Nolans
, Lena Zavoroni, Larry Grayson
& Cilla Black
. He built three teams of 'Tommer Puppets' to enable simultaneous performances in theatres, on cruise liners and in holiday camps.
He began producing at Scarborough’s The Royal Opera House in the summer of 1982 with The Keith Harris Show. By 1992 his company, then known as Artist Management Group (AMG), was producing 12 summer shows and 16 pantomimes annually. At the same time, AMG had established itself as a leading celebrity management business in London’s Covent Garden. He merged the production and talent management businesses to become Qdos Entertainment
in January 1999. Between 1999 to present day, Qdos has grown organically and made various acquisitions including Paul Elliott’s E & B Productions, Jim Davidson’s Midas Productions, Laurie Mansfield’s International Artistes, Janet Malone’s JLM Artistes, Nigel Hudston’s holiday park specialists The Entertainment Department (TED UK) and regional theatre operator Hetherington Seelig Theatres, to create one of the largest entertainment Groups in Europe
. Qdos’ business now spans theatre management, contract catering, live entertainment production and artiste management.
Nick is married to Sandra who he met whilst she was dancing in his Hi-De-Hi Sunday concerts in his first summer season of 1982. The couple have two daughters and maintain homes in North Yorkshire
, Central London
and Southern Spain
. The couple owns the Les Routiers Restaurant of the Year 2008/09, The Copper Horse in Seamer
near Scarborough, which is a theatrically themed gastro pub.
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...
theatre producer and former puppeteer who founded Qdos Entertainment
Qdos Entertainment
Qdos Entertainment was formed by Nick J Thomas in 1986 and is one of the largest broad-based entertainment groups in the UK.-Pantomimes:Qdos Entertainment is the world’s largest pantomime producer, developing 22 pantomimes in the 2011/2012 season in the UK...
. A producer since 1982, Thomas was listed in 2008 as the decade’s 5th most influential figure in UK Theatre by The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
.
The son of a garage proprietor and youngest of five children, Thomas moved to Scarborough, North Yorkshire, in 1968. It was here that in 1970 he saw Ken Dodd perform at The Futurist Theatre and he caught ‘the show-business bug’. Little did he know that his wife to be, Sandra, was one of Ken Dodd’s Diddymen in that show. At age 15, Thomas won the ITV talent show New Faces
New Faces
New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 29 September 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham...
in 1975 with his act 'Tommer Puppets'. Having won the TV show New Faces, Thomas left school before his O Levels and appeared in UK theatre shows with Dick Emery
Dick Emery
Richard Gilbert "Dick" Emery was an English comedian and actor. Beginning on radio in the 1950s, an eponymous television series ran from 1963 to 1981. He was the brother of Ann Emery.-Life and career:...
, Mike & Bernie Winters, Ronnie Dukes & Ricky Lee, The Nolans
The Nolans
The Nolans are an Anglo-Irish all-female band consisting of a group of sisters. The group, best known for their song "I'm In the Mood for Dancing", gained prominence as guest performers on numerous television shows in the United Kingdom...
, Lena Zavoroni, Larry Grayson
Larry Grayson
Larry Grayson , born William Sulley White, was an English stand-up comedian and television presenter of the 1970s and early 80s...
& Cilla Black
Cilla Black
Cilla Black OBE is an English singer, actress, entertainer and media personality, who has been consistently popular as a light entertainment figure since 1963. She is most famous for her singles Anyone Who Had A Heart, You're My World, and Alfie...
. He built three teams of 'Tommer Puppets' to enable simultaneous performances in theatres, on cruise liners and in holiday camps.
He began producing at Scarborough’s The Royal Opera House in the summer of 1982 with The Keith Harris Show. By 1992 his company, then known as Artist Management Group (AMG), was producing 12 summer shows and 16 pantomimes annually. At the same time, AMG had established itself as a leading celebrity management business in London’s Covent Garden. He merged the production and talent management businesses to become Qdos Entertainment
Qdos Entertainment
Qdos Entertainment was formed by Nick J Thomas in 1986 and is one of the largest broad-based entertainment groups in the UK.-Pantomimes:Qdos Entertainment is the world’s largest pantomime producer, developing 22 pantomimes in the 2011/2012 season in the UK...
in January 1999. Between 1999 to present day, Qdos has grown organically and made various acquisitions including Paul Elliott’s E & B Productions, Jim Davidson’s Midas Productions, Laurie Mansfield’s International Artistes, Janet Malone’s JLM Artistes, Nigel Hudston’s holiday park specialists The Entertainment Department (TED UK) and regional theatre operator Hetherington Seelig Theatres, to create one of the largest entertainment Groups in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Qdos’ business now spans theatre management, contract catering, live entertainment production and artiste management.
Nick is married to Sandra who he met whilst she was dancing in his Hi-De-Hi Sunday concerts in his first summer season of 1982. The couple have two daughters and maintain homes in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, Central London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Southern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The couple owns the Les Routiers Restaurant of the Year 2008/09, The Copper Horse in Seamer
Seamer, Scarborough
Seamer is a village and civil parish in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England.According to the 2001 UK census, Seamer parish had a population of 3,774....
near Scarborough, which is a theatrically themed gastro pub.