Nicholas Jeffrey Thomas MBE (born 16 December 1959) is a British entertainment entrepreneur and an Olivier-award-winning theatre producer.
He is the founder, Chairman and joint-owner with his wife Sandra, of Qdos Entertainment Ltd (Qdos), whose subsidiaries include Five Star Collection Ltd, Adverset Media Solutions and Q Talent Ltd.[1] In March 2021, Nick & Sandra sold HQ Theatres & Hospitality Ltd to Trafalgar Entertainment Group led by Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire, partnered with Barings, the global investment pension fund manager.
Since its inception, The Stage newspaper annual 'Stage 100' has accredited Thomas as one of the top 100 most influential people in British Theatre.
This marked the start of Thomas' professional career; he left school in 1975 and subsequently appeared in shows with Dick Emery, Mike & Bernie Winters, Ronnie Dukes & Ricky Lee, The Nolans, Cilla Black, Lena Zavaroni and Larry Grayson.
[9] The show received two Olivier-award nominations in the Best Entertainment & Family and Best Costume Design categories at the 2017 Olivier Awards.
[11] In 2018 Snow White starred Dawn French, Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot, Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace.
In 2020 Pantoland at the Palladium starred Julian Clary, Ashley Banjo & Diversity, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot, Charlie Stemp, Jac Yarrow & Beverley Knight.
After a period of significant growth, the group is now the second largest regional theatre operator in the UK with a total of 12 venues under its management.
[5] In 1970 he met Ken Dodd at The Futurist Theatre (after a show in which his wife-to-be was a Diddyman) and began a lifelong friendship with the entertainer.
Thomas was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to the entertainment industry and charity.