Off The Kerb Productions, the talent agency behind a host of the UK’s biggest comedy stars, including Jonathan Ross, Michael McIntyre and Jo Brand, has swung to a loss of £1.8 million for the year ending 30 April 2024, after posting a £5.1 million pre-tax profit in the previous 12 months.
The loss, revealed in delayed accounts filed with Companies House, was attributed primarily to the payment of staff bonuses, which the company said had significantly impacted its profitability for the year. Turnover, however, rose marginally from £51 million to £51.7 million.
In a statement accompanying the results, the board said: “The decrease in profit compared to 2023 primarily reflects staff bonuses paid in the year. Whilst this expenditure has impacted the current year’s profitability, excluding these bonus payments, the underlying financial performance remained stable.”
Founded in 1981, Off The Kerb Productions manages a star-studded roster including Alan Carr, Romesh Ranganathan, Jack Dee, Dara Ó Briain, Jo Brand, Kevin Bridges, Rosie Jones, Tom Allen, Judi Love and Josh Widdicombe.
The company cited a busy touring year, including arena dates and growing overseas income, as key drivers of its increased turnover. While UK income dipped slightly from £47.5 million to £46.1 million, international earnings jumped significantly—from £3.4 million to £5.5 million—signalling the increasing global pull of its talent portfolio.
Management fees, which remain the company’s main income stream, climbed to £51 million, up from £50.5 million, while royalty income also rose by over 40%, from £463,165 to £655,915.
Despite the reported loss, the company remains optimistic about future performance. “We believe 2025 will be a good year with various new contracts and tours scheduled,” the board said, citing the strength of its artist base and long-standing relationships with top talent as major assets.
However, the company also acknowledged potential risks from the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, noting concerns that it “may impact ticket sales.” Still, it played down the severity of any possible downturn, comparing the anticipated drop in demand to the post-pandemic period, which it said the company weathered successfully.
“Income is diversified through the different streams of the artist’s work,” the board added. “The potential fall of ticket sales is not considered to be a significant risk.”
The company’s 2023/24 results were submitted five months later than the Companies House deadline. Its financial results for the current year are expected by January 2026.
Off The Kerb’s mix of artist management, television appearances, live tours, and international expansion continues to position it as one of the UK’s leading entertainment agencies. Despite this year’s loss, insiders suggest the financial dip is unlikely to affect long-term strategic growth—particularly with 2025’s touring calendar already filling up.
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Bonuses force Jonathan Ross’ talent agency into the red despite revenue growth
