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Location, Location, Location stars Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer’s telly firm had a money-spinning year, including claiming up to £40,000 in furlough cash.
Their production company Raise The Roof Productions – RTRP Limited – has just filed books with Companies House that show it has cash reserves of £4.3million for the 12 months to March 31 this year.
That’s up from £2.4m in 2020.
And with debts taken off, the firm had a bottom line of £3.3m – £500,000 up on last year.
The Glasgow-based company had also been able to take on six extra employees in 2021 – up from a staff of 42 in 2020.
Government figures show that RTRP claimed up to £40,000 in furlough payments despite having millions of pounds in the bank.
The firm is behind a host of Location spin-offs featuring the popular pair such as Kirstie And Phil’s Love It Or List It and Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas, inset.
The co-host has been a vocal critic of the Government’s lockdown policy but isn’t against all Covid advice.
Kirstie previously said: "Being anti-lockdowns does not mean you are anti masks, hand washing, some social distancing and respect for how horrid Covid can be. When it comes to Covid, chose caution, common sense and compassion."
The Government cash claims were made by her firm from January to April this year.
During this period, some parts of the UK were in lockdown.
However, the company did not respond to several requests for a comment about the hand-outs that were supposedly received.
But it revealed: "Raise the Roof Productions is an established and well-respected independent TV company.
"We specialise in popular factual, factual entertainment and factual television programmes.
"We also create digital content and books.
"Based in Glasgow, we’re one of Channel 4’s biggest suppliers in Scotland, and the country’s largest true indie."
Due to the rise in coronavirus cases over the last few months, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady has urged ministers to reassure workers in hard-hit sectors and businesses that are not able to offer their workers decent sick pay.
She said: "The rise of the omicron variant shows why the UK needs a permanent short-time working scheme, ready to go when a new crisis hits.
"If we’re serious about stopping omicron, ministers must fix our broken sick pay system, so every worker gets a decent amount to live off if they are sick or have to self-isolate."
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- Channel 4
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