Ray D’Arcy production company posts losses of €150,000

A media production company owned by RTÉ’s highest-paid star, Ray D’Arcy, reported accumulated losses of almost €150,000 last year, according to its latest accounts.

The 50-year-old radio presenter, who reportedly earns around €500,000 per annum at the national broadcaster, owns a 95% stake in Whatnext Productions Limited, a media firm that was established in 2008.

The remaining 5% of shares are held by D'Arcy's friend, Darren Smith, who was best man at D'Arcy's wedding to his producer, Jenny Kelly, in 2013. Ms Kelly (43) has also been a director of the company since December 2014.

The firm recorded accumulated losses of €148,259 last year and saw its cash balance fall to just €300 from €17,146 during the same period.

This represents a reduction in losses since the end of the previous financial year to 31 December 2013, when the figure stood at €182,923.

The company’s creditors were owed €158,459 at the end of last year, almost all of which related to taxes comprised of €65,056 in VAT and €88,385 in PAYE.

D'Arcy returned to RTÉ from Today FM in February to take over an afternoon radio slot on weekdays from 3pm. He will also host a chat show on Saturday nights on RTÉ 1 starting this autumn.

During his previous 13-year spell at RTÉ, the Kildare native presented a number of flagship programmes including The Den, the Rose of Tralee and Blackboard Jungle.