As a former school friend of writer Alan Simpson, Beryl was
invited to join the 'Associated London Scripts' (ALS), as a
secretary. She later found that her job description had evolved,
and was effectively the agent to numerous clients, including comedy
writers Spike Milligan, Eric Sykes, Johnny Speight, Ray Galton and
Alan Simpson, and Terry Nation, famous as the creator of The Daleks
in Doctor Who. It is said she was partly responsible for the
negotiations that allowed Nation to retain his creation rights for
the iconic alien enemies from the BBC. She on camera clients
included Tony Hancock and Frankie Howerd.
In 1967 she joined the Stigwood Organisation, specialising in
selling British television formats to America. Notable successes
include Steptoe and Son, which became Sanford and Son in the US,
and Til Death Us Do Part, which became All in the Family in the
US.
In the 1980s she formed Hartswood Films which was first famous
for its comedy productions, including Men Behaving Badly, Is It
Legal? and Coupling. The latter was also produced by her daughter,
Sue Vertue, and written by her son-in-law, Steven Moffat. Other
dramas apart from Sherlock include Codename: Kyril, and Jekyll -
another modern updating of classic literary material.
In early 2012, Beryl was the recipient of two awards for her
work - the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Television
Society, and the Harvey Lee award for outstanding
contribution to broadcasting at The Broadcasting Press
Guild Awards.
She is the mother of Debbie Vertue and Sue Vertue.
She is mother-in-law of Steven Moffat, writer of 'Coupling'
(2000).
She is a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and also in the
RTS Hall of Fame.