Beryl Vertue OBE will receive the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival (GEITF)’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award tonight. Andrew Dickens reflects on the renowned and popular producer’s career.

In a constantly evolving TV industry that for many years was something of a man’s world, Beryl Vertue’s work has stood the test of time and includes shows that have become classics.

During a career spanning almost 50 years, the television veteran has produced series as diverse as Men Behaving Badly, Coupling and Sherlock, working with everyone from Spike Milligan to Benedict Cumberbatch.

She recently told BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs show that she came into the broadcasting industry “by accident,” typing out The Goon Show scripts in the mid-50s before becoming an agent.

But it wasn’t long before she started making a name for herself in production, forming Associated London Films in the 1960s and earning TV credits including The Spy With A Cold Nose and for the big-screen versions of TV shows like Steptoe & Son and Up Pompeii.

In 1967, Vertue joined the Robert Stigwood Organisation, becoming deputy chairman and pioneering the selling of formats internationally. Two based on BBC1 sitcoms became huge hits in the US: CBS’s All In The Family (Till Death Us Do Part) and NBC’s Sanford & Son (Steptoe & Son).

In the 1980s, Vertue founded Hartswood Films, which remains a truly independent production company, run by her daughters Debbie, as director of operations, and Sue, producer of TV series including Sherlock.

Beryl’s CV makes impressive reading but it’s the variety of her projects at Hartswood that is perhaps most noteworthy. Simon Nye’s Men Behaving Badly, her son-in-law Steven Moffat’s Coupling for BBC2, Carrie & Barry for BBC1 and dramas such as Jekyll are just some of the shows with her name attached.

A former chairman of UK producers’ body Pact, Vertue has also made an impact in the factual space, producing documentaries including The Welsh Great Escape for Channel 4 and Going To Chelsea for ITV.

Arguably her most successful show is Hartswood’s Sherlock, with Vertue exec producing all three series so far plus the forthcoming fourth season and Christmas special for BBC1.

A re-imagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, the show has proved a ratings winner, with nearly 10 million viewers watching the first episode of the third season in 2014. The show’s previous seasons, sold by BBC Worldwide, have been picked up by broadcasters globally, including PBS in the US.

GEITF organisers chose Vertue for this year’s honour because of “the enormous impact she has made on the TV industry, both in the UK and around the world.” Festival director Lisa Campbell added: “The theme for 2015’s Festival is talent, and we feel that as a legendary producer and businesswoman who has worked with some of the biggest names in television for more than 50 years, Beryl is one of the ultimate names in global talent.”

Vertue said: “I am delighted to be honoured with such a prestigious award by the Edinburgh television festival, one of my favourite events.”

Martin Freeman will accept the Lifetime Achievement award on behalf of Beryl Vertue tonight at 18.15.

TV pays tribute to Beryl Vertue

Simon Nye, creator of Men Behaving Badly: “Like so many people working in television and film today, especially writers, I owe my career to Beryl. She is robust but incredibly kind, practical but inspirational, and above all fun to be with and work alongside. Beryl, don’t ever stop!”

Elaine Bedell, ITV’s director of entertainment and comedy: “Beryl is an inspiration to every woman working in television. She has managed to stay at the very top of her game for decades. She has always been very supportive of me over the years – and she rather brilliantly proves that it is perfectly possible to be both extremely successful, and very kind.”

Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Worldwide: “Beryl is simply one of the greatest pioneers of our industry. If you think of today’s agents, distributors or producers, she was blazing a trail before many of us were out of nappies. Her energy, generosity and sheer love of the work seem utterly indestructible. It makes me smile to think how lucky I am that we’re working with her.”

Jay Hunt, chief creative officer of Channel 4: “I always joke with Beryl that I want to grow up to be her. Her passion and enthusiasm are utterly infectious. I remember being at a party shortly after I became BBC1 controller. She’d not met me before and hunted me down with zeal. She wowed me then and always inspires me when I meet her now.”