British TV comedy giant, Beryl Vertue has died aged 90. Born in Croydon, Surrey, Vertue’s comedy career in comedy began typing scripts for The Goon Show among other radio and TV shows, soon she was negotiating deals with broadcasters and then became an agent for comedy legends such as Spike Milligan, Eric Sykes, Tony Hancock and Frankie Howerd. Vertue is also remembered for pioneering the sale of hit UK TV formats to American television.
Vertue didn’t just stick to being an agent to the stars, she also produced TV and had success with the sitcom Men Behaving Badly, which helped launched the careers of Caroline Quentin, Martin Clunes, Leslie Ash and Neil Morrissey.
Continuing to be active in the comedy and drama world, Vertue was awarded an OBE in 2000 and a CBE in 2016. In 2012 she was awarded the Royal Television Society’s lifetime achievement award.
Beryl Vertue is survived by her two daughters who both work in TV and film.
