ITV Studios has announced it has acquired a majority stake in Douglas Is Cancelled producer Hartswood Films.

The production company was founded in 1979 by Beryl Vertue, making it the longest-established scripted producer in the UK, and has bases in London and Cardiff.

Recently best-known for ITV’s Douglas Is Cancelled, Hartswood’s other well-known dramas include Sherlock, Inside Man, Wolf and The Devil’s Hour, the third series of which recently finished filming at Shepperton Studios.

Sue Vertue, CEO Hartswood Films, said: “Hartswood are not known for making rash decisions and it’s taken us 40 years to make this one: we are delighted therefore to have chosen to team up with ITV Studios.

“We have always been open to investment if we could meet like-minded people who understood the need for independence which is at the ‘heart’ of Hartswood, while bringing us a whole new range of strengths and skills. We are a small company and have done very well on our own, but we couldn’t be more excited about a bigger future and what we can achieve together with ITV Studios.”

Julian Bellamy, managing director ITV Studios, added: “From Men Behaving Badly to Sherlock, The Devil’s Hour to Douglas is Cancelled, Hartswood Films has been a huge part of the TV landscape for decades. They have a hard won reputation for being brilliant producers of quality, ambitious and highly successful scripted television. I’m delighted to welcome them to ITV Studios.”

International distribution for future Hartswood Films commissions will be handled by ITV Studios. The acquisition by the ITV group is the latest in its expanding portfolio, joining other production companies such as Quay Street Productions, Happy Prince and Plimsoll Productions.