Behind the growth of political broadcasting in Britain in the 1970s and 1980s was a woman who had joined the BBC straight from school at the age of 17: Margaret Douglas.

While it was Grace Wyndham Goldie who pioneered political broadcasting and persuaded politicians that television was respectable, it was Douglas who made it work. For 11 years, from 1972 until 1983, she was editor of the party conference coverage. This entailed long hours of television from Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth and was the forerunner of televising Parliament. When there were rows about the coverage — and politicians were always sensitive — Douglas calmed them. Away from the interminable platform speeches, there was the intrigue and the machinations that could make party conferences interesting. Because the participants trusted Douglas, she picked up much of the gossip and ensured that some of the more interesting bits were broadcast.

In a quiet and unspectacular way Margaret Douglas’s career reflected well on the BBC. Beginning as a teenage secretary in Broadcasting House, this daughter of a London policeman ended up as chief assistant to the Director-General and chief political adviser, jobs that had been held by such eminent men as Harman Grisewood, Oliver Whitley and John Crawley.

Her television career began on Panorama at a time when Richard Dimbleby was the anchorman and the Monday night audiences exceeded eight million. Douglas moved quietly across the current affairs group in the hothouse that was Lime Grove working as a researcher, director and producer for 24 Hours and Gallery.

She was happiest in political broadcasting. When Ian Trethowan and Robert McKenzie set out on long interviews with two former prime ministers, Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan, Douglas was the producer both sides wanted. She was as comfortable in 10 Downing Street as in the Shepherds Bush studio, supervising countless party political and election broadcasts.

When Alasdair Milne became Director-General in 1982 he appointed Douglas as his chief assistant, responsible for the BBC’s relations with the political parties. It was a stormy time for both sides and Douglas was often the conduit through which the politicians vented their anger with the BBC. Because she exerted a calming influence she was successful in her job and when Michael Checkland replaced Milne in 1987 she was promoted to chief political adviser. Even John Birt, who thought he understood politics, found it necessary to retain her services when he arrived in 1992.

But a year later Douglas had had enough. After 42 years in the BBC she left Broadcasting House for the Palace of Westminster and succeeded her former boss, John Grist, as supervisor of parliamentary broadcasting. Televising Parliament, which had been delayed far too long, was now a going concern and Douglas ensured that everything went smoothly. For six years Westminster was her second home until in 1999 she retired, aged 65. But politics remained her hobby alongside watching football on television.

She was appointed OBE in 1994.

Margaret Douglas was married to Terence Lancaster, the political journalist, in 2000. He predeceased her.

Margaret Douglas, OBE, television executive and producer, was born on August 22, 1934. She died of cancer on August 20, 2008, aged 73