Remembering Dame Patricia Routledge (1929-2025)

Dame Patricia Routledge, born February 17, 1929, died today at age of 96. Although she was a hugely successful stage actress, she is best known for her role as Hyacinth Bucket on the television series Keeping Up Appearances.  She won a Whitbread Award in 1966, and a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Darling of the Day in which she starred with Vincent Price.  She won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her work in Candide.

"Keeping Up Appearances" debuts 1990

Keeping Up Appearances, a British comedy about an annoying social climber Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "bouquet") aired its first episode October 29, 1990.  It ran for 5 seasons until Patricia Routledge (Hyacinth) decided to leave the show.

She tried to be a socialite, but her sister Daisy (played by Judy Cornwell) and brother-in-law Onslow were adorably white trash.  Another sister Rose was always going into or coming out of a relationship.  Her sister Violet, which was rarely seen until the final season, was the envy of Hyacinth.  Violet had a Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony.  

She terrorized her husband Richard (played by Clive Swift), her next-door neighbors Elizabeth and Emmet, and the vicar and his wife.  

It's still one of the funniest television shows ever.

Happy birthday, "Keeping Up Appearances" actress Judy Cornwell!

Judy Cornwell, born February 22, 1940 in London, England, is well known for her portrayal of the always-optimistic kid sister Daisy to her overbearing sister Hyacinth Bucket on Keeping Up Appearances.  I first saw her in Santa Claus: The Movie and Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd. 

Remembering Clive Swift (1936-2019)

British actor Clive Swift, best known and loved as the hen-pecked, beleaguered husband Richard to Hyacinth Bucket (Patricia Routledge) in Keeping Up Appearances, passed away yesterday February 1. 

I've watched him over the past twenty+ years and always made me laugh.  He will be missed.

Happy birthday, Elizabeth!

Comedienne Josephine Tewson, born February 26, 1931 in London, has been acting since the late 50's, but she is probably best known for her role as the nervous, oppressed next-door neighbor Elizabeth to Hyacinth Bucket (prounced "bouquet") on Keeping Up Appearances.  Afterwards she starred as the librarian in Last of the Summer Wine.

She is at least the fourth cast member of Keeping Up Appearances to celebrate a birthday in February!

Geoffrey Hughes born 1944

Versatile and comedic actor, Geoffrey Hughes, born February 2, 1944 in Cheshire, England, is probably best known as  Hyacinth's white trash brother-in-law on Keeping Up Appearances from 1990-1995.

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1996 but recovered.  It returned in 2010 and he had to retire from acting.  He passed away July 2012 on the Isle of Wight. 

Happy birthday, Hyacinth Bucket!

Actress and comedienne Patricia Routledge, born February 17, 1929, is best known for her portrayal as status-seeking Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) on BBC's Keeping Up Appearances.  She left the show after 5 seasons to pursue other projects.

Unfortunately, Hyacinth's phone number was one digit different from the Chinese Takeaway, causing her no end of frustration.