Hyacinth Bucket Forever: Keeping Up Appearances Star Patricia Routledge Passes Away

South Africa mourns the loss of Dame Patricia Routledge, the iconic actress best known for her role as Hyacinth Bucket in the beloved British sitcom, Keeping Up Appearances. She passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 96, surrounded by love, according to her agent.

Routledge's portrayal of Hyacinth Bucket, a comically snobbish and pretension-filled character who insisted her surname be pronounced 'Bouquet,' captivated audiences worldwide. The show, which ran from 1990 to 1995, became a global phenomenon, broadcast on nearly a thousand channels from the US to Australia.

A Career Beyond Hyacinth

While Keeping Up Appearances solidified her place in television history, Routledge's career spanned far beyond the sitcom. She was a highly respected stage actress, earning acclaim in London's West End and winning a Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical on Broadway for Darling of the Day in 1968. She also starred in Alan Bennett's TV monologues and played amateur sleuth Hetty Wainthropp in the BBC series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.

Tributes Pour In

Her agent's statement highlighted her enduring passion for her work and her connection with live audiences, even at 96. New generations continue to discover her through her iconic television roles. Tributes have poured in from fans and colleagues alike, celebrating her talent and her unforgettable contribution to comedy.

• Dame Patricia was honoured as a Dame in 2017.
• She received honorary membership of the Royal Academy of Music last year.
• She made her theatre debut in 1952 as Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Dame Patricia Routledge will be dearly missed, but her legacy as one of Britain's finest comedic actresses will live on through her unforgettable performances.