Dame Patricia Routledge, the actress who immortalised the snobbish Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has died at the age of 96. The show, which ran for six years from 1990, became one of the BBC's most successful exports, sold to 42 countries.
Routledge's Hyacinth, who insisted her surname was pronounced 'Bouquet', was a beloved comic creation. The actress revealed that the Queen Mother was a fan, noting that the show had copied some of her hats for Hyacinth's wardrobe. The Queen also enjoyed the series, and even the late Pope Benedict was said to be a viewer.
Born in 1929, Routledge studied English at Liverpool University before beginning her acting career. She won a Tony Award for her Broadway role in Darling Of The Day in 1968. Her television work included a memorable turn as the stuck-up Kitty in Victoria Wood's sketch show and a role in Alan Bennett's Talking Heads.
Routledge was made a dame in 2017 and continued performing into her 90s, hosting evenings of conversation and music called Face The Music. She never married or had children, hinting at a long affair with a married man and later a relationship with a theatre director.
