Dame Patricia Routledge, the sharp-tongued actress who brought the pretentious Hyacinth Bucket to life in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has passed away at the age of 96. Her agent confirmed the news on Friday, saying she died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by loved ones. It was a quiet end for a performer whose on-screen energy could fill a room—and often did, much to the delight of millions.
Born in 1929 in Birkenhead, England, Routledge built a career that spanned decades, from stage triumphs to television stardom. She made her professional debut at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1952, and by the 1960s, she was dazzling audiences on Broadway, earning a Tony Award in 1968 for Darling of the Day. Yet it was her role as the social-climbing Hyacinth—pronounced "Bouquet," of course—that cemented her as a household name. From 1990 to 1995, the show drew up to 13 million viewers per episode, with Routledge's impeccable comic timing turning everyday snobbery into high art. Indeed, her portrayal was so vivid, so unforgettably over-the-top, that it lingers in British comedy lore like a persistent candlewick dinner invitation.
But Routledge was far more than one character. She shone in Alan Bennett's poignant TV monologues in the 1980s, capturing the quiet tragedies of ordinary lives with a subtlety that contrasted her sitcom bluster. Later, in the 1990s, she tackled amateur detective Hetty Wainthropp in another BBC series, proving her range extended beyond farce. On stage, honors piled up: an Olivier Award in 1988 for Candide, and a damehood in 2017 for services to theater and charity. However, whispers in recent years suggested her health had faded, though she never lost that spark for live audiences, even at 96.
Her death marks the close of an era for British television, where characters like Hyacinth both mocked and mirrored the aspirations of the middle class. Tributes have already poured in from fans and fellow actors, praising her wit and warmth off-screen. Moreover, as new generations discover Keeping Up Appearances through streaming, one can't help but wonder how Routledge's blend of humor and heart will continue to resonate in an ever-changing world.