Twitching curtain falls on the lady of the house, who made millions laugh

DAME PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE 1929-2025

- By Karen Rockett

DAME Patricia Routledge, famous for playing the pretentious social climber Hyacinth Bucket in TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has died at the age of 96.

The multi-award-winning star of stage and screen “died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by love” yesterday morning.

In a statement, her agent said: “Even at 96 years old, Dame Patricia’s passion for her work and for connecting with live audiences never waned, just as new generations of audiences have continued to find her through her beloved television roles. She will be dearly missed by those closest to her and by her devoted admirers around the world.”

Keeping Up Appearances captivated audiences between 1990 and 1995, attracting 13 million viewers at its peak. Fans roared with laughter when the socially ambitious Hyacinth answered the phone, introducing herself: “The Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking.”

Paying tribute, Jon Petrie, BBC director of comedy, called Patricia “an actor of remarkable range” who had made “millions laugh” and whose portrayal of Hyacinth Bucket “has to be one of the most iconic performances in British comedy”.