Dame Patricia Routledge, the legendary actress behind the unforgettable Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet), has finally opened up about why she decided to step away from Keeping Up Appearances at the height of its popularity. Despite the show’s enormous success, she made the bold choice to walk away in 1995, leaving both the BBC and millions of fans stunned.
Now 95, Dame Patricia has reflected on the decision, explaining that while she loved playing the social-climbing Hyacinth, she felt the show had reached a natural conclusion. Speaking in a recent BBC Four documentary, she revealed her reasons for leaving—including a subtle but pointed dig at the BBC itself.
After five years of bringing Hyacinth to life, Routledge felt that the scripts were beginning to lose their originality. She explained:
"Well, I brought it to an end, which, of course, the BBC didn’t care for very much."
She went on to criticize the BBC’s content strategy, noting that Keeping Up Appearances was at risk of becoming repetitive.
"I thought the writer was beginning to recycle old ideas," she admitted.
For Routledge, quality was more important than longevity. She recalled the wisdom of legendary comedian Ronnie Barker, who always knew when to bow out gracefully:
"He always stopped when he was at the height of something and he always left with people saying, 'Oh, aren’t you doing any more?' Rather than people saying, 'Is that still on?'"
That philosophy guided her decision to leave Keeping Up Appearances while it was still adored by audiences, rather than allowing it to run past its prime.
"That's the place to be, really, and I had other adventures to explore. I'm an actress, and I wanted to take on the stories of other people."
Though she was eager to move on, Routledge has never denied the impact that Hyacinth had on her career. She recalls the moment she first encountered the script, saying:
"I had opened the script for a moment at one o’clock in the morning, read straight through, and Hyacinth leapt off the page."
She immediately recognized the character, inspired by real-life socialites she had known in her youth:
"I knew that woman, I knew several of that woman."
When she learned that Clive Swift would be playing her long-suffering husband, Richard, she knew the show was destined for greatness.
"When (the producer) mentioned Clive Swift, I thought, 'Oh my goodness, how wonderful. Now we really are in business.'"
The chemistry between Routledge and Swift was one of the key ingredients to the sitcom’s success. Their dynamic—Hyacinth’s relentless pursuit of social status and Richard’s quiet endurance—made for some of the show’s most hilarious moments.
Decades after Keeping Up Appearances ended, Routledge remains surprised by its continued popularity. Even today, reruns of the show are watched by millions worldwide, proving that Hyacinth Bucket’s antics never go out of style.
"I’m amazed by the enormity of Keeping Up Appearances’ success 30 years after its final episode," she admitted.
Fans around the world still offer her invitations to candlelight suppers—one of Hyacinth’s signature events—proving that her influence has endured far beyond the 1990s.
Despite her love for the original show, Routledge has made it clear that she has no interest in any reboots or spin-offs. She famously dismissed the BBC’s 2016 prequel Young Hyacinth, calling it unnecessary and refusing to watch it.
While some saw it as a tribute to her work, she responded bluntly:
"Why are they doing this sort of thing? They must be desperate... Nothing to do with me. Let them get on with it."
Although Routledge stepped away from acting years ago, she remains a devoted supporter of the arts. Earlier this year, she attended a high-profile event celebrating the legacy of William Shakespeare, where she was seen mingling with Queen Camilla and fellow acting greats like Dame Judi Dench and Dame Vanessa Redgrave.
Despite her age, she still enjoys engaging with theatre and television, though she has no plans to return to acting.
Even though she is forever associated with Hyacinth Bucket, Routledge has always been clear that the character is nothing like her. When asked if she shared any traits with Hyacinth, she quipped:
"Apart from two arms, two legs, two eyes, a nose and a mouth, I sincerely hope not! It’s what acting’s all about."
Her sharp wit and commitment to craft have made her one of Britain’s most respected actresses.
While Keeping Up Appearances made her a household name, Routledge’s career extends far beyond sitcoms. She has won Olivier and Tony Awards for her theatre work and is widely regarded as one of the finest dramatic actresses of her generation.
She also starred in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, a detective series that allowed her to explore a completely different character after Hyacinth.
Though she has largely stepped away from acting, her impact on British entertainment remains unparalleled.
Despite her reluctance to continue Keeping Up Appearances, Dame Patricia Routledge’s portrayal of Hyacinth Bucket remains one of the most celebrated performances in British television history. The show’s themes of class obsession, social pretensions, and farcical humor continue to resonate with audiences today.
And while she may have left Hyacinth behind decades ago, Dame Patricia’s legacy as one of Britain’s greatest comedic actresses is set in stone.
