In the world of British sitcoms, few characters stand out as much as Hyacinth Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances. Played by the legendary Patricia Routledge, Hyacinth is a character whose obsession with class, refinement, and appearances often leads to laugh-out-loud moments.
One of the recurring sources of comedy in the show is Hyacinth’s constant struggle with her last name, “Bucket.” For someone so determined to present herself as a lady of distinction, the fact that her surname is “Bucket” provides endless opportunities for humor, self-deprecation, and moments of pure absurdity.
Throughout the series, Hyacinth goes to great lengths to justify, excuse, and explain her surname, all while trying to distance herself from its working-class associations.
Hyacinth’s obsession with her name is introduced early in the show and becomes a running joke. Her name, of course, is perfectly ordinary, but to Hyacinth, it’s a source of embarrassment.
For someone who is so invested in presenting herself as part of the upper class, “Bucket” feels like a constant reminder of everything she is trying to escape. Her desperate attempts to appear refined and polished are often undermined by the unpretentious nature of her name, and she can't help but try to explain it away to anyone she meets.
One of Hyacinth’s most common tactics is to insist that her name is pronounced differently than it appears. She firmly believes that the way others interpret her last name simply isn't proper.
Throughout the series, she repeats the line, “It’s Bucket, but it’s pronounced Bouquet,” as if altering the pronunciation will elevate her status in the eyes of others. It’s a humorous attempt to distance herself from the connotations of the word "bucket"—a humble, down-to-earth item—by giving it a more sophisticated French twist.
The fact that she feels compelled to correct anyone who says her name “wrong” adds a layer of ridiculousness to the situation. In Hyacinth’s world, there is no room for simple, working-class associations; everything must be elevated and refined, even something as mundane as a surname.
Hyacinth’s attempts to rebrand her name don’t stop with pronunciation. She also works hard to create an entirely new narrative around her surname. She’ll often introduce herself to new acquaintances by saying something like, “Hyacinth Bucket, of course, you can just call me ‘Mrs. Bouquet,’” as if the mere suggestion of the name change will convince others that she is, in fact, the aristocrat she so desperately wants to be.
Her constant insistence on altering the way people view her name is, of course, hilarious, as no one around her is fooled. In fact, it only serves to underscore the gulf between Hyacinth’s lofty self-image and the reality of her situation.
In another episode, Hyacinth tries to explain her last name to a potential new neighbor, offering up an absurd story about her family’s origins. In her mind, this narrative will lend her name some much-needed gravitas. “Oh, we’re descended from a very old family, you know.
It’s a name that comes from centuries of refinement,” she claims, as if the name “Bucket” somehow carried with it a centuries-old legacy of nobility. Of course, this only adds to the humor, as viewers and other characters alike can clearly see that Hyacinth is making up a story to cover up her embarrassment.
Throughout the show, Hyacinth also exhibits a subtle form of humor when it comes to her husband, Richard. As the show’s primary straight man, Richard often serves as the foil to Hyacinth’s more exaggerated personality. However, his role in Hyacinth’s jokes about her name often goes unnoticed by him, further adding to the comedy.
Hyacinth will regularly refer to Richard as the man who “shares her distinguished name,” as if his inclusion in her family somehow elevates his own status. The fact that Richard is as ordinary as they come makes Hyacinth’s delusions of grandeur even more laughable.
While the jokes about her last name provide endless amusement for the audience, they also serve as a reflection of Hyacinth’s desperate desire to climb the social ladder. Her constant preoccupation with her surname and her refusal to accept its humble roots reveal her deep-seated insecurities.
She can’t bear the thought that others might see her as common or unrefined, and her name—“Bucket”—is the constant reminder of where she comes from. As a result, she clings to the fantasy that her name, her family, and even her background can be rebranded, repackaged, and presented in a way that aligns with her vision of high society.
Hyacinth’s jokes about her name also underscore the theme of class and social status that runs throughout Keeping Up Appearances. The show often explores Hyacinth’s struggles to maintain the illusion of wealth and refinement, even as the people around her (including her neighbors and family) continuously shatter her delusions.
Whether she’s correcting her name pronunciation, fabricating stories about her family, or forcefully suggesting that others refer to her as “Mrs. Bouquet,” Hyacinth’s obsession with her surname is a source of endless comedy.
In the end, Hyacinth Bucket’s jokes about her own name are a perfect example of the show’s brilliant mix of physical comedy, wordplay, and character-driven humor. Her never-ending quest for refinement, combined with her absurd justifications for her last name, is both hilarious and deeply relatable.
At the heart of it all is Hyacinth’s inability to accept her true self, and her attempts to escape her working-class origins provide some of the most memorable and funniest moments of the series.
