Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995)

Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "bouquet") continually looks for opportunities to climb the social ladder, though she's wedged on a rung just below her sister Violet (whose house has a swimming... See full summary »

Stars:

Patricia Routledge, Judy Cornwell, Geoffrey Hughes

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Patricia Routledge	...	Hyacinth Bucket (44 episodes, 1990-1995)
Judy Cornwell	...	Daisy (44 episodes, 1990-1995)
Geoffrey Hughes	...	Onslow (44 episodes, 1990-1995)
Clive Swift	...	Richard Bucket (44 episodes, 1990-1995)
Josephine Tewson	...	Elizabeth Warden (43 episodes, 1990-1995)
Mary Millar	...	Rose (38 episodes, 1991-1995)
David Griffin	...	Emmet Hawksworth (37 episodes, 1991-1995)
Jeremy Gittins	...	Michael the Vicar (19 episodes, 1990-1995)

Storyline

Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "bouquet") continually looks for opportunities to climb the social ladder, though she's wedged on a rung just below her sister Violet (whose house has a swimming pool, sauna, and room for a pony) and just above her working class sisters Daisy and Rose. Hyacinth's passion for flawless entertaining unnerves her neighbor Elizabeth, who is often invited to the Bucket home for coffee. Elizabeth's divorced brother Emmet, who also lives next door to the Buckets, tries to avoid Hyacinth because she breaks into song in his presence in the hope he'll cast her in one of his "little theater" musical productions.

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Plot Keywords:

neighbor | husband wife relationship | family relationships | posh accent | social climber | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Schone schijn

Filming Locations:

3 Michell Close, Stoke Aldermoor, Coventry, West Midlands, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (1 episode) 50 min (1 episode) 30 min (42 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The surname "Bucket" is repeatedly pronounced by Hyacinth as "Bouquet". The names of all of the sisters are the names of flowers (Hyacinth, Daisy, Violet, Rose). The actual maiden name of the family is never revealed, but the use of those names appears to be a tongue-in-cheek reference to a "bouquet of flowers".

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Hyacinth: Sheridaaaaaaan!

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits, we see a table set for a posh dinner. When all credits have been shown, Hyacinth is shown rearranging a fork and a spoon and then putting a name plate on the table. As the camera zooms in on it, you can see that it reads "Harold Snoad" and the words "Produced & Directed by" appear above it (plus a copyright notice below it).

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Connections

Featured in Laughter in the House: The Story of British Sitcom (1999)

User Reviews

excellent British comedy

The dry humour of the Brits has no problem mixing up the slapstick in Keeping Up Appearances, a delicious series poking fun at the social graces of upper crust English society in the eyes of a lowly middle-class British wife.

Patricia Routledge can't be more perfect as Hyacinth Bucket, the charming and altogether frightening definition of an English lady, despite her mediocre financial status. The series follows her incessant efforts to make a name for herself as a social elite, inviting neighbors and important townsfolk over for "candlelight suppers," among other social events she so daftly names. Of course, the whole Hyacinth image wouldn't be nearly as funny unless the hysterical supporting cast weren't there to ground Mrs. Bucket (pronounced "Bouquet") in her place. Her working class sisters, the hussy Rose and the meek Daisy are perfect as Hyacinth's inescapable link to mediocrity. The image is complete with Daisy's slob of a husband Onslo, who dispenses his frank advice with racous results. Rounding up the innocent bystanders of Hyacinth's misadventures are her nervous neighbor Elizabeth and her brother Emmitt, but most of all Hyacinth's whipped yet sardonic husband, Richard, whom you can't help but pity and root for at the same time.

This is a British comedy to end all comedies. The chances for conflict between Hyacinth's goal as a social mistress and her bourgeois reality are infinite, and the laugh track doesn't lie when Hyacinth is caught between a rock and a hard place - more often literally than figuratively. If you aren't a fan of Brit comedy, you may only be able to stomach a few episodes before the formula seems to wear. However, a true social connoiseur of such a series would scoff at the idea. :-)