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 FH on Onslow's hat stands for Fulton Hogan Ltd., a New Zealand asphalt and road-building company. When Geoffrey Hughes was there promoting a show, he was given that hat by one of the company's lorry drivers.

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Quotes

Onslow: Daisy, I am not just a play thing.

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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

Referenced in Red Dwarf: Heavy Science - Series V (2004)

User Reviews

One of the BEST British comedy's ever made!

Keeping Up Appearances has got to be one of my favourite shows EVER!

I remember watching it years ago when it was first on BBC1, and thinking it was SOOO funny! Now it's back on UK Gold, and I can't help but watch it every time it's on.

Patrcia Routledge as Hyacinth is fantastic! The casting and acting are perfect. OK, as some people have pointed out, there are so many running jokes - but that is what is all part of what makes this show great!

Hyacinth's candlelight suppers, her answering the phone "the Bucket residence, the lady of the house speaking!", Elizabth constantly spilling her coffee, always trying to resist her daily order from Hyacinth for morning coffee, Emmett and "she'll sing at me", Onslow "Oh Nice", Vilot - "It's MA Sister Violet, "Daddy!", the vicar, Rose and Mr. whoever, and throughout all this poor old Richard, lol.

And one of the best and most famous Hyacinth lines - "Sauna, Swimming Pool and room for a pony!!!!"

It is a true proper British comedy, and is up there with the likes of that other great 90's BBC sitcom - One Foot in the Grave. And also the likes of To The Manor Born, The Good Life, and Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.

Everybody you talk to always raises a smile when you mention "the Bucket woman"!

Only the other day I watched an episode when Hyacinth wanted to test drive a new Rolls Royce so she could get one-up on another one of her posh local rivals - Lydia Hawsworth, whom had just overtaken them in her brand new Jag.

She made Richard drive it out of the garage without the salesman's permission, and take it to this posh hotel deliberately, as she knew this was where this woman had afternoon tea. Of course Rose, Daisy and Onslow turn up as usual, so they have to get out of there before she bumps into them - how embarrassing! lol. When they get into her "getaway car" as she callas it to Richard, the police turn up and arrest them outside the hotel! And then just at that point who turns up but Lydia Hawksworth!

This is just an example of how great this show is!

Quite frankly, I really don't understand how anybody could NOT like it!

If they don't, then I actually feel slightly sorry for them - as they are missing out on so much enjoyment!

Oh...and contrary to what somebody has said - in my opinion it is just about the closest thing to perfection that a sitcom can get!