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Keeping Up Appearances

Keeping Up Appearances is a British sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke. It originally aired on BBC1 from 1990 to 1995 with two specials airing in 1997 and 2008 on PBS. The central character is an eccentric and snobbish middle class social climber, Hyacinth Bucket (Patricia Routledge), who insists that her surname is pronounced "Bouquet".[2] The show comprised five series and 44 episodes, four of which are Christmas specials. Production ended in 1995 after Routledge decided to move on to other projects. All episodes and the specials have since been released on DVD.

Keeping Up Appearances
GenreSitcom
Created byRoy Clarke
Written byRoy Clarke
Michelle Street (2008 special)
Directed byHarold Snoad
Duane Huey (2008 special)
StarringPatricia Routledge
Clive Swift
Josephine Tewson
Geoffrey Hughes
Judy Cornwell
Shirley Stelfox
Mary Millar
David Griffin
Theme music composerNick Ingman
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes44 + 2 shorts and 2 specials (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerHarold Snoad
Production locationsBBC Television Centre
Binley Woods, Warwickshire, England;
(Hyacinth's Home)
Stoke Aldermoor, Coventry, West Midlands, England;
(Daisy and Onslow's Council Estates House)
Leamington Spa, England
(Towns and various locations)
Northampton, England;
(Church, Church Hall and Vicarage)
Swindon, Wiltshire, England;
Oxford, England;
Bristol, England;
Great Yarmouth Norfolk, England;
Copenhagen, Denmark;
(location scenes)
Camera setupSingle-camera
Multi-Camera
Running time30 minutes
50 minutes (1994 Christmas special)
60 minutes (1993 Christmas special)
60 minutes (1997 & 2008 TV specials)
Production companyBBC
DistributorBBC Worldwide
2entertain
Universal Pictures
ABC (Australia, home video)
Warner Home Video (US, home video)
Iowa Public Television (US, television)[1]
Release
Original networkBBC1
Picture formatPAL
Audio format
  • Monaural (series 1)
  • Stereo (series 2–5)
Original release29 October 1990 (1990-10-29) –
25 December 1995 (1995-12-25)
1997, 2008 (TV specials)
Chronology
RelatedYoung Hyacinth

The sitcom follows Hyacinth in her attempts to prove her social superiority, and to gain standing with those she considers upper class. Her attempts are constantly hampered by her lower class extended family, whom she is desperate to hide. Much of the humour comes from the conflict between Hyacinth's vision of herself and the reality of her underclass background. In each episode, she lands in a farcical situation as she battles to protect her social credibility.

Keeping Up Appearances was a great success in the UK, and also captured large audiences in the US, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. By February 2016, it had been sold nearly a thousand times to overseas broadcasters, making it BBC Worldwide's most exported television programme. In a 2004 BBC poll it placed 12th in Britain's Best Sitcom. In a 2001 Channel 4 poll, Hyacinth was ranked 52nd on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.[3] The show has been syndicated on Gold and Drama in the UK, on PBS member stations in the United States and on 7TWO and 9Gem in Australia.

Premise

Hyacinth Bucket (Patricia Routledge) – who insists her surname is pronounced Bouquet (although her husband Richard has said, "It was always 'Bucket' until I met you!")[4] – is an overbearing, social-climbing snob, originally from a lower-class background, whose main mission in life is to impress others with her refinement and pretended affluence.

She is terrified that her background will be revealed, and goes to great lengths to hide it. Hyacinth likes to spend her days visiting stately homes (convinced she will meet and strike up a friendship with the upper class owners, especially if they are part of the landed gentry or peerage) and hosting "executive-style" candlelight suppers (with her Royal Worcester double-glazed Avignon china and Royal Doulton china with "the hand-painted periwinkles").[5]

She ostentatiously brags about her possessions, including her "white slimline telephone with automatic redial", which she always answers with "The Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking."[6] (Frequently she receives misdialled calls asking for a Chinese take-away, making her angry.) She speaks in an exaggerated RP-like accent with Northern undertones, while her relatives speak in broad Northern accents. Her neighbours speak in milder RP accents. When flustered, Hyacinth reverts to her native Northern accent.

Hyacinth's attempts to impress make the lives of those around her difficult; her continual efforts to improve her social position usually involve inviting her unwitting neighbours and friends to "exclusive candlelight suppers". Although Hyacinth is not deterred by the lack of response to her attempts, her friends, neighbours, and acquaintances live in fear of being invited, and usually make frantic attempts to excuse themselves.

Her husband Richard (Clive Swift) bears the brunt of the suffering. He initially worked for the council but, at the beginning of series 3, reluctantly accepts early retirement. Although he loves her with a long-suffering endurance, he is notably exasperated by her plans and her habit of making extravagant and unnecessary purchases.

Although she lives to impress others, Hyacinth regularly competes with the middle-class neighbours (whom she considers snobbish show-offs) such as Sonia Barker-Finch, Delia Wheelwright and Lydia Hawksworth (who alone of Hyacinth's rivals seems to be an actual snob, as she disdains kiwifruit as "lower middle class".) Hyacinth sometimes says things like "I haven't a snobbish bone in my body" or "I can't abide such snobbery like that" when talking about those she considers her competition.

Always hindering Hyacinth's best efforts to impress, and providing an unwelcome reminder of her less-than-refined roots, are her working-class sisters Daisy (Judy Cornwell) and Rose (Shirley Stelfox in series 1; Mary Millar thereafter), and Daisy's proudly "bone-idle" husband Onslow (Geoffrey Hughes). They, along with Hyacinth's senile father, frequently turn up inconveniently (usually in their clapped-out Ford Cortina Mk IV – which always makes a characteristic backfire when it arrives), with Hyacinth going to great lengths to avoid them (saying: "Richard, you know I love my family, but that's no reason why I should have to acknowledge them in broad daylight!"). Rose is very sexually aggressive and promiscuous, adding to Hyacinth's embarrassment.

Hyacinth's senile father frequently has flashbacks to the Second World War, and often exhibits bizarre behaviour, sometimes involving embarrassing situations with women (Onslow describes him as "barmy"). Two relatives of whom Hyacinth is not ashamed are her wealthy sister Violet (Anna Dawson) and her unseen son Sheridan. Violet frequently telephones Hyacinth for advice, allowing her to loudly announce to anyone in earshot, "It's my sister Violet – the one with a Mercedes, swimming pool/sauna and room for a pony". However, Violet's social acceptability is damaged by the eccentric behaviour of her cross-dressing, equestrian-loving turf accountant husband Bruce, whom she violently attacks because of his behaviour.

Hyacinth also tries to impress people with the intellectual prowess of her beloved son Sheridan (who actually only takes a course in needlework at a polytechnic). Hyacinth boasts about the "psychic" closeness of their relationship and how often he writes and telephones her, although he never writes and only telephones his mother to ask for money (much to the despair of Richard).[7] Hyacinth is blissfully oblivious of the seemingly obvious hints that Sheridan, who lives with a man named Tarquin (who makes his own curtains, wears silk pyjamas, and has won prizes for embroidery), is gay.[8] It is at one point implied that Sheridan has come out to his father.

Hyacinth's neighbour Elizabeth Warden (Josephine Tewson) is frequently invited round to the Buckets' for coffee. Though she is ordinarily calm, Elizabeth's nerves go to pieces in Hyacinth's house, causing her to smash Hyacinth's china and spill coffee and biscuits on Hyacinth's Burmese rug.[9] She is married with a daughter away at university, yet her husband works abroad and, like Sheridan, neither character ever appears.

Elizabeth is occasionally able to "one-up" Hyacinth herself by reminding her neighbour that her daughter is at university, while Sheridan is studying at a mere polytechnic. Liz's brother Emmet (David Griffin) moves in with her at the beginning of series 2 after a messy divorce. Hyacinth, upon learning that Emmet is a musician, frequently and abruptly sings out-of-key at him to try to get a part in one of his productions, making him terrified of leaving the house, lest she see him ("She'll sing at me!"). Emmet's problems are made worse by Hyacinth's mistaken belief that his frightened reactions indicate that he is infatuated with her, which, in fact, could not be further from the truth.

Hyacinth frequently confronts the postman with complaints, such as having to receive mail bearing second class stamps, harassing him to the point that he will go to extreme lengths not to face her; she often forces workmen and other visitors to her home to remove their shoes before entering. Michael, the vicar of the local church (Jeremy Gittins) is also loath to face the overbearing Hyacinth, to whom he refers (to others) as "the Bucket woman". The vicar and his wife sometimes exact comic revenge on Hyacinth for her snobbishness; on one occasion, when she was one of a group of volunteer helpers at the church, the vicar's wife saw to it that Hyacinth's hand went up prematurely and assigned her the job of cleaning the church toilets.

Cast

 
The cast in 1991. Standing from left to right, Jeremy Gittins, David Griffin, Judy Cornwell, Geoffrey Hughes, and Mary Millar.
Seated from left to right, Clive Swift, Patricia Routledge and Josephine Tewson.
Character Played By Series
1 2 3 4 5
Main
Hyacinth Bucket Patricia Routledge          
Richard Bucket Clive Swift          
Elizabeth 'Liz' Warden Josephine Tewson          
Daisy Judy Cornwell          
Onslow Geoffrey Hughes          
Rose Shirley Stelfox          
Mary Millar          
Emmet Hawksworth David Griffin          
Recurring
Michael (the vicar) Jeremy Gittins          
Daddy / Father George Webb          
Vicar's wife Marion Barron          
Michael (the postman) Leo Dolan          
David Janson          
Milkman Robert Rawles          
Violet Anna Dawson          
Major Wilton Smythe Peter Cellier          
Mrs Councillor Nugent Charmian May          
Bruce John Evitts          

Episodes

Keeping Up Appearances aired for five series, four Christmas specials, and one short Children in Need special from 29 October 1990 to 25 December 1995. 2 later specials were produced in 2004 and 2008 for PBS TV. The series officially ended after the episode "The Pageant", because Patricia Routledge wanted to focus on other TV and theatre work, including Hetty Wainthropp Investigates which began airing in 1996. Clive Swift, who portrayed Richard, stated in a BBC interview that Routledge "didn't want to be remembered as simply 'Mrs. Bucket'".[10]

Series
SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1629 October 1990 (1990-10-29)3 December 1990 (1990-12-03)
2101 September 1991 (1991-09-01)3 November 1991 (1991-11-03)
125 December 1991 (1991-12-25)
376 September 1992 (1992-09-06)18 October 1992 (1992-10-18)
475 September 1993 (1993-09-05)17 October 1993 (1993-10-17)
226 December 1993 (1993-12-26)25 December 1994 (1994-12-25)
5103 September 1995 (1995-09-03)5 November 1995 (1995-11-05)
125 December 1995 (1995-12-25)

Specials

The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket (1997)

In 1997, BBC America produced a one-off, one hour TV special. It was a retrospective clipshow starring the characters of Daisy and Onslow — who were shown looking through Hyacinth's diary which had become mixed up with some photographs she had given to them. The special replayed clips from previous episodes and aired on the BBC.

Life Lessons from Onslow (2008)

In 2008, a further clipshow special was broadcast by PBS; this time only starring the character of Onslow who passed on "lessons for life" from within the framing device of a spoof Open University programme. This was the only episode not written or directed by Roy Clarke and Harold Snoad. This special was written by Michelle Street and directed by Duane Huey. Both specials have subsequently been issued on DVD. It was one of actor Geoffrey Hughes' final appearances as Onslow.

Production

Locations

 
The council terrace in Stoke Aldermoor occupied by Daisy and Onslow

Exterior shots around Hyacinth's house were recorded at a privately owned residence at 117 Heather Road, Binley Woods, Warwickshire, east of Coventry.[11]

Exterior shots around Daisy's and Onslow's council terrace were taken in the Stoke Aldermoor district of Coventry.[12] Other exterior street and town shots were filmed in Leamington Spa and in various towns in Warwickshire, along with many scenes from the large town of Northampton, mainly the church hall. Some scenes were also shot in Swindon, Lydiard Park, Oxford market scenes, and Bristol,(Bedminster). One scene was shot in Oslo, Norway. One episode was filmed in Great Yarmouth, mainly in the Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach Theme Park.

The opening sequence shows Hyacinth writing an invitation to one of her trademark candlelight suppers; this invitation lists Hyacinth's address as "Waney Elm, Blossom Avenue, Fuddleton". In the same sequence, the invitation is eventually sent to an address in Eddleton. Neither town actually exists. However, there are several references to the characters being in the West Midlands throughout the series, as when Hyacinth said that she could become the "Barbara Cartland of the West Midlands Social Circuit Scene" in the episode "The Hostess". In another episode, police officers wearing West Midlands Police jumpers escort Richard home and several West Midlands Travel buses are also seen throughout the series.

Vehicles

Richard's car is a Rover 200-series (SD3) saloon. Early episodes show a light blue 1987 216S bearing the number plate D541 EXL, but later episodes feature a sky-blue 1989 216SE EFi model (with the same number plate except for one letter, now D541 EFL).[13]

Onslow drives a 1978 Ford Cortina (number plate VSD 389S) that is in poor condition and backfires loudly almost every time it starts or stops, embarrassing Hyacinth, and frequently crushing her hopes of creating a perfect impression with new people. (The DVLA website shows that this vehicle's tax was not renewed once the series finished, suggesting that it was scrapped at that point). Onslow also has the rusting carcass of a Hillman Avenger in his front garden, in which lives Onslow's dog that always barks at Hyacinth as she approaches.[13]

Violet and Bruce own a Mercedes-Benz W126 S-class and later a Mercedes-Benz W202 C-class.

Neighbour Elizabeth drives a white 1989 Austin Metro City hatchback with number plate F434 RLA (which, despite being the subject of comments from Hyacinth about its age, is newer than Richard's car).[13]

Legacy

Various spin-off shows related to the programme were released or planned:

  • The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket

In March 1997, Geoffrey Hughes and Judy Cornwell reprised their roles as Onslow and Daisy for a special compilation episode recorded for broadcast in the United States on PBS. The show sees the pair introduce classic clips from the series.

In 2004, the documentary series featured an episode dedicated to Keeping Up Appearances. Stars Clive Swift, Josephine Tewson, Judy Cornwell and David Griffin, along with writer Roy Clarke and producer/director Harold Snoad, all discussed the series. Clips from an interview with Patricia Routledge from 2002 were also included.

The episode revealed that there were serious artistic differences between Clarke and Snoad. Specifically, Clarke refused to act as anything but a writer and rarely visited the set or location shoots, necessitating that Snoad make minor rewrites to accommodate the realities of taping. This infuriated Clarke, who disliked any tampering of his work, and Snoad thought Clarke was being unreasonable. The situation was mitigated in later series by the hiring of a script editor whose sole job was to keep Clarke apprised of Snoad's changes, and to keep Snoad informed of Clarke's opinion of them.[10]

  • Life Lessons from Onslow

In early 2008, Geoffrey Hughes reprised his role as Onslow once again for a clipshow of the series; this was for broadcast on American television, and sees him teaching a credit course at the Open University, and has selected "successful relationships" as his subject matter. The special was also released on Region 1 DVD.[14][15][16]

  • Mind Your Manors

When Keeping Up Appearances did not return, after Patricia Routledge announced that she no longer wished to play Hyacinth, Roy Clarke's proposed spin-off series was called Mind Your Manors. The series was referenced in BBC in-house literature during 1997 and 1998, and later described by both Clarke and Geoffrey Hughes as part of a discussion of the character of Onslow in Radio 4's Archive on 4: On Northern Men,[17] broadcast in 2009.

The spin-off would have seen Onslow forced to take a supposedly "easy" job tending the gardens of a large manor house estate owned by a doddery and rather forgetful old Lord. When the Lord passes away suddenly, Onslow, Daisy and Rose (who it is implied was having a fling with the Lord, causing the heart attack which led to his passing) end up 'temporarily' moving into the manor house to mind it, due to a legal dispute with the deceased Lord's estranged brother (whom Rose immediately starts lusting after), who wants the land.

A mislaid deeds paper left by the forgetful old Lord would supposedly clarify who has rights to the estate, buried somewhere in the gardens that Onslow is left to ineptly try and keep in shape. Most of the conflict would have come from the Lord's brother and the manor's snooty neighbours, the wealthy Hyde-Whytes, who are not happy about the "commoners" who have taken up residence next door (although it later transpires that Mr. Hyde-Whyte used to know Onslow in their youth and is indebted to him after Onslow once took the fall for him to stop him being arrested). Su Pollard was approached to play the role of Miss Dorothy "Dotty" Henshaw, the Lord's eccentric and easily flustered cook / house-keeper who remains with the estate, and some preliminary location shooting was reportedly undertaken, though this may be connected with the "missing" final episode of Series 5, "The Bishop Affair".[18] This proposed follow-up series was ultimately not commissioned, with Hughes continuing with his portrayal as Onslow in the specials listed above instead.

Merchandise

Audio

In 1998, the BBC released three episodes of the show: "Hyacinth tees off", "Rural Retreat", and "Sea Fever" on audio cassette. Clive Swift reprised his role as Richard recording a narrative to compensate for the lack of images.

VHS

BBC Video released three videos featuring episodes from the series.

  • How to Enhance Your Husband's Retirement

This was released in 1993 and featured the episodes: "Iron Age Remains", "What to Wear when Yachting" and "How to Go on Holiday Without Really Trying".

  • Sea Fever

This was released in 1994 and featured the episodes: "Sea Fever" and "A Job for Richard".

  • Rural Retreat

This was released in 1995 and featured the episodes: "Country Retreat", "Let There Be Light" and "Please Mind Your Head".

DVD

Region 1 DVD overview
DVD title Series Release date
Region 1
Features
Volume 1: My Way or the Hyacinth Way Series 1 (all 6 episodes) 18 March 2003[19]

Special features:

  • Outtakes
  • Cast Bios
Volume 2: Hints from Hyacinth Series 2 (episodes 1–5) 18 March 2003[20]

Special features:

  • Outtakes
  • Cast Bios
Volume 3: Home is Where the Hyacinth Is Series 2 (episodes 6–10) 18 March 2003[21]

Special features:

  • "Funny Women", profile of Patricia Routledge
  • Outtakes
  • Cast Bios
Volume 4: Deck the Halls with Hyacinth All 4 Christmas specials 18 March 2003[22]

Special features:

  • The Kitty Monologues
  • Cast Bios
Hyacinth in Full Bloom (Volumes 1–4) Series 1–2 & all specials 18 March 2003[23]

see individual releases for special features

Volume 5: Everything's Coming Up Hyacinth Series 3 (all 7 episodes) 3 February 2004[24]

Special features:

  • Outtakes
  • Cast Bios
Volume 6: Some Like It Hyacinth Series 4 (all 7 episodes) 3 February 2004[25]

Special features:

  • Second Chance Shorts: Exclusive UK commercial featuring Hyacinth and Elizabeth
  • Outtakes
  • Cast Bios
Volume 7: Living the Hyacinth Life Series 5 (episodes 1–5) 3 February 2004[26]

Special features:

  • Pebble Mill interview with Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift
  • Outtakes
  • Cast Bios
Volume 8: Hats Off to Hyacinth Series 5 (episodes 6–10) 3 February 2004[27]

Special features:

  • "The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket"
  • Outtakes
  • Cast Bios
Hyacinth Springs Eternal (Volumes 5–8) Series 3–5 3 February 2004[28]

see individual releases for special features

The Full Bouquet (Volumes 1–8) Series 1–5 & all specials 7 September 2004[29]

see individual releases for special features

Life Lessons from Onslow (Non-episode video special) 9 September 2008[30]

Special features:

  • Interview with Geoffrey Hugues
The Full Bouquet: Special Edition (Volumes 1–8) Series 1–5 & all specials 9 September 2008[31]

Includes all special features from previous sets, with the inclusion of the exclusive video special "Life Lessons from Onslow"

Collector's Edition Series 1–5 & all specials 5 November 2013[32]

Special features:

  • Hyacinth Revealed – Newly recorded interviews with Patricia Routledge, Roy Clarke and others!
  • Outtakes
  • "Funny Women", profile of Patricia Routledge
  • The Kitty Monologues
  • Second Chance Shorts: Exclusive UK commercial featuring Hyacinth and Elizabeth
  • Pebble Mill interview with Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift
  • "The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket"
  • Interviews with Patricia Routledge and Judy Cornwell
  • Comedy Connections – Keeping Up Appearances
  • "Life Lessons from Onslow"
Region 2 and 4 DVD overview
DVD title Release date Features
Region 2 Region 4
Series 1 & 2 / The Complete Series 1 & 2 17 March 2003[33] 1 September 2003[34]

Special features:

  • Region 2 – None
  • Region 4 – None
Series 3 & 4 / The Complete Series 3 & 4 16 February 2004[35] 8 July 2004[36]
  • Includes 1991 Christmas Special

Special features:

  • Region 2 – None
  • Region 4 – None
Series 5 / The Complete Series 5 26 December 2006[37] 3 November 2005[38]
  • Includes 1993, 1994 and 1995 Christmas specials

Special features (Region 4 only):

  • "The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket" Featurette
  • Interview with Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift
  • Outtakes
  • Hyacinth's Social Register
  • Hyacinth's Guest Book
Christmas Specials 3 November 2014[39] 11 November 2005[40]

Special features:

  • Region 2 – None
  • Region 4 – None
The Complete Collection No release 1 October 2005[41]

Special features:

  • see "Series 5" DVD
The Essential Collection 8 October 2007[42] No release
  • Re-released in the UK as "The Complete Collection":
    • 23 September 2013 (slimmer packaging)[43]
    • 22 January 2018 (HMV Exclusive)

Special features:

  • None
Life Lessons from Onslow No release 15 April 2010[44]

Special features:

  • Interviews with Patricia Routledge and Judy Cornwell
  • Outtakes
The Full Bouquet No release 3 November 2011[45]

Special features:

  • "The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket"
  • Interview with Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift
  • Outtakes
  • Hyacinth's Social Register
  • Hyacinth's Guest Book
  • Comedy Connections – Keeping Up Appearances
  • Interviews with Patricia Routledge and Judy Cornwell
  • "Life Lessons from Onslow"

Streaming

In the United States, the complete series was available via streaming through Netflix and Amazon Video, but is no longer available to stream on either platform.[46] However, it is available for streaming on BritBox. In Australia the complete series is available for streaming on Stan as of 2018.

Books

Three books related to the series have been released in the UK. Two were written by Jonathan Rice and published by BBC Books and the other one was written by Harold Snoad (the director of Keeping Up Appearances) and was published by Book Guild Publishing.

  • Hyacinth Bucket's book of etiquette for the socially less fortunate

This was first published in 1993, and is a light-hearted guide to manners, as seen through Hyacinth Bucket's eyes. It is based on the TV series' scripts and contains many black-and-white photos of scenes from the show.[47]

  • Hyacinth Bucket's Hectic Social Calendar

This was published in 1995 and is presented in a diary format chronicling a year in Hyacinth Bucket's life, with typical comments about her relations and neighbours.[48]

  • It's Bouquet – Not Bucket

This was published in late 2009, the book includes rare photos which were taken during the filming of Keeping Up Appearances. The book contains full plot synopses for all episodes, main cast details, filming locations for all episodes which used outside shots, and stories of some entertaining events which happened during filming.[49]

Overseas books

Due to the popularity of Keeping Up Appearances in the United States, books about the series have also been published across the Atlantic.

  • Keeping Up Appearances: A Companion to the Series

This comical series guidebook was published in the late 1990s by WLIW21. It was co-authored by mother-and-daughter writers Georgene and Mary Lee Costa. It features summary descriptions of each episode, cast and crew biographies, series photographs and an interview with Harold Snoad.

Since it was written during the filming of the final series of episodes, Snoad included the co-authors of the guide as extras in the episode "The Fancy Dress Ball".

Theatre adaptation

In 2010, the television show was adapted into a play entitled Keeping Up Appearances that toured theatres in the UK.[50] The cast included Rachel Bell as Hyacinth, Kim Hartman as Elizabeth, Gareth Hale as Onslow, Steven Pinder as Emmet, Debbie Arnold as Rose, David Janson (who had previously appeared in the TV show as the postman) as Mr Edward Milson, a new character created for the stage show,[51] Christine Moore as Daisy and Sarah Whitlock as Mrs Debden.[52]

Main character Richard Bucket, Hyacinth's husband, does not appear in the production, but is frequently referred to: Hyacinth addresses him off-stage and talks to him on the phone. The main plot of the show revolves around Emmet directing a play at the local village hall, but when Hyacinth is cast in the play's leading role disaster is in the making.

This adaptation, directed by playwright Johnny Culver, made its American premiere in New York City in March 2015, at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church Theater Fellowship/Jones Auditorium.[53] Culver directed an additional production of this adaptation with performances on 5 August 2017 and 6 August 2017 at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Forest Hills, Queens.

Prequel

In 2015, it was announced that a prequel to the series entitled Young Hyacinth would be made, with original writer Roy Clarke returning to pen the script, following a 19-year-old Hyacinth Bucket during the early postwar years and set some forty years before the events of Keeping Up Appearances.[54] The cast were announced on 11 April 2016.[55] Hyacinth was played by Kerry Howard; Rose by Katie Redford; Daisy by Katherine Pearce; Violet by Tamla Kari and Daddy by Mark Addy. It was broadcast on BBC One on 2 September 2016.[56]

The prequel sees Hyacinth working as a maid and attempting to manage her family so they appear well above their means. In the special, Hyacinth is in a relationship with a Mr. William Hitchcock, whom Hyacinth forces to dress up and wear a hat when they walk. The special ends with her drunken Daddy falling into the canal, which Hyacinth's employers see, causing her great embarrassment. However, she blames Daddy's behaviour on "an old war injury".[57][58]

Approximately 4.14 million viewers watched the show within seven days of its broadcast, making it the 22nd most watched BBC One show for the week ending 4 September. A total of 4.39 million viewers watched the show within 28 days of its initial broadcast.[59]

References

  1. ^ Keeping up appearances. / Life Lessons from Onslow. OCLC 313473236.
  2. ^ The device of a humorously affected pronunciation of Bucket as Bouquet was used previously in the 1944 British comedy film Don't Take It to Heart.
  3. ^ . Channel 4. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  4. ^ Keeping Up Appearances. Series 5. Episode 3. Event occurs at 8:57. Yes, I'll give you my name and address. It's "Bouquet." B-u-c-k-e-t. No, it is "Bouquet."
  5. ^ Keeping Up Appearances. Series 5. Episode 3. Event occurs at 19:28. It houses my Royal Doulton with the hand-painted periwinkles.
  6. ^ Keeping Up Appearances. Series 5. Episode 1. Event occurs at 5:46.
  7. ^ Keeping Up Appearances. Series 5. Episode 1. Event occurs at 1:03. Do you think Sheridan's voice is getting deeper?" "It's still asking for money, I know that.
  8. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances". www.bbc.co.uk.
  9. ^ Keeping Up Appearances. Series 5. Episode 3. Event occurs at 13:40.
  10. ^ a b "Comedy Connections – Keeping Up Appearances". Comedy Connections. 26 July 2004. BBC. BBC One.
  11. ^ "Bucket's Residence Street View". Google Maps. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Onslow and Daisy's Street View". Google Maps. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "Keeping Up Appearances, TV Series, 1990–1995". imdcb.com. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  14. ^ Life Lessons from Onslow: A Keeping Up Appearances Special | Life Lessons from Onslow: A Keeping Up Appearances Special, retrieved 1 June 2021
  15. ^ "Life Lessons From Onslow: A Keeping Up Appearances Special". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  16. ^ Various (9 September 2008), Keeping Up Appearances: Onslow Special, BBC Home Entertainment, retrieved 1 June 2021
  17. ^ . www.genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 25 July 2009. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  18. ^ "Season 5 Episode 12 – "The Bishop Affair"".
  19. ^ . swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022.
  20. ^ . swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022.
  21. ^ "Keeping Up AppearancesHome Is Where the Hyacinth Is". swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022.
  22. ^ . swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022.
  23. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - Hyacinth in Full Bloom Set". swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022.
  24. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - Everything's Coming Up Hyacinth". swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022.
  25. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - Some Like It Hyacinth". swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022.
  26. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - Living the Hyacinth Life". swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022.
  27. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - Hats Off to Hyacinth". swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022.
  28. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - Hyacinth Springs Eternal Set". swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - The Full Bouquet Set". swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances Life Lessons from Onslow". swapadvd.com. 7 October 2022.
  31. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances: The Full Bouquet - Special Edition". dvdtalk.com. 7 October 2022.
  32. ^ . barnesandnoble.com. 7 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022.
  33. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - Series 1 & 2". comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  34. ^ Keeping Up Appearances (Roy Clarke's) Series 1 & 2. Booktopia. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  35. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - Series 3 & 4". comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  36. ^ Keeping Up Appearances (Roy Clarke's) Series 3 & 4. Booktopia. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  37. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - Series 5". comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  38. ^ Keeping Up Appearances (Roy Clarke's) Series 5. Booktopia. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  39. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - Christmas Specials". comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  40. ^ Keeping Up Appearances (Roy Clarke's) Christmas Specials. Booktopia. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  41. ^ . sanity.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  42. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - The Essential Collection [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  43. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances - The Complete Collection [DVD] [2013]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  44. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances (Roy Clarke's) Life Lessons From Onslow". Booktopia. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  45. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances: The Full Bouquet DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  46. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances: Season 1, Episode 1 "Daddy's Accident"". Amazon. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  47. ^ Clarke, Roy; Rice, Jonathan (1993). Keeping Up Appearances: Hyacinth Bucket's Book of Etiquette for the Socially Less Fortunate. ISBN 978-0563369752.
  48. ^ Rice, Jo; Clarke, Roy (1995). Hyacinth Bucket's Hectic Social Calendar. ISBN 978-0563371861.
  49. ^ Snoad, Harold (2009). It's Bouquet - Not Bucket!. ISBN 978-1846243516.
  50. ^ Berry, Kevin (3 June 2010). . thestage.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  51. ^ Burbridge, Steve. "Theatre review: Keeping Up Appearances at Darlington Civic Theatre and touring". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  52. ^ Barr, Gordon (12 June 2010). . The Chronicle. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  53. ^ "Keeping Up Appearances". theaterscene.net. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  54. ^ Foster, Patrick (16 November 2015). "Keeping Up Appearances set to return as Young Hyacinth". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  55. ^ "Kerry Howard to play Young Hyacinth in a special prequel to Keeping Up Appearances for BBC One". BBC. BBC. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  56. ^ "Young Hyacinth". BBC. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  57. ^ Warner, Sam (11 April 2016). "Keeping Up Appearances remake casts Kerry Howard as a young Hyacinth". Digital Spy. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  58. ^ Harp, Justin (11 April 2016). "Sacked Coronation Street star Katie Redford lands a new role in the Keeping Up Appearances prequel". Digital Spy. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  59. ^ "Weekly top 30 programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 27 April 2017.

External links

keeping, appearances, british, sitcom, created, written, clarke, originally, aired, bbc1, from, 1990, 1995, with, specials, airing, 1997, 2008, central, character, eccentric, snobbish, middle, class, social, climber, hyacinth, bucket, patricia, routledge, insi. Keeping Up Appearances is a British sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke It originally aired on BBC1 from 1990 to 1995 with two specials airing in 1997 and 2008 on PBS The central character is an eccentric and snobbish middle class social climber Hyacinth Bucket Patricia Routledge who insists that her surname is pronounced Bouquet 2 The show comprised five series and 44 episodes four of which are Christmas specials Production ended in 1995 after Routledge decided to move on to other projects All episodes and the specials have since been released on DVD Keeping Up AppearancesGenreSitcomCreated byRoy ClarkeWritten byRoy ClarkeMichelle Street 2008 special Directed byHarold SnoadDuane Huey 2008 special StarringPatricia RoutledgeClive SwiftJosephine TewsonGeoffrey HughesJudy CornwellShirley StelfoxMary MillarDavid GriffinTheme music composerNick IngmanCountry of originUnited KingdomOriginal languageEnglishNo of series5No of episodes44 2 shorts and 2 specials list of episodes ProductionProducerHarold SnoadProduction locationsBBC Television Centre Binley Woods Warwickshire England Hyacinth s Home Stoke Aldermoor Coventry West Midlands England Daisy and Onslow s Council Estates House Leamington Spa England Towns and various locations Northampton England Church Church Hall and Vicarage Swindon Wiltshire England Oxford England Bristol England Great Yarmouth Norfolk England Copenhagen Denmark location scenes Camera setupSingle camera Multi CameraRunning time30 minutes50 minutes 1994 Christmas special 60 minutes 1993 Christmas special 60 minutes 1997 amp 2008 TV specials Production companyBBCDistributorBBC Worldwide 2entertain Universal Pictures ABC Australia home video Warner Home Video US home video Iowa Public Television US television 1 ReleaseOriginal networkBBC1Picture formatPALAudio formatMonaural series 1 Stereo series 2 5 Original release29 October 1990 1990 10 29 25 December 1995 1995 12 25 1997 2008 TV specials ChronologyRelatedYoung HyacinthThe sitcom follows Hyacinth in her attempts to prove her social superiority and to gain standing with those she considers upper class Her attempts are constantly hampered by her lower class extended family whom she is desperate to hide Much of the humour comes from the conflict between Hyacinth s vision of herself and the reality of her underclass background In each episode she lands in a farcical situation as she battles to protect her social credibility Keeping Up Appearances was a great success in the UK and also captured large audiences in the US Canada Australia Denmark Finland Sweden Norway Ireland Belgium and the Netherlands By February 2016 it had been sold nearly a thousand times to overseas broadcasters making it BBC Worldwide s most exported television programme In a 2004 BBC poll it placed 12th in Britain s Best Sitcom In a 2001 Channel 4 poll Hyacinth was ranked 52nd on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters 3 The show has been syndicated on Gold and Drama in the UK on PBS member stations in the United States and on 7TWO and 9Gem in Australia Contents 1 Premise 2 Cast 3 Episodes 4 Specials 4 1 The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket 1997 4 2 Life Lessons from Onslow 2008 5 Production 5 1 Locations 5 2 Vehicles 6 Legacy 7 Merchandise 7 1 Audio 7 2 VHS 7 3 DVD 7 4 Streaming 7 5 Books 7 5 1 Overseas books 8 Theatre adaptation 9 Prequel 10 References 11 External linksPremise EditHyacinth Bucket Patricia Routledge who insists her surname is pronounced Bouquet although her husband Richard has said It was always Bucket until I met you 4 is an overbearing social climbing snob originally from a lower class background whose main mission in life is to impress others with her refinement and pretended affluence She is terrified that her background will be revealed and goes to great lengths to hide it Hyacinth likes to spend her days visiting stately homes convinced she will meet and strike up a friendship with the upper class owners especially if they are part of the landed gentry or peerage and hosting executive style candlelight suppers with her Royal Worcester double glazed Avignon china and Royal Doulton china with the hand painted periwinkles 5 She ostentatiously brags about her possessions including her white slimline telephone with automatic redial which she always answers with The Bouquet residence the lady of the house speaking 6 Frequently she receives misdialled calls asking for a Chinese take away making her angry She speaks in an exaggerated RP like accent with Northern undertones while her relatives speak in broad Northern accents Her neighbours speak in milder RP accents When flustered Hyacinth reverts to her native Northern accent Hyacinth s attempts to impress make the lives of those around her difficult her continual efforts to improve her social position usually involve inviting her unwitting neighbours and friends to exclusive candlelight suppers Although Hyacinth is not deterred by the lack of response to her attempts her friends neighbours and acquaintances live in fear of being invited and usually make frantic attempts to excuse themselves Her husband Richard Clive Swift bears the brunt of the suffering He initially worked for the council but at the beginning of series 3 reluctantly accepts early retirement Although he loves her with a long suffering endurance he is notably exasperated by her plans and her habit of making extravagant and unnecessary purchases Although she lives to impress others Hyacinth regularly competes with the middle class neighbours whom she considers snobbish show offs such as Sonia Barker Finch Delia Wheelwright and Lydia Hawksworth who alone of Hyacinth s rivals seems to be an actual snob as she disdains kiwifruit as lower middle class Hyacinth sometimes says things like I haven t a snobbish bone in my body or I can t abide such snobbery like that when talking about those she considers her competition Always hindering Hyacinth s best efforts to impress and providing an unwelcome reminder of her less than refined roots are her working class sisters Daisy Judy Cornwell and Rose Shirley Stelfox in series 1 Mary Millar thereafter and Daisy s proudly bone idle husband Onslow Geoffrey Hughes They along with Hyacinth s senile father frequently turn up inconveniently usually in their clapped out Ford Cortina Mk IV which always makes a characteristic backfire when it arrives with Hyacinth going to great lengths to avoid them saying Richard you know I love my family but that s no reason why I should have to acknowledge them in broad daylight Rose is very sexually aggressive and promiscuous adding to Hyacinth s embarrassment Hyacinth s senile father frequently has flashbacks to the Second World War and often exhibits bizarre behaviour sometimes involving embarrassing situations with women Onslow describes him as barmy Two relatives of whom Hyacinth is not ashamed are her wealthy sister Violet Anna Dawson and her unseen son Sheridan Violet frequently telephones Hyacinth for advice allowing her to loudly announce to anyone in earshot It s my sister Violet the one with a Mercedes swimming pool sauna and room for a pony However Violet s social acceptability is damaged by the eccentric behaviour of her cross dressing equestrian loving turf accountant husband Bruce whom she violently attacks because of his behaviour Hyacinth also tries to impress people with the intellectual prowess of her beloved son Sheridan who actually only takes a course in needlework at a polytechnic Hyacinth boasts about the psychic closeness of their relationship and how often he writes and telephones her although he never writes and only telephones his mother to ask for money much to the despair of Richard 7 Hyacinth is blissfully oblivious of the seemingly obvious hints that Sheridan who lives with a man named Tarquin who makes his own curtains wears silk pyjamas and has won prizes for embroidery is gay 8 It is at one point implied that Sheridan has come out to his father Hyacinth s neighbour Elizabeth Warden Josephine Tewson is frequently invited round to the Buckets for coffee Though she is ordinarily calm Elizabeth s nerves go to pieces in Hyacinth s house causing her to smash Hyacinth s china and spill coffee and biscuits on Hyacinth s Burmese rug 9 She is married with a daughter away at university yet her husband works abroad and like Sheridan neither character ever appears Elizabeth is occasionally able to one up Hyacinth herself by reminding her neighbour that her daughter is at university while Sheridan is studying at a mere polytechnic Liz s brother Emmet David Griffin moves in with her at the beginning of series 2 after a messy divorce Hyacinth upon learning that Emmet is a musician frequently and abruptly sings out of key at him to try to get a part in one of his productions making him terrified of leaving the house lest she see him She ll sing at me Emmet s problems are made worse by Hyacinth s mistaken belief that his frightened reactions indicate that he is infatuated with her which in fact could not be further from the truth Hyacinth frequently confronts the postman with complaints such as having to receive mail bearing second class stamps harassing him to the point that he will go to extreme lengths not to face her she often forces workmen and other visitors to her home to remove their shoes before entering Michael the vicar of the local church Jeremy Gittins is also loath to face the overbearing Hyacinth to whom he refers to others as the Bucket woman The vicar and his wife sometimes exact comic revenge on Hyacinth for her snobbishness on one occasion when she was one of a group of volunteer helpers at the church the vicar s wife saw to it that Hyacinth s hand went up prematurely and assigned her the job of cleaning the church toilets Cast Edit The cast in 1991 Standing from left to right Jeremy Gittins David Griffin Judy Cornwell Geoffrey Hughes and Mary Millar Seated from left to right Clive Swift Patricia Routledge and Josephine Tewson Character Played By Series1 2 3 4 5MainHyacinth Bucket Patricia Routledge Richard Bucket Clive Swift Elizabeth Liz Warden Josephine Tewson Daisy Judy Cornwell Onslow Geoffrey Hughes Rose Shirley Stelfox Mary Millar Emmet Hawksworth David Griffin RecurringMichael the vicar Jeremy Gittins Daddy Father George Webb Vicar s wife Marion Barron Michael the postman Leo Dolan David Janson Milkman Robert Rawles Violet Anna Dawson Major Wilton Smythe Peter Cellier Mrs Councillor Nugent Charmian May Bruce John Evitts Episodes EditMain article List of Keeping Up Appearances episodes Keeping Up Appearances aired for five series four Christmas specials and one short Children in Need special from 29 October 1990 to 25 December 1995 2 later specials were produced in 2004 and 2008 for PBS TV The series officially ended after the episode The Pageant because Patricia Routledge wanted to focus on other TV and theatre work including Hetty Wainthropp Investigates which began airing in 1996 Clive Swift who portrayed Richard stated in a BBC interview that Routledge didn t want to be remembered as simply Mrs Bucket 10 SeriesSeriesEpisodesOriginally airedFirst airedLast aired1629 October 1990 1990 10 29 3 December 1990 1990 12 03 2101 September 1991 1991 09 01 3 November 1991 1991 11 03 125 December 1991 1991 12 25 376 September 1992 1992 09 06 18 October 1992 1992 10 18 475 September 1993 1993 09 05 17 October 1993 1993 10 17 226 December 1993 1993 12 26 25 December 1994 1994 12 25 5103 September 1995 1995 09 03 5 November 1995 1995 11 05 125 December 1995 1995 12 25 Specials EditThe Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket 1997 Edit In 1997 BBC America produced a one off one hour TV special It was a retrospective clipshow starring the characters of Daisy and Onslow who were shown looking through Hyacinth s diary which had become mixed up with some photographs she had given to them The special replayed clips from previous episodes and aired on the BBC Life Lessons from Onslow 2008 Edit In 2008 a further clipshow special was broadcast by PBS this time only starring the character of Onslow who passed on lessons for life from within the framing device of a spoof Open University programme This was the only episode not written or directed by Roy Clarke and Harold Snoad This special was written by Michelle Street and directed by Duane Huey Both specials have subsequently been issued on DVD It was one of actor Geoffrey Hughes final appearances as Onslow Production EditLocations Edit The council terrace in Stoke Aldermoor occupied by Daisy and Onslow Exterior shots around Hyacinth s house were recorded at a privately owned residence at 117 Heather Road Binley Woods Warwickshire east of Coventry 11 Exterior shots around Daisy s and Onslow s council terrace were taken in the Stoke Aldermoor district of Coventry 12 Other exterior street and town shots were filmed in Leamington Spa and in various towns in Warwickshire along with many scenes from the large town of Northampton mainly the church hall Some scenes were also shot in Swindon Lydiard Park Oxford market scenes and Bristol Bedminster One scene was shot in Oslo Norway One episode was filmed in Great Yarmouth mainly in the Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach Theme Park The opening sequence shows Hyacinth writing an invitation to one of her trademark candlelight suppers this invitation lists Hyacinth s address as Waney Elm Blossom Avenue Fuddleton In the same sequence the invitation is eventually sent to an address in Eddleton Neither town actually exists However there are several references to the characters being in the West Midlands throughout the series as when Hyacinth said that she could become the Barbara Cartland of the West Midlands Social Circuit Scene in the episode The Hostess In another episode police officers wearing West Midlands Police jumpers escort Richard home and several West Midlands Travel buses are also seen throughout the series Vehicles Edit Richard s car is a Rover 200 series SD3 saloon Early episodes show a light blue 1987 216S bearing the number plate D541 EXL but later episodes feature a sky blue 1989 216SE EFi model with the same number plate except for one letter now D541 EFL 13 Onslow drives a 1978 Ford Cortina number plate VSD 389S that is in poor condition and backfires loudly almost every time it starts or stops embarrassing Hyacinth and frequently crushing her hopes of creating a perfect impression with new people The DVLA website shows that this vehicle s tax was not renewed once the series finished suggesting that it was scrapped at that point Onslow also has the rusting carcass of a Hillman Avenger in his front garden in which lives Onslow s dog that always barks at Hyacinth as she approaches 13 Violet and Bruce own a Mercedes Benz W126 S class and later a Mercedes Benz W202 C class Neighbour Elizabeth drives a white 1989 Austin Metro City hatchback with number plate F434 RLA which despite being the subject of comments from Hyacinth about its age is newer than Richard s car 13 Legacy EditVarious spin off shows related to the programme were released or planned The Memoirs of Hyacinth BucketIn March 1997 Geoffrey Hughes and Judy Cornwell reprised their roles as Onslow and Daisy for a special compilation episode recorded for broadcast in the United States on PBS The show sees the pair introduce classic clips from the series Comedy ConnectionsIn 2004 the documentary series featured an episode dedicated to Keeping Up Appearances Stars Clive Swift Josephine Tewson Judy Cornwell and David Griffin along with writer Roy Clarke and producer director Harold Snoad all discussed the series Clips from an interview with Patricia Routledge from 2002 were also included The episode revealed that there were serious artistic differences between Clarke and Snoad Specifically Clarke refused to act as anything but a writer and rarely visited the set or location shoots necessitating that Snoad make minor rewrites to accommodate the realities of taping This infuriated Clarke who disliked any tampering of his work and Snoad thought Clarke was being unreasonable The situation was mitigated in later series by the hiring of a script editor whose sole job was to keep Clarke apprised of Snoad s changes and to keep Snoad informed of Clarke s opinion of them 10 Life Lessons from OnslowIn early 2008 Geoffrey Hughes reprised his role as Onslow once again for a clipshow of the series this was for broadcast on American television and sees him teaching a credit course at the Open University and has selected successful relationships as his subject matter The special was also released on Region 1 DVD 14 15 16 Mind Your ManorsWhen Keeping Up Appearances did not return after Patricia Routledge announced that she no longer wished to play Hyacinth Roy Clarke s proposed spin off series was called Mind Your Manors The series was referenced in BBC in house literature during 1997 and 1998 and later described by both Clarke and Geoffrey Hughes as part of a discussion of the character of Onslow in Radio 4 s Archive on 4 On Northern Men 17 broadcast in 2009 The spin off would have seen Onslow forced to take a supposedly easy job tending the gardens of a large manor house estate owned by a doddery and rather forgetful old Lord When the Lord passes away suddenly Onslow Daisy and Rose who it is implied was having a fling with the Lord causing the heart attack which led to his passing end up temporarily moving into the manor house to mind it due to a legal dispute with the deceased Lord s estranged brother whom Rose immediately starts lusting after who wants the land A mislaid deeds paper left by the forgetful old Lord would supposedly clarify who has rights to the estate buried somewhere in the gardens that Onslow is left to ineptly try and keep in shape Most of the conflict would have come from the Lord s brother and the manor s snooty neighbours the wealthy Hyde Whytes who are not happy about the commoners who have taken up residence next door although it later transpires that Mr Hyde Whyte used to know Onslow in their youth and is indebted to him after Onslow once took the fall for him to stop him being arrested Su Pollard was approached to play the role of Miss Dorothy Dotty Henshaw the Lord s eccentric and easily flustered cook house keeper who remains with the estate and some preliminary location shooting was reportedly undertaken though this may be connected with the missing final episode of Series 5 The Bishop Affair 18 This proposed follow up series was ultimately not commissioned with Hughes continuing with his portrayal as Onslow in the specials listed above instead Merchandise EditAudio Edit In 1998 the BBC released three episodes of the show Hyacinth tees off Rural Retreat and Sea Fever on audio cassette Clive Swift reprised his role as Richard recording a narrative to compensate for the lack of images VHS Edit BBC Video released three videos featuring episodes from the series How to Enhance Your Husband s RetirementThis was released in 1993 and featured the episodes Iron Age Remains What to Wear when Yachting and How to Go on Holiday Without Really Trying Sea FeverThis was released in 1994 and featured the episodes Sea Fever and A Job for Richard Rural RetreatThis was released in 1995 and featured the episodes Country Retreat Let There Be Light and Please Mind Your Head DVD Edit Region 1 DVD overview DVD title Series Release dateRegion 1 FeaturesVolume 1 My Way or the Hyacinth Way Series 1 all 6 episodes 18 March 2003 19 Special features Outtakes Cast BiosVolume 2 Hints from Hyacinth Series 2 episodes 1 5 18 March 2003 20 Special features Outtakes Cast BiosVolume 3 Home is Where the Hyacinth Is Series 2 episodes 6 10 18 March 2003 21 Special features Funny Women profile of Patricia Routledge Outtakes Cast BiosVolume 4 Deck the Halls with Hyacinth All 4 Christmas specials 18 March 2003 22 Special features The Kitty Monologues Cast BiosHyacinth in Full Bloom Volumes 1 4 Series 1 2 amp all specials 18 March 2003 23 see individual releases for special featuresVolume 5 Everything s Coming Up Hyacinth Series 3 all 7 episodes 3 February 2004 24 Special features Outtakes Cast BiosVolume 6 Some Like It Hyacinth Series 4 all 7 episodes 3 February 2004 25 Special features Second Chance Shorts Exclusive UK commercial featuring Hyacinth and Elizabeth Outtakes Cast BiosVolume 7 Living the Hyacinth Life Series 5 episodes 1 5 3 February 2004 26 Special features Pebble Mill interview with Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift Outtakes Cast BiosVolume 8 Hats Off to Hyacinth Series 5 episodes 6 10 3 February 2004 27 Special features The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket Outtakes Cast BiosHyacinth Springs Eternal Volumes 5 8 Series 3 5 3 February 2004 28 see individual releases for special featuresThe Full Bouquet Volumes 1 8 Series 1 5 amp all specials 7 September 2004 29 see individual releases for special featuresLife Lessons from Onslow Non episode video special 9 September 2008 30 Special features Interview with Geoffrey HuguesThe Full Bouquet Special Edition Volumes 1 8 Series 1 5 amp all specials 9 September 2008 31 Includes all special features from previous sets with the inclusion of the exclusive video special Life Lessons from Onslow Collector s Edition Series 1 5 amp all specials 5 November 2013 32 Special features Hyacinth Revealed Newly recorded interviews with Patricia Routledge Roy Clarke and others Outtakes Funny Women profile of Patricia Routledge The Kitty Monologues Second Chance Shorts Exclusive UK commercial featuring Hyacinth and Elizabeth Pebble Mill interview with Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket Interviews with Patricia Routledge and Judy Cornwell Comedy Connections Keeping Up Appearances Life Lessons from Onslow Region 2 and 4 DVD overview DVD title Release date FeaturesRegion 2 Region 4Series 1 amp 2 The Complete Series 1 amp 2 17 March 2003 33 1 September 2003 34 Special features Region 2 None Region 4 NoneSeries 3 amp 4 The Complete Series 3 amp 4 16 February 2004 35 8 July 2004 36 Includes 1991 Christmas SpecialSpecial features Region 2 None Region 4 NoneSeries 5 The Complete Series 5 26 December 2006 37 3 November 2005 38 Includes 1993 1994 and 1995 Christmas specialsSpecial features Region 4 only The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket Featurette Interview with Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift Outtakes Hyacinth s Social Register Hyacinth s Guest BookChristmas Specials 3 November 2014 39 11 November 2005 40 Special features Region 2 None Region 4 NoneThe Complete Collection No release 1 October 2005 41 Special features see Series 5 DVDThe Essential Collection 8 October 2007 42 No release Re released in the UK as The Complete Collection 23 September 2013 slimmer packaging 43 22 January 2018 HMV Exclusive Special features NoneLife Lessons from Onslow No release 15 April 2010 44 Special features Interviews with Patricia Routledge and Judy Cornwell OuttakesThe Full Bouquet No release 3 November 2011 45 Special features The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket Interview with Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift Outtakes Hyacinth s Social Register Hyacinth s Guest Book Comedy Connections Keeping Up Appearances Interviews with Patricia Routledge and Judy Cornwell Life Lessons from Onslow Streaming Edit In the United States the complete series was available via streaming through Netflix and Amazon Video but is no longer available to stream on either platform 46 However it is available for streaming on BritBox In Australia the complete series is available for streaming on Stan as of 2018 Books Edit Three books related to the series have been released in the UK Two were written by Jonathan Rice and published by BBC Books and the other one was written by Harold Snoad the director of Keeping Up Appearances and was published by Book Guild Publishing Hyacinth Bucket s book of etiquette for the socially less fortunateThis was first published in 1993 and is a light hearted guide to manners as seen through Hyacinth Bucket s eyes It is based on the TV series scripts and contains many black and white photos of scenes from the show 47 Hyacinth Bucket s Hectic Social CalendarThis was published in 1995 and is presented in a diary format chronicling a year in Hyacinth Bucket s life with typical comments about her relations and neighbours 48 It s Bouquet Not BucketThis was published in late 2009 the book includes rare photos which were taken during the filming of Keeping Up Appearances The book contains full plot synopses for all episodes main cast details filming locations for all episodes which used outside shots and stories of some entertaining events which happened during filming 49 Overseas books Edit Due to the popularity of Keeping Up Appearances in the United States books about the series have also been published across the Atlantic Keeping Up Appearances A Companion to the SeriesThis comical series guidebook was published in the late 1990s by WLIW21 It was co authored by mother and daughter writers Georgene and Mary Lee Costa It features summary descriptions of each episode cast and crew biographies series photographs and an interview with Harold Snoad Since it was written during the filming of the final series of episodes Snoad included the co authors of the guide as extras in the episode The Fancy Dress Ball Theatre adaptation EditIn 2010 the television show was adapted into a play entitled Keeping Up Appearances that toured theatres in the UK 50 The cast included Rachel Bell as Hyacinth Kim Hartman as Elizabeth Gareth Hale as Onslow Steven Pinder as Emmet Debbie Arnold as Rose David Janson who had previously appeared in the TV show as the postman as Mr Edward Milson a new character created for the stage show 51 Christine Moore as Daisy and Sarah Whitlock as Mrs Debden 52 Main character Richard Bucket Hyacinth s husband does not appear in the production but is frequently referred to Hyacinth addresses him off stage and talks to him on the phone The main plot of the show revolves around Emmet directing a play at the local village hall but when Hyacinth is cast in the play s leading role disaster is in the making This adaptation directed by playwright Johnny Culver made its American premiere in New York City in March 2015 at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church Theater Fellowship Jones Auditorium 53 Culver directed an additional production of this adaptation with performances on 5 August 2017 and 6 August 2017 at Saint Luke s Episcopal Church in Forest Hills Queens Prequel EditMain article Young Hyacinth In 2015 it was announced that a prequel to the series entitled Young Hyacinth would be made with original writer Roy Clarke returning to pen the script following a 19 year old Hyacinth Bucket during the early postwar years and set some forty years before the events of Keeping Up Appearances 54 The cast were announced on 11 April 2016 55 Hyacinth was played by Kerry Howard Rose by Katie Redford Daisy by Katherine Pearce Violet by Tamla Kari and Daddy by Mark Addy It was broadcast on BBC One on 2 September 2016 56 The prequel sees Hyacinth working as a maid and attempting to manage her family so they appear well above their means In the special Hyacinth is in a relationship with a Mr William Hitchcock whom Hyacinth forces to dress up and wear a hat when they walk The special ends with her drunken Daddy falling into the canal which Hyacinth s employers see causing her great embarrassment However she blames Daddy s behaviour on an old war injury 57 58 Approximately 4 14 million viewers watched the show within seven days of its broadcast making it the 22nd most watched BBC One show for the week ending 4 September A total of 4 39 million viewers watched the show within 28 days of its initial broadcast 59 References Edit Keeping up appearances Life Lessons from Onslow OCLC 313473236 The device of a humorously affected pronunciation of Bucket as Bouquet was used previously in the 1944 British comedy film Don t Take It to Heart 100 Greatest TV Characters Channel 4 Archived from the original on 31 May 2009 Retrieved 26 May 2019 Keeping Up Appearances Series 5 Episode 3 Event occurs at 8 57 Yes I ll give you my name and address It s Bouquet B u c k e t No it is Bouquet Keeping Up Appearances Series 5 Episode 3 Event occurs at 19 28 It houses my Royal Doulton with the hand painted periwinkles Keeping Up Appearances Series 5 Episode 1 Event occurs at 5 46 Keeping Up Appearances Series 5 Episode 1 Event occurs at 1 03 Do you think Sheridan s voice is getting deeper It s still asking for money I know that Keeping Up Appearances www bbc co uk Keeping Up Appearances Series 5 Episode 3 Event occurs at 13 40 a b Comedy Connections Keeping Up Appearances Comedy Connections 26 July 2004 BBC BBC One Bucket s Residence Street View Google Maps Retrieved 5 October 2014 Onslow and Daisy s Street View Google Maps Retrieved 5 October 2014 a b c Keeping Up Appearances TV Series 1990 1995 imdcb com Retrieved 25 September 2011 Life Lessons from Onslow A Keeping Up Appearances Special Life Lessons from Onslow A Keeping Up Appearances Special retrieved 1 June 2021 Life Lessons From Onslow A Keeping Up Appearances Special TVGuide com Retrieved 1 June 2021 Various 9 September 2008 Keeping Up Appearances Onslow Special BBC Home Entertainment retrieved 1 June 2021 BBC Radio 4 FM 25 July 2009 www genome ch bbc co uk 25 July 2009 Archived from the original on 21 July 2019 Retrieved 14 June 2019 Season 5 Episode 12 The Bishop Affair Keeping Up AppearancesMy Way Or the Hyacinth Way swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Archived from the original on 7 October 2022 Keeping Up AppearancesHints from Hyacinth swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Archived from the original on 7 October 2022 Keeping Up AppearancesHome Is Where the Hyacinth Is swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Deck the Halls with Hyacinth swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Archived from the original on 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Hyacinth in Full Bloom Set swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Everything s Coming Up Hyacinth swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Some Like It Hyacinth swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Living the Hyacinth Life swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Hats Off to Hyacinth swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Hyacinth Springs Eternal Set swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances The Full Bouquet Set swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Life Lessons from Onslow swapadvd com 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances The Full Bouquet Special Edition dvdtalk com 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Collector s Edition barnesandnoble com 7 October 2022 Archived from the original on 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Series 1 amp 2 comedy co uk Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Roy Clarke s Series 1 amp 2 Booktopia Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Series 3 amp 4 comedy co uk Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Roy Clarke s Series 3 amp 4 Booktopia Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Series 5 comedy co uk Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Roy Clarke s Series 5 Booktopia Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Christmas Specials comedy co uk Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Roy Clarke s Christmas Specials Booktopia Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Boxset sanity com au Archived from the original on 17 January 2019 Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances The Essential Collection DVD amazon co uk Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances The Complete Collection DVD 2013 amazon co uk Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Roy Clarke s Life Lessons From Onslow Booktopia Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances The Full Bouquet DVD blu ray com Retrieved 7 October 2022 Keeping Up Appearances Season 1 Episode 1 Daddy s Accident Amazon Retrieved 3 July 2013 Clarke Roy Rice Jonathan 1993 Keeping Up Appearances Hyacinth Bucket s Book of Etiquette for the Socially Less Fortunate ISBN 978 0563369752 Rice Jo Clarke Roy 1995 Hyacinth Bucket s Hectic Social Calendar ISBN 978 0563371861 Snoad Harold 2009 It s Bouquet Not Bucket ISBN 978 1846243516 Berry Kevin 3 June 2010 Keeping Up Appearances thestage co uk Archived from the original on 31 May 2014 Retrieved 4 July 2013 Burbridge Steve Theatre review Keeping Up Appearances at Darlington Civic Theatre and touring British Theatre Guide Retrieved 4 July 2013 Barr Gordon 12 June 2010 Preview Keeping Up Appearances Playhouse Whitley Bay The Chronicle Archived from the original on 18 January 2015 Retrieved 4 July 2013 Keeping Up Appearances theaterscene net 12 March 2015 Retrieved 9 October 2022 Foster Patrick 16 November 2015 Keeping Up Appearances set to return as Young Hyacinth The Daily Telegraph Archived from the original on 12 January 2022 Retrieved 21 November 2015 Kerry Howard to play Young Hyacinth in a special prequel to Keeping Up Appearances for BBC One BBC BBC 11 April 2016 Retrieved 15 April 2016 Young Hyacinth BBC Retrieved 27 April 2017 Warner Sam 11 April 2016 Keeping Up Appearances remake casts Kerry Howard as a young Hyacinth Digital Spy Retrieved 12 April 2016 Harp Justin 11 April 2016 Sacked Coronation Street star Katie Redford lands a new role in the Keeping Up Appearances prequel Digital Spy Retrieved 12 April 2016 Weekly top 30 programmes Broadcasters Audience Research Board Retrieved 27 April 2017 External links Edit Look up room for a pony in Wiktionary the free dictionary Wikiquote has quotations related to Keeping Up Appearances Keeping Up Appearances at BBC Online Keeping Up Appearances at BBC Online Keeping Up Appearances at British Comedy Guide Keeping Up Appearances at epguides com Keeping Up Appearances at IMDb Keeping Up Appearances at the BFI s Screenonline Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Keeping Up Appearances amp oldid 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