On set secrets of Keeping Up Appearances revealed 30 years on from the beloved BBC sitcom ending, with Judy Cornwell letting slip some backstage gossip
Back in the 1990s, Keeping Up Appearances was one of Britain’s most beloved sitcoms, and at the centre of the comedy both on and off screen was Judy Cornwell.
She was renowned for playing the cardigan-loving, sexually frustrated Daisy – the sister of Patricia Routledge’s iconic Hyacinth Bucket and the wife of slob Onslow (Geoffrey Hughes). And while the sitcom had 15 million fans in stitches every week, Judy says the laughs on set were non-stop too.
The star, 84, regularly larked around with Dame Patricia, Clive Swift and former Corrie star Geoffrey. And even though the final episode of the show aired 30 years ago, Judy still gets fan mail from around the world. She says: “I get a lot of letters saying that while they knew Pat was the posh lead, they all identified with Daisy and Onslow because this is how they thought life to be. And I thought that was lovely and charming.
“People to used to identify with the dynamics, especially when Onslow used to panic when Daisy was getting randy And then Daddy going off on a bike without his coat… it resonated with Brits about how everybody has to cope with family, and that we are eccentrics.”
Actress Judy landed the part because of BBC super producer Harold Snoad, famous for hits like Dad’s Army, Are You Being Served? and Ever Decreasing Circles. She caught his eye after a stint working on The Dick Emery Show and became part of a dream team of talent in writer Roy Clarke’s hilarious show.
“Harold picked me for Daisy, which was perfect,” Judy recalls. “I enjoyed playing that part, working with people I respected and liked. Patricia was the perfect Hyacinth, thanks to years of great theatre experience. She gave a brilliant performance. And it is fair to say she was shocked by how big the show became, given all her other work.
“Clive [Richard] was a very good actor and quite serious fellow off-set, but they were a perfect foil to each other. Everyone got on well. And even when we weren’t filming we would meet up for lunch and catch up on gossip.” Judy knew the sitcom would be a hit from the very first scene, which in those days were filmed in front of a live audience.
She says: “Geoffrey and I got on the set, sat together in bed and it collapsed. Our legs flew in the air and we just rolled over each other. It was hard to get the audience to simmer down – they were hysterical. Everything we ever did on or off script would make the audience laugh.
“We were always up to stuff. He was very naughty and used to pinch my bottom under the covers and say rude things. And he would always say it before I had a line so I would get the giggles, leaving the audience wondering what was the matter with me. I used to get my own back – I would kick him underneath the covers. We had a lot of fun and naughtiness.
“Geoffrey’s sense of humour was brilliant, and our families became friends. He was fun, very loyal and we had this great ability to work fast. He and I sank into our characters very quickly – after a couple of read-throughs, we had it down. Roy’s script was brilliant and Harold was just a fun man who let us play around. From that we made magic.”
Judy fondly recalls making sure Daisy always wore her infamous grey cardigan and Onslow had his dirty old vest. She says: “I went down to the BBC wardrobe room and found this grey cardigan, which was awful, and I thought, ‘That is it!’ I put it on along with some terrible old sandals. They were my own from home, which were worn and raggedy. And Geoffrey’s vest we used to make grubbier by throwing some sandwiches from catering on it before shooting.”
Fans loved watching sexually frustrated bookworm Daisy try to recreate scenes from romance novels with Onslow. Judy says: “Harold gave me a Mills & Boon book, and I said she can have a romantic book every week. And I was then at a publishing dinner where the Mills & Boon people came leaping up and said, ‘Our book sales have gone through the roof’.”
Keeping Up Appearances ended in 1995, when the BBC cast Dame Patricia as the lead in drama Hetty Wainthropp Investigates. But Judy insists: “There was no bitterness or ill feeling. We all wanted to do other things.” Judy, who is also a novelist, continued writing, including a memoir called Adventures of a Jelly Baby. And Keeping Up Appearances remained a hit, with over 100 countries running repeats.
It led the BBC to work on a Daisy and Onslow spin-off. Two US shows featuring clips of them from the five series worked well, but they went on to other things. Judy says she is glad that the Beeb have not attempted a reboot. She says: “It’d probably seem false if you saw other people playing these characters. It was a magical moment.”
Judy, who has also appeared in Hollywood films such as Santa Claus: The Movie, feels Daisy’s love for Onslow mirrors her own passion for former Fleet Street journalist husband John. From her home in Brighton. she says: “This year we will be celebrating our 65th wedding anniversary.” She adds: “I have had such a great career. Keeping Up Appearances was a highlight. I am so glad it is loved to this day.”
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.