BBC’s Keeping Up Appearances was one of the best loved sitcoms of the 1990s, with its last episode attracting 16 million viewers. We take a look at what became of the talented cast
From social-climbing snob Hyacinth Bucket – pronounced ‘Bouquet’, of course – and her long-suffering husband Richard, to her “tart with a heart” sister Rose, and slobby brother-in-law Onslow, Keeping Up Appearances was filled with memorable characters. The BBC sitcom was a global smash, with 992 channels in other countries buying the comedy, which was watched everywhere from the US to Australia.
Three and a half decades on from the first ever episode of the show, which ran for five unforgettable series, it’s time to take a closer look at what happened to its cast…
Judy Cornwell, who played Hyacinth’s sexually frustrated sister Daisy, recently summed up the enduring affection for the programme when she said: “It resonated with Brits about how everybody has to cope with family, and that we are eccentrics.”
READ MORE: Keeping Up Appearances secrets revealed 30 years on from BBC sitcom ending
Patricia Routledge
Hyacinth – star of the show – was renowned for panicking when husband Richard was at the wheel, and losing her temper if anyone pronounced her last name ‘Bucket’.
And it was acclaimed actress Patricia Routledge who brought her to life. Prior to taking on the role, she had enjoyed great success in the theatre, performing on Broadway and winning Tony and Olivier awards. And after the show’s five year run finished in 1995, Patricia took on another a lead role in the BBC’s Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.
Now 96, Patricia was made a Dame in 2017 and last year received honorary membership of the Royal Academy of Music.
Clive Swift
Patient husband Richard gained a great deal of sympathy from the viewers for stoically putting up with Hyacinth’s ridiculous behaviour. And he was perfectly portrayed by actor Clive Swift.
Following the show, Clive went on to appear in the most successful of the Doctor Who Christmas specials, playing Mr Copper, alongside Kylie Minogue. The Shakespeare-trained actor was also a singer and musician, and toured the UK with his show Richard Bouquet Overflows.
He was married to novelist Margaret Drabble until they divorced after 15 years together, with the couple sharing three children . Clive’s last appearance on TV was on ITV’s Midsomer Murders in 2017. He sadly passed away in February 2019, aged 82.
Geoffrey Hughes
Series creator Roy Clarke said Onslow was his favourite character in the show, and the self-proclaimed layabout appeared in many hilarious scenes. Known for his white vest and baseball cap, Onslow liked betting, beer, and television – but was surprisingly well read and knowledgeable about technology and philosophy.
Actor Geoffrey Hughes, who had previously played Eddie Yeats in ITV’s Coronation Street, later starred as Twiggy in the BBC’s The Royle Family and played Vernon Scripps in ITV’s Heartbeat. The star died in 2012 from prostate cancer, survived by wife Sue.
Shirley Stelfox and Mary Millar
Hyacinth’s man-eating younger sister Rose, who horrified her sibling with her short skirts and heavy make-up, was played by two actresses on the show. Shirley Stelfox appeared in the first series before going on to take a long-running role in ITV’s Emmerdale as cutting Edna Birch. Married twice with a daughter and two step-children, the actress passed away in 2015 aged 74.
Actress Mary Millar took on the part of Rose for the final four series, with the veteran West End performer returning to theatre afterwards to play Mrs Potts in Beauty And The Beast. Married with a daughter, the star died in November 1998 from ovarian cancer, aged 62.
Judy Cornwell
Sister to Hyacinth and Rose, Daisy (right) was always up for romance with husband Onslow – who wasn’t so keen. There was famously a fourth sister called Violet, whom Hyacinth loved to boast about because of her Mercedes, and house with a sauna and “room for a pony”.
Now 85, Judy Cornwell starred as Queenie Trott in EastEnders after the show, as well as appearing in Birds Of A Feather. The star – who is married and has a son – has had roles in ITV’s Midsomer Murders and Heartbeat, and has written several novels.
Josephine Tewson
Elizabeth Warden was intimated by her domineering neighbour Hyacinth, who often invited her round for coffee which she tended to spill in a panic.
Josephine Tewson, who sadly died last year aged 91, starred alongside some of the most famous names in telly in her 50-year long career. She was married twice, firstly to actor Leonard Rossiter, and latterly to dental surgeon Henry Newman.
The actress also appeared in LWT’s Frost On Sunday alongside Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, and in the BBC’s The Two Ronnies. After the sitcom, she played highly strung librarian Miss Davenport in BBC’s Last Of The Summer Wine and toured the country in her 80s in a one woman show about her work, Still Keeping Up Appearances.
David Griffin
Elizabeth’s brother Emmet was a divorced musician who often stayed over with his sister. He was terrified of her neighbour Hyacinth, who loved to sing at him so she could appear in one of his musical plays.
Before Keeping Up Appearances, actor David Griffin, 81, starred as Squadron Leader Clive Dempster in Hi-de-Hi! and after the show he linked up with actress Su Pollard again to tour the world in stage show The Good Sex Guide. The star, who married with two children, has also appeared in several pantos.