Keeping Up Appearances (1990-1995)
This has to be one of the funniest shows of all time! The series follows Hyacinth Bucket, pronounced "Bouquet," as she demonstrates her social superiority to her family, her acquaintances, and her village.
The show was created and written by Roy Clarke
Starring PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE, with the mere repertory players consisting of Josephine Tewson, Geoffrey Hughes, Judy Cornwell, Mary Millar/Shirley Stelfox, David Griffin, and Clive Swift as Richard.
What are your favorite scenes? Characters? Episodes?
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 137 | August 7, 2024 6:45 AM
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The boat scene is hilarious. Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift did their own stunts.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 1 | January 8, 2024 3:02 AM
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They started turning her into a Lucy like moron. Meh.
by Anonymous | reply 2 | January 8, 2024 3:03 AM
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Getting stuck on the back of a lorry
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 3 | January 8, 2024 3:03 AM
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The scene where she makes Elizabeth park three block away from Onslow's house!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 4 | January 8, 2024 3:04 AM
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The one where she is stuck on the back of the lorry. And the one where Richard finally loses his shit and yells at her by the public pay phone.
by Anonymous | reply 5 | January 8, 2024 3:07 AM
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Every scene with a phone call from Sheridan.
by Anonymous | reply 6 | January 8, 2024 3:09 AM
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Sheridan was gay, right? lol
by Anonymous | reply 7 | January 8, 2024 3:12 AM
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I love this show. It didn't come on my radar until 2004 or so when I met a great friend from the UK and he turned me on to it. I feel like I know that village and all it's charm and silliness. Just watching Hyacinth at the telephone is a whole sketch on its own. Call me twee or an anglophile but I love the British comedy shows. The Catherine Tate Show is another absolute gem.
by Anonymous | reply 8 | January 8, 2024 3:13 AM
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Hyacinth's great escape from The Major
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 9 | January 8, 2024 3:14 AM
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Bucket residence, Lady of the House speaking
by Anonymous | reply 10 | January 8, 2024 3:14 AM
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R9, looking back, it was remarkable that one of the common plot points in the first couple of seasons was Hyacinth being sexually assaulted by various men.
by Anonymous | reply 11 | January 8, 2024 3:29 AM
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A bunch or short scenes of Hyacinth being a bitch.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 12 | January 8, 2024 3:47 AM
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Folks mispronouncing Boo-kay.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 13 | January 8, 2024 3:48 AM
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Hyacinth's best one liners.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 14 | January 8, 2024 3:50 AM
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A good one. Tea time with Elizabeth.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 15 | January 8, 2024 3:51 AM
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Richard forgets their wedding anniversary.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 16 | January 8, 2024 3:54 AM
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It was noted that Hyacinth has very poor handwriting, especially for a woman aspiring to the upper class.
by Anonymous | reply 17 | January 8, 2024 4:16 AM
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My favorite episodes are "Driving Mrs. Fortescue" and "How to Go on Holiday Without Really Trying."
by Anonymous | reply 18 | January 8, 2024 4:41 AM
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They got the clothing spot on for middle-class women in the provinces. This is very much how homemaking wives of professional men, very much involved with church, school committees and the Rotary association, dressed in the 1980s and early 1990s.
by Anonymous | reply 19 | January 8, 2024 6:51 AM
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[quote]This has to be one of the funniest shows of all time!
It is OP. It always puts a smile on my face.
by Anonymous | reply 20 | January 8, 2024 7:02 AM
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R3 that's one of my favourite episodes too, but they are all brilliant. Onslow is my favourite character, I find him extremely relatable.
And that vicar was so fucking hot which was a nice bonus
by Anonymous | reply 21 | January 8, 2024 8:07 AM
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If Sheridan were here, he’d be appalled.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 22 | January 8, 2024 8:35 AM
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Is it streaming anywhere?
by Anonymous | reply 23 | January 8, 2024 8:49 AM
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"Richard, Sheridan, and his best friend Steve are no longer speaking. Probably over the rent. He moved out"
or some such hilarity
by Anonymous | reply 25 | January 8, 2024 10:04 AM
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There’s a Hyacinth Bouquet account on Facebook where Hyacinth, Richard, Daisy, Onslow, Elizabeth, Emmet, and Sheridan interact with each other. It’s hilarious!
by Anonymous | reply 26 | January 8, 2024 10:21 AM
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Thank you for bringing this to our attention. “Bouquet” you say?
by Anonymous | reply 28 | January 8, 2024 12:33 PM
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R25 Sheridan’s best friend is Tarquin.
by Anonymous | reply 29 | January 8, 2024 12:35 PM
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Was the Bucket woman a Brexiteer?
by Anonymous | reply 30 | January 8, 2024 12:38 PM
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Does one’s Royal Doulton tea set feature hand painted periwinkles, r30?
by Anonymous | reply 31 | January 8, 2024 1:12 PM
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What nationality is Tarquin?
by Anonymous | reply 32 | January 8, 2024 1:25 PM
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Patricia Routledge is one of the greatest comedy actresses of all time!
by Anonymous | reply 33 | January 8, 2024 1:52 PM
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Richard and Hyacinth getting stuck in the kitchen
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 34 | January 8, 2024 1:56 PM
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Everyone looked liked a real person in this show
by Anonymous | reply 35 | January 8, 2024 1:57 PM
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R2 You are right that this show was, at its core, I Love Lucy. A woman with plans and schemes who ends up "slipping on the banana peel" as Routledge herself put it. It took that basic premise and added the very British tradition of social climbing and produced a hit. Routledge was not only a very good actress but a good "clown" with physical comedy and wordsmithing. If you go on Youtube you can watch her dramatic work, which is very good.
by Anonymous | reply 36 | January 8, 2024 2:07 PM
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I’ve always loved this hilarious parody. It’s so on the nose.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 37 | January 8, 2024 8:39 PM
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If the part had been decent she would have made a great Queen Mother in 5/6 of The Crown.
by Anonymous | reply 38 | January 8, 2024 8:46 PM
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She deserves to be recognized with Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, etc.
by Anonymous | reply 39 | January 8, 2024 10:41 PM
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I always wondered if Elizabeth really liked Hyacinth
by Anonymous | reply 40 | January 9, 2024 12:22 AM
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r40 She didn't really have any nerves, her dropping the cups was just her psychologically torturing Hyacinth.
by Anonymous | reply 41 | January 9, 2024 12:25 AM
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R41 She was sweet and understanding, too. I think she felt bad for Hyacinth, but she also liked her.
by Anonymous | reply 42 | January 9, 2024 1:43 AM
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Tell that to the husband buried in the garden
by Anonymous | reply 43 | January 9, 2024 1:43 AM
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You're just sucking the humour out of this thread, aren't you?
by Anonymous | reply 45 | January 9, 2024 2:21 AM
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A visit to the Bucket residence:
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 46 | January 9, 2024 2:53 AM
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Patricia Routledge on Desert Island Discs. 1999.
Her choices included Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Holst, Elgar, Beethoven, and Schubert.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 47 | January 9, 2024 2:54 AM
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“Mendelssohn, I think.”
“It’s Chopin!”
“Of course, some ignoramus walking by said it was Mendelsshon! Coffee at eleven, bring Emmett.”
by Anonymous | reply 48 | January 9, 2024 3:06 AM
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Are DL folk aware that Hyacinth is one of the family? Her LT partner was The Right Honorable Betty Boothroyd, Speaker of the House of Commons.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 49 | January 9, 2024 3:15 AM
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Any scene with that dishy Vicar!
by Anonymous | reply 51 | January 9, 2024 3:40 AM
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She does r39. This poignant 1982 piece shows what a brilliant actress she is. It’s worth a watch if you haven’t seen it.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 52 | January 9, 2024 4:56 AM
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The vicar WAS dishy. Were we supposed to buy that Emmett was really a STRAIGHT divorcee?
by Anonymous | reply 53 | January 9, 2024 4:57 AM
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The dishy vicar in bed with another man!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 54 | January 9, 2024 5:02 AM
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It is a frightening extrapolation of I love Lucy translated to England. Right down to a gay Little Ricky. Richard and Lucille the retirement years. Boom chickie boom, Hyacinth.
by Anonymous | reply 55 | January 9, 2024 5:28 AM
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One of my all-time favourites!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 56 | January 9, 2024 6:33 AM
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One of my all-time favourites!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 57 | January 9, 2024 6:33 AM
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Fuck me, I apologize for the double post. But I love that sequence at the links.
by Anonymous | reply 58 | January 9, 2024 6:34 AM
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It's worth posting twice R58!
by Anonymous | reply 59 | January 9, 2024 8:15 AM
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He really was a dishy vicar:
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 60 | January 9, 2024 8:17 AM
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They should do a reboot with 50-something Sheridan trying to maintain his mummy's legacy and standards much to his husband Tarquin's eternal dismay.
by Anonymous | reply 61 | January 9, 2024 9:35 AM
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R56 / R57 - that's a good one. And, having her kiss Richard at the end is such a lovely touch. A sober Hyacinth would never show such a public display of affection.
by Anonymous | reply 62 | January 9, 2024 9:56 AM
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Apparently Keeping Up Appearances is the most widely globally syndicated BBC show in history. Hopefully our elderlez made a... bucket of money off of its incredible afterlife.
by Anonymous | reply 63 | January 9, 2024 9:57 AM
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Rose and the Dishy Vicar -comedy gold
by Anonymous | reply 64 | January 9, 2024 10:09 AM
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We never saw Sheridan did we?
by Anonymous | reply 65 | January 9, 2024 10:12 AM
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No, just the back of his head getting into a taxi R65. But that’s what makes it magic — Sheridan is exactly like you picture in your head! Just like Maris on Frasier.
by Anonymous | reply 66 | January 9, 2024 10:24 AM
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One of my favourite Hyacinth quotes is:
"If there's one thing I can't stand it's snobbery and one-upishness. People who try to pretend they're superior. Makes it so much harder for those of us who really are."
by Anonymous | reply 67 | January 9, 2024 10:40 AM
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R61, Sheridan could open the equivalent of an English Bates Hotel with Hyacinth forever holding a teacup.
by Anonymous | reply 68 | January 9, 2024 11:59 AM
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It was a great achievement by Routledge and a funny cast.
I feel like my PBS station only ever got the rights to about 10 episodes because I always end up seeing the same ones!
Also, I need the dishy vicar inside me quite deeply.
by Anonymous | reply 69 | January 9, 2024 12:54 PM
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R61 Don't like it. Wouldn't watch.
by Anonymous | reply 70 | January 9, 2024 1:49 PM
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I think Keeping Up Appearances is better than I Love Lucy
by Anonymous | reply 71 | January 9, 2024 1:54 PM
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I think it's one of those programmes where - no matter how many times you've seen an episode - you can still get enjoyment out of watching it again.
Plus it brings back memories for me. Both from when it was originally on telly here in the 90s (I remember it being on Sunday evenings and being allowed to watch it before being sent off to bed), but also because my Grandparents were a similar age to Hyacinth and Richard and their house was very similar, so it brings back memories of visiting them in the early to mid 90s. (Luckily my Grandma wasn't anything like Hyacinth!)
Comedy and nostalgia is a good combination.
by Anonymous | reply 72 | January 9, 2024 2:12 PM
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[quote] I think Keeping Up Appearances is better than I Love Lucy
The sound you just heard is 400 eldergays SHRIEKING in anger and confusion
by Anonymous | reply 73 | January 9, 2024 4:18 PM
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There's an episode where a workman is leaning against his truck. It is the largest bulge I'd ever seen. Sent my gayling heart aflutter.
by Anonymous | reply 74 | January 9, 2024 4:37 PM
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[quote]Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift did their own stunts
No they didn't. Just watch the scene, it's clearly not them in the water, and the credits include two stunt performers
by Anonymous | reply 75 | January 9, 2024 6:33 PM
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R75 Maybe not the boat scene, but almost everything else they did!
by Anonymous | reply 76 | January 9, 2024 10:54 PM
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"You know me, Richard, I haven't got a snobbish bone in my body."
by Anonymous | reply 78 | January 10, 2024 2:27 AM
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R74 I shall seek out the bulging man with zeal!
by Anonymous | reply 79 | January 10, 2024 4:01 AM
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I remember the word 'riparian' being used on a University course I did and it immediately brought to mind that KUA episode. Heh.
by Anonymous | reply 80 | January 10, 2024 9:48 AM
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R74, R79 It’s the episode where Liz and Hyacinth go to volunteer at the charity show with Mrs. Councilor Neugent. Along the way Hyacinth has to stop by and stop daddy from getting married. The son of daddy’s fiancée is unloading a truck with the guy with the HUGE bulge.
by Anonymous | reply 82 | May 18, 2024 2:46 AM
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I love that on DL we discuss the same beloved things over and over again, just like an episode of Keeping Up Appearances repeats the same formula every episode.
by Anonymous | reply 83 | May 18, 2024 2:48 AM
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R83 not true! What is the formula?
by Anonymous | reply 84 | May 18, 2024 3:05 AM
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I like the one when the old lady shakes while holding a tea cup.
by Anonymous | reply 85 | May 18, 2024 3:40 AM
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I'd dash the Royal Doulton with the hand-painted periwinkles off the table then rip the Dishy Vicar's pants off and give him and rough and horny blowjob, right in the middle of the Hyacinth's Candlelight Supper!
by Anonymous | reply 86 | May 19, 2024 9:38 AM
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Apparently it was suggested towards the end of the run that the Dishy Vicar be revealed as Hyacinth's secret love child, borne to an aristocrat when Hy worked as his maid when she was a teenager. The idea didn't fly as the BBC said "We already have EastEnders for that!".
by Anonymous | reply 87 | May 19, 2024 10:00 AM
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As if Hyacinth would ever be a maid even as a teenager. She's far too snobby and desperate to be viewed as upper middle class to ever be seen doing that.
by Anonymous | reply 88 | May 19, 2024 10:18 AM
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R88 you obviously haven't seen the prequel where Hyacinth was... a maid!
How do you think her social pretentions developed?
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 89 | May 19, 2024 10:24 AM
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R29- There’s a road in NYC called the Sheridan Expressway and every time I drive by it I think of Keeping Up Appearances.
by Anonymous | reply 90 | May 19, 2024 12:57 PM
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It really is the best sitcom with regards to acting and writing. There are other shows with better writing, but they don’t quite match with acting ability. Re: One Foot in the Grave.
by Anonymous | reply 91 | May 19, 2024 1:24 PM
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I was in Catholic primary school when KUA was released and a lot of stay at mothers, of English and Irish background, dressed like Hyacinth. (Or they strolled around the neighbourhood in pastel nylon jogging suits with little white sneakers.)
They had similar houses and furnishings, in similarly drab lower middle-class commuter suburbs and their husbands had council or night school or phone company jobs.
My mother, who worked full time as a doctor, was too busy to go to morning teas and committees, and wore more stylish clothing, was hated by most of them, haha.
by Anonymous | reply 92 | May 19, 2024 4:18 PM
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Hyacinth is exhausting. Why did Richard marry her?
by Anonymous | reply 93 | May 19, 2024 4:21 PM
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Show sucked. The bucket lady acts uppity, the bucket lady's family embarrasses her. The bucket lady's neighbor tries to avoid her. Can't. Has a nervous cup of tea. There. Every episode.
by Anonymous | reply 94 | May 19, 2024 4:26 PM
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R94 Maybe, but it is the lengths she goes to avoid her family that make HER embarrass HERSELF way more than they would have.
by Anonymous | reply 95 | May 19, 2024 4:28 PM
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Onslow and Hyacinth dancing on the Queen Elizabeth II is hysterical
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 96 | May 19, 2024 4:29 PM
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On a tour of PBS stations, Josephine Tewson (Elizabeth) said series ended because "Pat felt they had exhausted plots" and some had been done more than once.
by Anonymous | reply 97 | May 19, 2024 4:31 PM
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r7 So was his Mummy, in real life.
by Anonymous | reply 98 | May 19, 2024 4:57 PM
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R29, A half-block from The Stonewall is Sheridan Square.
by Anonymous | reply 99 | May 19, 2024 4:59 PM
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R75, and we know she didn't ride the horse that galloped all over.
by Anonymous | reply 100 | May 19, 2024 5:04 PM
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[quote] Hyacinth is exhausting. Why did Richard marry her?
Perfect homemaker, spotless house, food on the table, corporate entertainer, supported his career, energetic.
Of course you knew she became the monster she was after Sheridan was born.
If she were 30% less loud Richard probably wouldn’t have been too unhappy.
by Anonymous | reply 101 | May 19, 2024 5:08 PM
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It’s such a cultural criticism. Shows from that era had a lot of teachable moments through comedy. It’s a taboo in that culture to appear to be striving for anything. I’m not saying it’s wrong to be grateful for what one has but “know your place” is too extreme of a policy because it’s not sustainable. The empty talentless strivers and the cynical gatekeepers are both holding things back
by Anonymous | reply 102 | May 19, 2024 5:51 PM
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R94 the nervous cup of tea is about a neighbor that is so psychologically stressed because she has chosen to keep her dislike of her neighbors a secret. The lying makes the neighbors not trust each other. It’s completely self inflicted misery because she has to keep up appearances. The neighbors that are judging hyacinth are just as bad for being hilariously fake! What a joke!
by Anonymous | reply 103 | May 19, 2024 5:57 PM
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R93 Hyacinth wasn't like that when she was young. She was ambitious but unsure of herself. It was only after she hit her 40s that she became a snob
by Anonymous | reply 104 | May 19, 2024 6:24 PM
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I noticed when I was in Canada 20 years ago a lot of the suburban women dressed like Hyacinth.
by Anonymous | reply 105 | May 19, 2024 8:08 PM
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I was watching some old UK show called Boomers out of pure boredom. They characters did seem rather begrudging of one old friend's new life in Spain. They couldn't be happy for him but bemoaned how uppity he'd be and boasting of how wonderful Spain was, R102. Most Americans are happy for other people. Well, not magat types but normal people.
by Anonymous | reply 107 | May 19, 2024 8:41 PM
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Did suburban women really dress that frumpy?
by Anonymous | reply 108 | May 19, 2024 8:44 PM
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[quote] I was watching some old UK show called Boomers out of pure boredom. They characters did seem rather begrudging of one old friend's new life in Spain. They couldn't be happy for him but bemoaned how uppity he'd be and boasting of how wonderful Spain was, [R102]. Most Americans are happy for other people. Well, not magat types but normal people.
Watch early episodes of Come Dine With Me UK. People are constantly triggered, nay, actually offended, by people of their own class who serve more expensive or unfamiliar foods.
by Anonymous | reply 110 | May 20, 2024 11:43 AM
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I always imagined a crossover where Hyacinth's cousin comes to visit from Australia. Said cousin turns out to be Dame Edna Everage accompanied by Madge Allsop and Sir Les Patterson. Hilarity ensues.
by Anonymous | reply 111 | May 20, 2024 1:41 PM
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I always thought Patricia Routledge would be a great Miss Marple
by Anonymous | reply 112 | May 20, 2024 7:41 PM
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I liked As Time Goes By so much better. Much more adult show.
by Anonymous | reply 113 | May 20, 2024 10:52 PM
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Maybe it's common in British acting, but I could never imagine an American actress (or actor for that matter) performing the physical comedy that Routledge did.
To do it in her 60s? More impressive still.
by Anonymous | reply 114 | May 20, 2024 10:57 PM
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There were funny moments but i cant say i find this a very good tv show. The same jokes were repeated ad nauseum In every episode, i dont recall a show doing that ever. It was somewhat strange as the premise was good and the actors also, so I don’t understand why they couldn’t like, have other jokes, aplot, whatever. Bit the same thing every fucking time was bad.
by Anonymous | reply 115 | May 20, 2024 10:58 PM
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R114 Ever hear of Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance?
by Anonymous | reply 116 | May 21, 2024 1:09 AM
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I enjoyed the show. Not as much as 'Are You Being Served", but it was funny. I must admit I found myself hating Richard for being such a wuss and not resorting to slapping Hyacinth's face a few times. Hyacinth was one of those people who should have had regular ass whippings when she was growing up. Beat some of that arrogance out of her.
by Anonymous | reply 117 | May 21, 2024 1:13 AM
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Can’t decide…. The time the vicar dove behind something to hide from Hyacinth, exclaiming, “It’s that Bucket woman!” -or- The time Sheridan called home asking for money because he simply had to buy some silk pajamas.
by Anonymous | reply 118 | May 21, 2024 1:18 AM
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The opening credits always reminds of John Waters’ Desperate Living.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 119 | May 21, 2024 1:21 AM
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I loved the show. It wasn't perfect (the vicar's wife was unfunny, for ex.) and I think they repeated joke lines too much ("room for a pony"), but Routledge was great and the premise was just funny.
by Anonymous | reply 120 | May 21, 2024 1:21 AM
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Well, thanks to you whores, I just rewatched the first four episodes. I like Onslow, Daisy and Rose the best.
How did the dishy vicar get paired with such a frumpy, plain wife?
by Anonymous | reply 121 | May 21, 2024 3:05 AM
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R121 where di you watch them?
by Anonymous | reply 122 | May 21, 2024 4:07 AM
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It’s on Britbox, along with all of the other shows mentioned in this thread.
by Anonymous | reply 124 | May 21, 2024 4:51 AM
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Used to be on local PBS stations for free. Now you have to pay for it. I guess that's progress.
by Anonymous | reply 125 | May 21, 2024 12:01 PM
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Clive Swift had a dramatic role in A Passage to India
by Anonymous | reply 127 | May 21, 2024 1:40 PM
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Clive Swift sure was a bitter old man.
by Anonymous | reply 128 | May 21, 2024 5:28 PM
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I believe that the larger scandal of the show was that Hyacinth's Double Glazed Avignon, was not what the set decorators placed on the table. It is obvious that KUA was not expected to be anything but a single season filler and nobody spent the cash to lay out a correct Hyacinth pretentious table. No mention of Fish Knives or the vermeil used in the opening.
Talk about suspending disbelief!
by Anonymous | reply 129 | May 22, 2024 10:34 AM
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^Proof Hyacinths exist in real life.
by Anonymous | reply 130 | May 22, 2024 12:09 PM
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If you look at production, the show aired 5-10 episodes once a year or once every other year.
In streaming, you notice the same jokes, but if you were watching in Summer1993 and the next show wasn’t until Fall 1995, the repeated jokes make sense.
by Anonymous | reply 131 | May 22, 2024 2:36 PM
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KUA worked because it played on the "Lucy" trope (she tries a scheme and fails spectacularly) but had good writing and an excellent lead performer.
by Anonymous | reply 134 | June 8, 2024 5:55 PM
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Which is exactly why the Nanny also worked. R134
by Anonymous | reply 135 | June 8, 2024 6:02 PM
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Tarquin is the name of Laurence Olivier’s oldest son.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 136 | June 9, 2024 1:38 AM
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