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muriel_volestrangler

(104,895 posts) Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:00 AM 6 hrs ago

Keeping Up Appearances star Patricia Routledge dies at 96

Actress Dame Patricia Routledge, known for playing Hyacinth Bucket in classic TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has died at the age of 96.

She also starred in Alan Bennett's TV monologues and played BBC One's amateur sleuth Hetty Wainthropp, while also enjoying an acclaimed stage career.
...
Following roles in London's West End, she established herself in the US when she won the Tony Award for best lead actress in a musical on Broadway in New York for Darling of the Day in 1968.

She was as adept at serious drama as she was at musicals and comedy - she appeared in Richard III and Henry V for the Royal Shakespeare Company, then won an Olivier Award for best actress in a musical for Candide in the 1980s.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czdjegvjz3do

20 replies

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Keeping Up Appearances star Patricia Routledge dies at 96 (Original Post) muriel_volestrangler 6 hrs ago OP

It is pronounced bouquet! May she rest in peace. Walleye 6 hrs ago #1

I was mesmerized by a monologue she did about a woman discovering she had a terminal illness bigtree 6 hrs ago #2

That was the first of Alan Bennett's TV monologues muriel_volestrangler 5 hrs ago #9

Sheer genius malaise 5 hrs ago #10

I never saw that before Endlessmike56 5 hrs ago #12

Saw her in "The Importance of Being Eatnest" on the West End in the late 90's Happy Hoosier 6 hrs ago #3

I remember her long-suffering husband and neighbors from the show. Ritabert 6 hrs ago #4

Aw. She was a gem. LoisB 6 hrs ago #5

She was such a fine actress. greatauntoftriplets 5 hrs ago #6

Here she is, in the role she originated * MurrayDelph 4 hrs ago #15

Nice that she was able to use her varied talents on stage and screen. greatauntoftriplets 4 hrs ago #18

I'd never heard her actual operatic performance voice before jmbar2 2 hrs ago #20

RIP area51 5 hrs ago #7

As did I. niyad 5 hrs ago #8

Hyacinth Bucket (Bouquet) is my feel good comfort zone. I have her shows recorded. Polly Hennessey 5 hrs ago #11

Rest in Peace and Laughter, dear Lady DinahMoeHum 4 hrs ago #13

My husband's favorite actress! tavernier 4 hrs ago #14

My mother in law turned me on to keeping of appearances kimbutgar 4 hrs ago #16

A true treasure! RIP Scalded Nun 4 hrs ago #17

"It's pronounced Bouquet"! Ford_Prefect 3 hrs ago #19

Walleye

(42,689 posts)

1. It is pronounced bouquet! May she rest in peace.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:04 AM

6 hrs ago

I got a lot of laughs from her performances

bigtree

(92,830 posts)

2. I was mesmerized by a monologue she did about a woman discovering she had a terminal illness

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:08 AM

6 hrs ago

...just amazing.

Good bye, Patricia.

muriel_volestrangler

(104,895 posts)

9. That was the first of Alan Bennett's TV monologues

Reply to bigtree (Reply #2)

Fri Oct 3, 2025, 10:11 AM

5 hrs ago

http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/505008/index.html

(Bennett is the author of 'The Madness of King George', 'The History Boys' and much more. When he gets a great actor, the results can be fantastic.)

malaise

(289,668 posts)

10. Sheer genius

Reply to bigtree (Reply #2)

Fri Oct 3, 2025, 10:20 AM

5 hrs ago

Thanks for this

Loved her

Endlessmike56

(42 posts)

12. I never saw that before

Reply to bigtree (Reply #2)

Fri Oct 3, 2025, 10:24 AM

5 hrs ago

Thank you for posting it

Happy Hoosier

(9,108 posts)

3. Saw her in "The Importance of Being Eatnest" on the West End in the late 90's

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:08 AM

6 hrs ago

She was perfect as Lady Bracknell as you can imagine.

Ritabert

(1,683 posts)

4. I remember her long-suffering husband and neighbors from the show.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:09 AM

6 hrs ago

RIP.

LoisB

(11,734 posts)

5. Aw. She was a gem.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:25 AM

6 hrs ago

greatauntoftriplets

(178,323 posts)

6. She was such a fine actress.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Fri Oct 3, 2025, 09:48 AM

5 hrs ago

Perfect for the Hyacinth Bucket role. It amazes me that her sad attempts at singing on Keeping Up Appearances hid a strong, pleasant voice.

RIP

MurrayDelph

(5,637 posts)

15. Here she is, in the role she originated *

Reply to greatauntoftriplets (Reply #6)

Fri Oct 3, 2025, 11:00 AM

4 hrs ago

as Ruth in Pirates of Penzance:

&list=RD4zBKsq1x5Cg&start_radio=1

(She showed off her operatic voice in the "Faithless Woman" clip on youtube, but I prefer my opera lighter)

* "Originated" in the modern-day version of the play. She was old, but not THAT old.