Keeping Up Appearances

Hyacinth Bucket (whose name, she insists, is pronounced "Bouquet") is a suburban housewife in the West Midlands. She would be the first to tell you that she is a gracious hostess, a respected citizen, and a well-connected member of high society. If you don't believe that, just ask her best friend Elizabeth, held captive in Hyacinth's kitchen; or the postmen and neighbours who bristle at the sound of her voice; or Richard, her weary and compliant husband. In fact, Hyacinth's reputation could be as perfect as her new lounge set, if not for her senile father's love of running wild in the nip. Oh, and she would prefer it if her brother-in-law was a sharper dresser. And that her husband was more ambitious. And that her sisters were more presentable. And do take your shoes off before you come in the house, dear. Mind that you don't brush against the wallpaper.

Creators and Cast

Creators

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Roy Clarke

Creator

Cast

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Patricia Routledge

Hyacinth Bucket

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Clive Swift

Richard Bucket

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Judy Cornwell

Daisy

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Geoffrey Hughes

Onslow

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Josephine Tewson

Elizabeth 'Liz' Warden

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David Griffin

Emmet

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Mary Millar

Rose

Episodes

Specials

24 episodes

Christmas may come but once a year, but for arch-snob Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet, if you please), disaster, drama and humiliation – all obstacles on the ladder to social-climbing success – are far more frequent. In these Christmas Specials we see a delightful cruise on the QE2 start in a less-than-delightful muddy field. We see a glorious English Civil War pageant, with Hyacinth as Queen Henrietta Maria, go royally wrong when the cast fails to turn up and her unsavoury relatives step into the breach. And we see that even The Season of Good Will isn’t immune from woe, as a sherry-fuelled Richard, dressed as Santa, brings Hyacinth tidings devoid of any comfort and joy.

S0 E1 · The Father Christmas Suit

1991-12-25

Hyacinth has bought Richard a Father Christmas outfit for him to wear when distributing gifts to the old people at the Church Hall. Against his will, Richard puts on the outfit, but after having one too many sherries with Emmett, he is unable to fulfil the deed, hence Elizabeth puts on the outfit and pretends to be Richard.

S0 E2 · Sea Fever

1993-12-26

Hyacinth and Richard prepare for their luxury stay on the QE2. Yet traffic, a muddy field and too much luggage result in a disastrous start to a holiday that only gets much worse for Hyacinth when she has reason to believe Onslow and Daisy have stowed-away and are also onboard the luxury cruise.

S0 E3 · Angel Gabriel Blue

1994-12-25

Hyacinth is in search for her dream kitchen while Richard has developed a fungus infection, not to his wife's approval. As a result, Hyacinth claims it is gout, a disease supposedly caught by "good living". Meanwhile Daddy has gone missing again and there is a stranger in his place

S0 E4 · Historical Pageant

1995-12-25

Hyacinth and Richard arrive at the Church hall as Hyacinth organises a Pageant based on the English Civil War, with herself as Queen Henrietta Maria and Richard as Charles I. However all of the volunteers supposedly taking part are unable to make it. At a last minute attempt to get the show off the ground, Hyacinth invites Onslow, Daisy and Rose along with Bruce and Violet to participate. Later in rehearsals however, Hyacinth falls foul of a stage accident.

S0 E5 · The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket

1997-03-01

Daisy and Onslow find the secret diary of Hyacinth and start reading in it. The rest of this TV-special are clips from prevous episodes

S0 E6 · Life Lessons from Onslow

2007-11-30

You'll laugh too hard to take notes when Hyacinth's beer-drinking and philosophizing brother-in-law, Onslow, gives a lecture on successful human relationships, using examples from Keeping Up Appearances.

S0 E7 · Interview with Judy Cornwell

2007-11-30

An interview with Judy Cornwell

S0 E8 · Interview with Patricia Routledge

2007-11-30

An interview with Patricia Routledge

S0 E9 · Comedy Connections - Keeping Up Appearances

2004-07-26

The documentary series Comedy Connections 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.

S0 E10 · Pebble Mill Interview

2007-11-30

Pebble Mill interviews Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift.

S0 E11 · The Kitty Monologues

From the character Kitty that Patricia Routledge played on Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV.

S0 E12 · Second Chance Shorts

No summary.

S0 E13 · Funny Women

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S0 E14 · Outtakes 1

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S0 E15 · Outtakes 2

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S0 E16 · Outtakes 3

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S0 E17 · Outtakes 4

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S0 E18 · Outtakes 5

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S0 E19 · Outtakes 6

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S0 E20 · Outtakes 7

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S0 E21 · Young Hyacinth

2016-09-02

No summary.

S0 E22 · The History Of

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S0 E23 · Hyacinth Revealed - Newly Recorded Interviews

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S0 E24 · Mr. Blobby meets Hyacinth Bucket

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Season 1

6 episodes

S1 E1 · Daddy's Accident

1990-10-29

Hyacinth's "Daddy" is put into an ambulance and taken to hospital, after getting injured chasing after the milk woman naked on her bike. After visiting him, Hyacinth returns home and is visited by the gas man, whose life she makes difficult.

S1 E2 · The New Vicar

1990-11-05

Hyacinth is determined to create the perfect impression when inviting the new Vicar for “tea and light refreshments”. However her hopes come crashing down on her when Onslow and Daisy turn up with the news Daddy has been kidnapped by a gypsy. The day gets even worse for the polish-perfecting protagonist when Rose turns up, on her way to her own funeral.

S1 E3 · Stately Home

1990-11-12

Hyacinth and Richard visit a stately home where the leading lady hopes to meet a member of the aristocratic family. However she fears her social status will be sabotaged by Onslow, Daisy and Rose, who turn up unexpectedly. Thus Hyacinth drags Richard through the ground's private gardens to hide from the lower-class clan.

S1 E4 · The Charity Shop

1990-11-19

It is Liz and Hyacinth's day to help Mrs Nugent at the charity shop, and on their way there, Hyacinth has to make a visit to Onslow and Daisy's to remove a woman (played by Gretchen Franklin) from Daddy's room, refusing to leave. Meanwhile Rose intends to give up men, and arrives at the charity shop to donate her raunchy underwear.

S1 E5 · Daisy's Toyboy

1990-11-26

In an attempt to make Onslow jealous, Daisy finds herself a toyboy. However the plan fails and Daisy sends Onslow to the Church hall to meet Richard, in a final ploy to get him to notice her antics.

S1 E6 · The Christening

1990-12-03

Daisy and Onslow’s granddaughter Kylie is getting christened, but Hyacinth is unimpressed because there has not been a wedding first. The day does not get any better for Hyacinth when she and Richard are forced to come to the rescue of the baby's mother Stephanie, whose transport has broken down. The leading lady then learns the baby's mother is a hippie, who is unaware of the baby’s father.

Season 2

10 episodes

S2 E1 · A Strange Man

1991-09-01

Hyacinth is shocked to see a strange man wearing only a towel emerge from Elizabeth's house, thus she tells Richard they will have to move house. However her opinions change when discovering who the man really is. Meanwhile Daddy has gone missing.

S2 E2 · Driving Mrs. Fortescue

1991-09-08

Hyacinth and Richard drive a wealthy Mrs Fortescue into town, however Hyacinth's plans to impress are crushed by her family when Daisy and Rose flag down the Buckets for a lift. Eventually to Hyacinth's dismay, this leads to Mrs Fortescue playing darts with Onslow in a public house.

S2 E3 · The Candlelight Supper

1991-09-15

Hyacinth wants to impress Emmet with her musical talents at an elaborate musical supper. However her plans backfire when a short-skirted Rose turns up, followed by two aggressive men who begin fighting on Hyacinth's doorstep.

S2 E4 · Hyacinth Tees Off

1991-09-22

The Major invites the Buckets for a golfing weekend at a luxury hotel. All is well until Onslow and Daisy turn up unexpectedly to collect Rose after she has spent a raunchy weekend away with a Mr Smith. Inevitably, when Hyacinth realises her family are there, she fears for her social standing. Adding to her dilemma is the amorous intentions of the Major.

S2 E5 · Problems with Relatives

1991-09-29

Hyacinth's brother-in-law Bruce is stuck up a tree, Daddy goes to the register office to be married and Emmett meets Daisy, Onslow and Rose, throwing Hyacinth into dismay. Liz offers to drive Daddy back to Daisy's, but to avoid herself and Emmett seeing how Daisy and Onslow live, Hyacinth insists they stop off at Violet's.

S2 E6 · Onslow's Birthday

1991-10-06

Hyacinth is dreading an invite to Onslow's birthday party, but changes her mind when finding out she and Richard will be picked up by Rose's wealthy Greek boyfriend. Thus Hyacinth holds a gathering at her house to impress the neighbours as she departs in the luxury vehicle. However her hopes die when a hearse arrives instead.

S2 E7 · Singing For Emmet

1991-10-13

Richard is offered early retirement and so ponders over the possibility of having to spend all day everyday with Hyacinth. Emmett is enraged when Hyacinth ends up rehearsing a performance for the old people at the Church Hall with him, and a tranquilised Rose arrives at the scene wanting to become a nun.

S2 E8 · The Toy Store

1991-10-20

Daddy has ended up at the toy store and is "improving" a few toys with the help of a screw driver. This results in Hyacinth and Richard having to go into town to solve the problem, where Hyacinth fears for her status when meeting Mrs. Counsellor Nugent.

S2 E9 · The Three-Piece Suite

1991-10-27

Hyacinth is very excited at the prospect of having her new three piece suite, an exact replica of the one at Sandringham House, delivered. She will also give Daisy and Onslow her old suite, provided they pick it up themselves. But of course these two events are likely to collide at some point, creating an insurmountable disaster.

S2 E10 · A Picnic For Daddy

1991-11-03

Hyacinth arranges a picnic for Daddy, but things go awry when the senile old man decides to test-drive the Buckets' car. Thus Hyacinth has to ride in Onslow's, as a car chase gets underway.

Season 3

7 episodes

S3 E1 · Early Retirement

1992-09-06

Richard has had to take early retirement. Sadly for him, Hyacinth has many plans for his future.

S3 E2 · Iron Age Remains

1992-09-13

Hyacinth drags Richard off into the countryside in search of the remains of an Iron Age settlement.

S3 E3 · Violet's Country Cottage

1992-09-20

Hyacinth gets a chance to try some social climbing while borrowing her sister Violet's cottage for the weekend.

S3 E4 · How to Go on Holiday without Really Trying

1992-09-27

Hyacinth takes a trip to the travel agents for some "quality" holiday brochures. Afterwards, Onslow decides to take Richard in hand and show him how to 'enjoy' life.

S3 E5 · Richard's New Hobby

1992-10-04

Hyacinth decides that Richard should get a new hobby... and so insists he uses the camera that his boss presented to him when he retired!

S3 E6 · The Art Exhibition

1992-10-11

Daddy runs off to join the Foreign Legion. Hyacinth and Richard manage to find him, but he escapes again and runs riot at an art gallery - The same art gallery that Hyacinth and Richard have been invited to!

S3 E7 · What To Wear When Yachting

1992-10-18

Hyacinth and Richard spend the weekend on a yacht.

Season 4

7 episodes

S4 E1 · A Job For Richard

1993-09-05

Hyacinth’s attempts to keep Richard occupied in his years of retirement continue. Now she has found him an executive job in frozen foods, and to impress the manager of the company she has contrived a plot involving Onslow and golf.

S4 E2 · Country Retreat

1993-09-12

Hyacinth wants “a little place in the country”, however her heart is not set on little. An old farmer with a speech impediment causes much difficulty for Hyacinth when out looking at property, and seems to take a liking to her.

S4 E3 · A Celebrity for the Barbecue

1993-09-19

For her summer entertaining, Hyacinth Bucket has decided to host an elaborate indoors barbecue. In an attempt to compete with the Barker-Finchess, she is determined to get a celebrity to attend. Meanwhile Rose gives Daisy a make-over.

S4 E4 · The Commodore

1993-09-26

Hyacinth switches on her sailing persona when volunteering to collect a guest speaking Commodore from a train station, however Richard gets clamped and they cannot find the man. When Hyacinth does finally meet the Commodore, she is unprepared for his attempts at seduction.

S4 E5 · Looking At Properties

1993-10-03

Richard panics when leaving Hyacinth to browse country property without him, fearing she will purchase something they cannot afford, as he collects "Daddy" from a police station. Finally Hyacinth decides on a country property.

S4 E6 · Please Mind Your Head

1993-10-10

Hyacinth and Richard are settling into their new country apartment, but Richard is less than enthused with its diminutive size. It's already cramped enough as it is for two, but when Hyacinth invites friends over, it becomes unbearably tiny!

S4 E7 · Let There Be Light

1993-10-17

It is the "bring and buy" sale at the Church hall and the Church goers are in for a shock because Hyacinth has volunteered Richard to fix the Church hall electrics, despite his lack of electrical capabilities. Meanwhile Onslow, Daisy, and Rose turn up with a Daddy believing he is back in the war.

Season 5

10 episodes

S5 E1 · The Senior Citizen's Outing

1995-09-03

Hyacinth volunteers to look after the old people in an outing to the funfair, however a certain old man proves to be quite a handful. As the day progresses, Hyacinth ends up in a mirror house, on some dodgems and on a ghost train.

S5 E2 · The Mayor's Fancy Dress Ball

1995-09-10

Hyacinth prepares for the Mayor's fancy dress ball and is also on a mission to impress the new neighbours, a few streets away.

S5 E3 · Hyacinth is Alarmed

1995-09-17

Richard is terrified to wake up to see Hyacinth smiling at him; he later realises he has forgotten his and Hyacinth's wedding anniversary. Richard then decides to have an alarm system installed, claiming it is Hyacinth's "surprise" anniversary present.

S5 E4 · A Riverside Picnic

1995-09-24

Hyacinth organises a riverside picnic, much to the despair of those invited. Despite Emett's and the Vicar's best efforts to tell Hyacinth they are unable to attend, they find getting out of Hyacinth's function impossible. As always, Hyacinth's plans of perfection are shattered when a digger dumps dirt in her chosen location for the picnic.

S5 E5 · Skis

1995-10-01

For Richard’s birthday Hyacinth buys some skis as she believes they "will look good on the car". However needing Violet and Bruce’s roof rack the Buckets head off to Violet's luxury home, picking two neighbours up along the way. Hyacinth is thrown into a panic when arriving as Violet and Bruce are arguing.

S5 E6 · Country Estate Sale

1995-10-08

Richard is not looking forward to going to a country house sale with Hyacinth as he believes she will spend beyond their limit. Liz and brother Emmett are also going to the sale, and are devastated when they realise Hyacinth is there. Meanwhile, a Mrs Braddock has commandeered Onslow’s car and is impersonating his dog, which has gone missing.

S5 E7 · The Boy Friend

1995-10-15

Hyacinth sings to her hearts content when discovering Emmett's latest musical The Boyfriend is in production. Meanwhile Daddy is once again back in the war and guarding Onslow’s house with a sharp object.

S5 E8 · A Barbecue At Violet's

1995-10-22

A "luxury barbecue" at Violet's house looks like being a disaster because Bruce and Violet keep having violent arguments. Hyacinth organises a sing song in an attempt to take everyone's mind off their hosts' battle. Later, Hyacinth goes along to a rehearsal of "The Boy Friend" to offer her services to Emmet.

S5 E9 · New Car

1995-10-29

Hyacinth is completely insulted when she is awarded second prize at the local craft fair, and over Lydia Hawksworth. Scandalized even further when she and Richard are overtaken by Lydia's new car, it isn't long before Richard's worst fears are realized and Hyacinth sets her sights on a newer, more expensive Rolls Royce.

S5 E10 · The Hostess

1995-11-05

Hyacinth has put an advert in the local newspaper to teach people social etiquette, however an excited Hyacinth does not quite get what she expected.