One of the most enduring television characters is Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet), the arrogant, socially ambitious lead of Keeping Up Appearances. Even though Hyacinth is still considered a beloved British sitcom classic, its creator, Dame Patricia Routledge, has been vocal in her distaste for the BBC’s 2016 spin-off, Young Hyacinth.
The prequel, in which Kerry Howard portrayed a young Hyacinth, aimed to explore the character’s early years as a housemaid and her aspirations to rise in society. It was a part of the BBC’s monumental sitcom season, which revived popular British sitcoms in novel ways. However, Dame Patricia made it abundantly evident that she was not interested in it.
When asked about the Young Hyacinth project, 95-year-old Dame Patricia Routledge was straightforward. Instead of taking the concept as a compliment, she flatly rejected it, asking, “Why are they doing this sort of thing?” They must be in terrible shape. I am not involved in it. Let them go on.Others working on the spin-off, including Kerry Howard, were excited about the tribute and expected Routledge to feel honored, but her response was a sharp contrast.
Howard, who played Hyacinth as a child, claimed that he was offended by Dame Patricia’s blunt response. In an interview with Radio Times, she shared her thoughts on the role of the seasoned actress:
It is, indeed, a little dismal, isn’t it? She criticized the endeavor as a whole.Instead than replicating or replacing Keeping Up Appearances, Howard defended Young Hyacinth’s purpose by stating that it was an effort to explore the character’s origins. Dame Patricia may have misunderstood the prequel’s concept, she speculated, “We’re not recreating her show.” In order to explain her personality, we are going back in time. She doesn’t know that. I suppose the reason she acted that way was because she was hoping some actress would take over her part. That isn’t the case, though.Young Hyacinth received favorable reviews from critics and drew over 4 million viewers in a single week, despite Dame Patricia’s criticism. It remained a one-off special, though, as no more episodes were ordered.
Dame Patricia’s dismissal of young Hyacinth is in line with her long-held belief that one should know when to stop up on a worthwhile attempt. Despite the BBC’s desire to continue producing new episodes, she chose to end Keeping Up Appearances in 1995.Remembering, Dame Patricia Routledge She responded, “I brought it to an end, which, of course, the BBC didn’t care for very much,” when asked why by Keeping Up Appearances on BBC Four. I thought the author was beginning to repeat ideas that had already been published.She referenced the well-known comedian Ronnie Barker’s counsel to end a show while it’s still strong rather than allowing it to decline.
He would always stop and leave when he reached the top of something, causing people to remark, “Oh, aren’t you doing any more?” Rather than enquiring, “Is that still on?”For Dame Patricia, it was imperative to move on. Even though she understood the cultural significance of Keeping Up Appearances, she still saw herself as an actress rather than just a comedic star.I had other things to do, but really, that’s the place to be. Being an actress, I wanted to play other people’s tales.Even without a successful spin-off, Keeping Up Appearances remains one of the most popular British sitcoms ever. Its reruns continue to attract viewers from all over the world because of Hyacinth’s obsession with social status and her exchanges with her unfortunate husband Richard, nervous neighbor Elizabeth, and lazy brother-in-law Onslow, which still make people laugh decades later.Dame Patricia is hesitant to return to the world of Keeping Up Appearances since she is dedicated to telling fantastic stories. Despite her fondness for the part that made her famous, she has always prioritized artistic integrity over nostalgia.
Despite her strong stance, Hyacinth Bucket’s legacy is still honored by Keeping Up Appearances fans. As evidence of the character’s lasting impact, references to her “Royal Doulton with the hand-painted periwinkles” and candlelight dinners are still easily recognized.
However, the past remains the past for Dame Patricia. She has declared that she is not interested in a prequel, sequel, or any other type of return to Hyacinth’s universe, while acknowledging the success of Keeping Up Appearances.”Let them get on with it,” she replied, and she has done so.
