Patricia Routledge, the much-loved British actress who brought the unforgettable character Hyacinth Bucket to life in the hit sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has died aged 96.
According to her agent, Patricia Routledge died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of Friday, 3 October 2025. No signs of illness or trauma were reported.
Routledge was born in 1929 in Tranmere, Cheshire, England. She attended Birkenhead High School before studying at the University of Liverpool. Later, she trained at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and the Guildhall School of Music.
Her upbringing and education shaped her into a versatile performer, comfortable on both stage and screen.
Routledge rose to worldwide fame as Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995).
Her character, a middle-class woman obsessed with appearances, demanded her surname be pronounced as “Bouquet.”
This role earned her a lasting legacy as one of comedy’s most iconic figures, particularly within LGBTQ+ communities, where she became celebrated as a camp icon.
But her career was much broader than just comedy. At 66, she starred in the detective drama Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, proving her ability to handle serious roles .
She was recognised for her contributions to the arts with several honours:
- OBE in 1993
- CBE in 2004
- Made a Dame in the 2017 New Year Honours
Patricia Routledge never married and did not have children. In interviews, she explained that this was not by choice, but because her career in acting was so all-consuming.
“Life just turned out like that because my involvement in acting was so total,” she once reflected.
In her later years, she inspired fans with messages about ageing gracefully. Ahead of her 95th birthday, she encouraged people to embrace growing older as “the most exquisite chapter” of life, telling her audience:
“You only need to show up – fully – for the life that is still yours”.
Patricia Routledge leaves behind a powerful legacy in British television and theatre.