Theatre fans, take note—Dame Patricia Routledge is stepping back into the spotlight, and her reasons for doing so are as rich and layered as her legendary career. At 82, the beloved star of Keeping Up Appearances is trading in Hyacinth Bucket’s china for something with a little more historical weight—and it all starts with a Bible and a piano.
Spoilers reveal that Routledge has been drawn back to the stage by two unlikely sources of inspiration: the King James Bible and wartime pianist Myra Hess. In her latest project, she’s diving deep into dramatic readings from scripture at the National Theatre, marking the 400th anniversary of the King James edition. According to Routledge, the tales within are “worse than EastEnders”—full of betrayal, lust, and power plays. From David and Saul to Bathsheba, she doesn’t hold back, calling them “terrible people” with a wicked gleam in her eye.
But that’s not all. She’s also returning with Admission: One Shilling, a heartfelt tribute to Myra Hess, the iconic pianist who kept spirits alive during WWII with lunchtime concerts at the National Gallery. It’s a role that means a lot to Routledge—especially since she actually saw one of Hess’s performances as a young schoolgirl in Merseyside. In the show, Routledge reads from interviews with Hess while pianist Piers Lane recreates the music that once echoed through war-torn London.
Longtime fans may be surprised by the timing of this return. After all, it’s been nearly two decades since Routledge last graced the National Theatre stage in Carousel, and she’s been famously selective about roles in recent years. She makes it clear: if it doesn’t spark passion and purpose, she’s not interested. “You’ve got to want to get out of bed in the morning and burn up energy on it,” she says.
Despite being best known as Hyacinth “It’s Bouquet!” Bucket, Routledge’s acting career is filled with dramatic and musical acclaim. She earned an Olivier Award for her performance in Candide, and her work with Alan Bennett—like her unforgettable turn in A Woman of No Importance—is the stuff of theatre legend. But don’t expect her to get sentimental about her sitcom fame. While she appreciates what Hyacinth brought her, she’s refreshingly grounded about the whole thing. “If people come to the theatre because of Mrs B, well, I couldn’t be happier,” she shrugs.
Still, Routledge hasn’t lost her edge. She’s frustrated by modern trends in both music and acting, where technique is often worn too loudly. “Why must everyone show us how hard they’re working?” she asks. “It’s the same with language. Whatever happened to the letter t?” Ever the crusader for clarity and good writing, she jokes about starting a society to rescue proper speech.
With fan mail still pouring in and audiences eager to see her in action, it’s clear: Dame Patricia Routledge isn’t done captivating us yet. Stay tuned—she’s proving that true talent only deepens with time.
