The actress, who played the ever snobbish Hyacinth Bucket, reveals the BBC sitcom’s unlikely fans
Dame Patricia Routledge has revealed that the late Pope Benedict was said to be an unlikely fan of her BBC sitcom, Keeping Up Appearances.
The actress, 96, played the ever snobbish Hyacinth Bucket, who hilariously pronounced her surname “Bouquet”, in the comedy which aired from 1990 to 1995.
The much-missed series had quite a number of famous fans, said to include both the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II, but it’s most surprising high-profile viewer was reportedly Pope Benedict.
As reported by MailOnline, the Channel 5’s documentary Keeping Up Appearances: 30 Years Of Laugh claims his Holiness used to do an impression of the iconic TV character.
Dame Patricia said in the one-off: “There’s a rumour that Pope Benedict did an impression of Hyacinth’s telephone catchphrase, ‘Hello, this is the Bouquet residence.’
“If the rumours are true, his Holiness wasn’t the only high-profile fan.
BBC
“We were one of the Queen Mother’s favourite sitcoms, which was lovely, and the Queen enjoyed it, too. Hyacinth would have been flattered beyond words, and why not.”
Corrie actor Geoffrey Hughes, 68, dies after two year cancer battle Former Coronation Street actor Geoffrey Hughes has died of cancer. He was 68. The Merseyside-born star died ‘peacefully in his sleep’ on Friday night, according to his family. His death comes after a ‘long courageous battle’ with prostate cancer. Comic timing: Geoffrey Hughes, pictured as Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances, has died at the age of 68 The actor, who lives on the Isle Of Wight, was best known for playing binman Eddie Yates in Corrie for nine years until the early 80s. He also won over fans as Hyacinth’s lazy brother-in-law Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances. In the Noughties he landed two big roles – playing wheeler dealer Vernon Scripps in Hearbeat and Twiggy in The Royle Family. Soap star: Geoffrey as Eddie Yeates with Veronica Doran as Marion Yeats in Coronation Street Prior to his cancer battle, Hughes played Uncle Keith in an episode of teen drama Skins. A Corrie spokesperson said: …
