On November 24, 1995, the BBC’s Children in Need telethon treated viewers to a surprise: a brief, but utterly memorable special from Keeping Up Appearances, featuring the indomitable Hyacinth Bucket. This rare gem, which had been lost to time until its rediscovery in 2024, is a six-minute spectacle of chaos and comedy. Fans of the beloved British sitcom, which had aired its final season in 1995, were thrilled to see their favorite social-climbing protagonist back in action, though this time, her attempts at maintaining the perfect image face a rather unexpected hurdle.
The special begins with a late-night phone call from Daisy, Hyacinth’s ever-troublesome sister, bearing shocking news: Daddy has supposedly passed away. However, instead of being struck with grief, Hyacinth’s overwhelming concern is the disruption this could cause to her meticulously planned evening—an intimate candlelit supper and a grand slideshow of her holiday photos. She cries, “This is not the impression I want to give the neighbors!” as the news of her father’s death threatens to ruin her efforts at perfection.
The scene quickly escalates when Hyacinth’s family arrives to collect Daddy’s coffin. But in true Hyacinth fashion, she’s not just focused on her grief—she’s more concerned about the state of the coffin and, crucially, the suit it’s dressed in. This sets off a comedic chain of events in which Hyacinth, ever the perfectionist, transforms the coffin into a makeshift desk. When neighbors Liz and Emmett stop by, Hyacinth frantically adjusts her appearance, fidgeting with her hat and veil, all while maintaining her farcical attempt to uphold an air of upper-class dignity. Meanwhile, Daisy holds Daddy’s bugle, which was to accompany him to the afterlife—an absurd tribute that adds another layer of ridiculousness.
In a series of hilarious moments, the absurdity of the situation becomes clear as Hyacinth clings to her vision of social superiority, even as her carefully constructed world unravels. The special encapsulates everything that fans love about Keeping Up Appearances: Hyacinth’s snobbish demeanor, her unshakable desire to keep up appearances, and her complete disregard for the reality of the situations she finds herself in.
This brief but hilarious sketch aired as part of a charity effort to raise funds for disadvantaged children, but it also serves as a testament to the show’s enduring humor. With Patricia Routledge’s impeccable timing and commitment to the character, the sketch proves that Keeping Up Appearances is still as funny as ever—even in the face of an absurd family emergency. The special may not have been part of the main series, but it stands as a delightful and fitting tribute to the unforgettable character of Hyacinth Bucket.
