At 95, Dame Patricia Routledge remains one of Britain’s most revered performers, with a career spanning theatre, television, and music. Best known for her iconic role as Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) in Keeping Up Appearances, she continues to reflect on her extraordinary journey while championing the arts and maintaining a deep respect for tradition—including the proper pronunciation of the English language.

Speaking at Derby Theatre in a recent career retrospective, Dame Patricia revealed that she shares at least one trait with her famously particular on-screen persona: an unwavering commitment to speech clarity.

While Hyacinth Bucket was known for correcting those around her on the pronunciation of her surname, Dame Patricia has expressed similar frustrations about the modern decline of proper speech.

“I can’t stand how people drop their aitches,” she said, lamenting the gradual erosion of clear diction in contemporary English. “Now the ‘ks’ and ‘gs’ are going the same way.”

Her views extend beyond pronunciation, as she remains firm on traditional gendered language in acting.

“I’m an actress, not an actor, by the way,” she stated, emphasizing her preference for preserving the distinction between male and female performers in the profession.

Although it has been nearly three decades since the final episode of Keeping Up Appearances aired, the show continues to enjoy widespread popularity. Dame Patricia is still amazed by its enduring appeal, revealing that she frequently receives letters from fans worldwide.

“I get letters still from all over the world even though we made the last series in 1995,” she shared.

One recent letter came from a young fan who had been introduced to the show by his father.

“I had a letter from a lad of nine or ten a few weeks ago saying how much the family enjoy it and watch it together,” she recalled. “He said, ‘My dad’s been laughing at a woman like you across the road for years.’ Wonderful.”

Fans in the United States continue to embrace the show’s traditions, even holding candlelight suppers in Hyacinth’s honor—an event that the character famously tried (and often failed) to orchestrate with class and sophistication.

“People like it because there’s no smut,” she added, highlighting the show’s universal appeal as a clean, character-driven comedy.

Looking back, Dame Patricia vividly remembers the moment she was first introduced to the role that would make her a household name.

“I had opened the script for a moment at one o’clock in the morning, read straight through, and Hyacinth leapt off the page,” she said.

She immediately recognized the character, inspired by women she had encountered throughout her life.

“I knew that woman, I knew several of that woman.”

However, while she had a clear vision of Hyacinth from the start, she acknowledged that her co-star, Clive Swift, had far less to work with when developing the role of Richard, Hyacinth’s long-suffering husband.

“He made bricks out of straw to create Richard,” she noted.

Despite Richard’s frequent exasperation with Hyacinth’s social-climbing antics, Dame Patricia and Clive Swift believed they had uncovered the secret to their on-screen marriage.

“People ask how did the marriage work? We decided he’d been an orphan. He was looked after (by Hyacinth), his shirts were ironed, his food was on the table.”

Though Keeping Up Appearances cemented her status as a television legend, Dame Patricia’s first love has always been the stage. She began her career as an assistant stage manager at the Liverpool Playhouse, performing duties that went far beyond acting.

“I know all about being a dogsbody,” she said, recalling the days when she was responsible for sweeping the stage and even disrupting actors’ dressing room affairs.

Her early theatre work laid the foundation for a remarkable career in musical theatre. Her vocal talent led to opportunities that many only dream of, including an unexpected visit from legendary composer Richard Rodgers.

Rodgers, famous for his collaborations with Oscar Hammerstein and Lorenz Hart, attended one of her performances unannounced and left a note in her dressing room.

“At the interval, I found a note in my dressing room from Richard Rodgers saying, ‘I’m here to see the show, would you please call my office on Monday.’ I did the second half half-paralyzed,” she recalled.

That meeting led to discussions about Rodgers writing a musical specifically for her, though the perfect project never materialized. However, she later performed in Carousel, one of Rodgers’ most famous works, playing Nettie Fowler.

Another musical giant, Leonard Bernstein, personally traveled from the United States to audition her for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, a short-lived Broadway production about the history of the White House.

In that show, Dame Patricia took on the challenging task of playing two different First Ladies, switching between a “dizzy, high-pitched wife” and a “growly German” character, using wigs to differentiate between them. Her performance impressed Bernstein, with whom she remained friends until his passing in 1990.

Beyond acting, Dame Patricia remains a passionate advocate for music education. She fondly remembers how music played an essential role in her own schooling.

“When I was at primary school in Birkenhead, Merseyside, a piano was wheeled into each class for 20 minutes a day,” she recalled.

She believes music should still be an integral part of education today, calling for greater support for arts programs.

“Music matters. We need to shout to the government.”

In her own way, she continues to support the next generation of performers, sponsoring young musicians at academies, particularly singers.

“This miracle of what we can do with two pieces of gristle in our throats always amazes me,” she said, marveling at the power of the human voice.

Despite stepping away from acting, Dame Patricia remains an influential figure in British entertainment. She continues to be honored for her contributions, receiving an honorary membership from the Royal Academy of Music and making occasional appearances at events celebrating the arts.

Her legacy, however, will forever be intertwined with Keeping Up Appearances, a show that has stood the test of time thanks to its sharp humor, strong character work, and Routledge’s unforgettable performance.

And while she may have little patience for modern pronunciation trends, there’s no doubt that Dame Patricia Routledge has left a legacy that speaks volumes.