Three decades after Keeping Up Appearances aired its final episode, Judy Cornwell, who played the ever-hopeful and romantically frustrated Daisy, has shared hilarious and cheeky behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved BBC sitcom.
Judy, now 84, remains a fan favorite for her portrayal of Daisy, the cardigan-wearing, Mills and Boon-loving wife of the slobbish Onslow (Geoffrey Hughes). Even years later, she still receives fan letters from viewers who saw themselves in the show’s eccentric family dynamics.
“People identified with Daisy and Onslow,” she shared. “They saw their own lives in that marriage, in those moments of frustration, and in Hyacinth’s desperate efforts to escape her working-class roots.”
Her role in the series came thanks to BBC super-producer Harold Snoad, who had been impressed by her comedic talents in The Dick Emery Show. “Harold picked me for Daisy, which was perfect,” she recalled. “It was a joy to play her and to work with a cast I deeply respected.”
Despite the on-screen chaos, Judy insisted that the cast got along famously off-camera, often socializing even when they weren’t filming. “Clive Swift (who played Richard) was very serious, a proper actor, but he and Patricia Routledge (Hyacinth) were a great match,” she explained. “We all had a lot of fun.”
One of the funniest moments from the set involved an unexpected accident. “Geoffrey and I were filming a scene in bed, and as soon as we sat down, the whole thing collapsed,” she laughed. “Our legs flew in the air, we rolled over each other, and the live audience lost it. It took ages to calm them down!”
But Geoffrey’s off-screen antics were just as unpredictable. “He was very naughty,” Judy admitted. “Under the covers, he’d pinch my bottom and whisper rude things right before I had a line, just to make me laugh. The audience probably thought I was losing it! I got my own revenge though—I’d kick him under the covers when he least expected it.”
Their natural chemistry made their characters’ romance both hilarious and believable. “Geoffrey and I worked quickly together. After just a couple of read-throughs, we had our scenes down perfectly. Roy Clarke’s scripts were brilliant, and Harold let us play around and make it fun.”
Judy also played a role in crafting Daisy’s now-iconic look. “I found this awful grey cardigan in the BBC wardrobe room and thought, ‘That’s Daisy!’” she said. “I paired it with old sandals from home. And as for Onslow’s vest, we’d actually throw sandwiches on it from catering to make it look even dirtier!”
The audience loved Daisy’s efforts to bring passion into her dull marriage. “Harold gave me a Mills & Boon novel and suggested Daisy should always have one in hand. It became a running joke, and book sales went through the roof because of it!”
Judy dismissed any rumors of tension among the cast. “There was no drama when the show ended in 1995. We all just wanted to do other things,” she said. Patricia Routledge moved on to star in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, while Judy focused on writing, publishing several books including her memoir, Adventures of a Jelly Baby.
Despite the show’s continued global success—airing in over 100 countries and inspiring spin-off attempts—Judy is relieved that the BBC has never tried to revive it. “It would feel false with different actors. What we had was magic.”
Now happily settled in Brighton, Judy is celebrating 65 years of marriage with her husband, John, a former Fleet Street journalist. “I’ve had a wonderful career, and Keeping Up Appearances was a huge highlight. I love that it’s still adored today.”
