Judy landed the role thanks to BBC super producer Harold Snoad, known for hits like Dad’s Army, Are You Being Served? and Ever Decreasing Circles, reports the Mirror.

After impressing him during her time on The Dick Emery Show, she became part of the talented ensemble cast of writer Roy Clarke’s hilarious show.

Judy fondly remembers: “Harold picked me for Daisy, which was perfect. I enjoyed playing that part, working with people I respected and liked. Patricia was the perfect Hyacinth, thanks to years of great theatre experience. She gave a brilliant performance. And it is fair to say she was shocked by how big the show became, given all her other work.”

She also shared, “Clive [Richard] was a very good actor and quite serious fellow off-set, but they were a perfect foil to each other. Everyone got on well. And even when we weren’t filming we would meet up for lunch and catch up on gossip.”

Judy knew from the start that the sitcom would be a hit, especially as it was filmed in front of a live audience. She recalls: “Geoffrey and I got on the set, sat together in bed and it collapsed. Our legs flew in the air and we just rolled over each other. It was hard to get the audience to simmer down – they were hysterical. Everything we ever did on or off script would make the audience laugh.”

She added: “We were always up to stuff. He was very naughty and used to pinch my bottom under the covers and say rude things. And he would always say it before I had a line so I would get the giggles, leaving the audience wondering what was the matter with me. I used to get my own back – I would kick him underneath the covers. We had a lot of fun and naughtiness.

“Geoffrey’s sense of humour was brilliant, and our families became friends. He was fun, very loyal and we had this great ability to work fast. He and I sank into our characters very quickly – after a couple of read-throughs, we had it down. Roy’s script was brilliant and Harold was just a fun man who let us play around. From that we made magic.”

Judy fondly remembers styling Daisy with her iconic grey cardigan and Onslow with his scruffy vest, even using sandwiches to add authenticity to the costume: “I went down to the BBC wardrobe room and found this grey cardigan, which was awful, and I thought, ‘That is it! ‘ I put it on along with some terrible old sandals. They were my own from home, which were worn and raggedy. And Geoffrey’s vest we used to make grubbier by throwing some sandwiches from catering on it before shooting.”

The audience adored Daisy’s attempts to bring the romance from her novels to life with Onslow, a sentiment shared by Judy: “Harold gave me a Mills and Boon book, and I said she can have a romantic book every week. And I was then at a publishing dinner where the Mills and Boon people came leaping up and said, ‘Our book sales have gone through the roof’.”

Speaking about the show’s end in 1995, Judy put any rumours of tension to rest by saying: “There was no bitterness or ill feeling. We all wanted to do other things.”

As the BBC moved on to cast Dame Patricia Routledge in ‘Hetty Wainthropp Investigates’, Judy turned her focus to writing, crafting works like her memoir, ‘Adventures of a Jelly Baby’. Meanwhile, ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ has continued its international success, with over 100 countries airing repeats.

This popularity led to explorations of a Daisy and Onslow spin-off and two American shows that featured clips from the original series. Reflecting on the show’s enduring charm, Judy expressed her relief that the Beeb hasn’t attempted a revival, saying: “It’d probably seem false if you saw other people playing these characters. It was a magical moment.”

From her career to her personal life, Judy relishes her achievements and her lasting marriage to John, a former Fleet Street journalist.

Celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary this year from their Brighton home, Judy remains thankful, stating: “I have had such a great career. Keeping Up Appearances was a highlight. I am so glad it is loved to this day.”