Patricia Routledge, the actress who became a household name for her portrayal of the insufferable but lovable social climber Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances, has never shied away from sharing her thoughts on her iconic character. Despite the show’s massive success and the worldwide love for Hyacinth’s desperate attempts to climb the social ladder, Routledge’s verdict on her character is nothing short of harsh.

In a revealing interview for the documentary Keeping Up Appearances: 30 Years of Laughs, the 95-year-old actress described Hyacinth as “a monster,” admitting that the character’s high standards often went too far, making her a comedic figure of absurdity and delusion.

Keeping Up Appearances, which aired on BBC One from 1990 to 1995, quickly became a beloved sitcom. It featured a stellar cast, including Clive Swift as Hyacinth’s long-suffering husband, Richard, and Geoffrey Hughes and Judy Cornwell in memorable supporting roles. The series was a masterclass in situational comedy, with Hyacinth’s endless, misguided attempts to appear more refined and socially important than she truly was.

Patricia Routledge’s performance was central to the show’s success, earning her two BAFTA nominations and a British Comedy Award for Best Actress. Despite the character’s overwhelming popularity, Routledge was remarkably candid in discussing Hyacinth’s more flawed traits, notably her pretentiousness and obsessive need to impress others.

In the 2023 documentary, Routledge explained that Hyacinth’s standards were “too high for most people,” making her a “monster” in a way. She acknowledged that this high standard—her constant attempts to elevate herself above those around her—was what made the character so entertaining and relatable.

“Pretending to be something better than you are, and quite often slipping on the banana skin, makes for good comedy,” Routledge added, recognizing that Hyacinth’s endless social faux pas were a key ingredient in the show’s charm. It was this balance of delusion and vulnerability that allowed the character to connect with audiences, even as she frustrated and alienated those around her.

While the show was undeniably successful, Routledge revealed that she did not want to stay on too long, a sentiment that was both personal and professional. In a candid interview, she shared that she chose to leave the show after five series because the writer, Roy Clarke, was beginning to recycle old ideas.

“I thought the writer was beginning to recycle old ideas,” Routledge explained, echoing the sentiments of comedy legend Ronnie Barker, who famously stopped his shows at their peak. Routledge, always a woman of principle, preferred to leave people wanting more rather than overstaying her welcome. “That’s the place to be,” she said, “and I had other adventures to explore.”

Routledge’s decision to exit Keeping Up Appearances at the height of its success was a brave one. The BBC, she admitted, did not share her view and was not pleased with her departure. But for Routledge, it was about moving on to new challenges and roles that would allow her to explore a wider range of characters.

“I’m an actress, and I wanted to take on the stories of other people,” she said. This decision allowed her to branch out into other projects, and in the years that followed, she continued to shine in different roles.

One of the most notable roles Patricia took on post-Keeping Up Appearances was that of Hetty Wainthropp in the BBC detective series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates. From 1996 to 1998, Routledge played the titular character, a retired woman who becomes an amateur detective, solving cases in her spare time.

The show’s success proved that Routledge was far more than just Hyacinth Bucket, showcasing her versatility as an actress and her ability to take on complex, more grounded roles. This was followed by her two-year stint as Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest from 1999 to 2001, a role that allowed her to return to the stage and further solidify her reputation as one of Britain’s most respected actresses.

Reflecting on her time playing Hyacinth, Routledge admitted that she was astonished by the enduring success of Keeping Up Appearances, even three decades after its final episode. The character of Hyacinth has become a cultural touchstone, and despite her pretensions, she remains one of the most beloved sitcom characters in British television history.

For Patricia, however, it was Hyacinth’s “monster” qualities that made her so irresistible to audiences. “I knew that woman, I knew several of that woman,” Routledge revealed, recalling how she immediately connected with the character when she first read the script.

The humor of Hyacinth’s social climbing and her relentless pursuit of status, even at the expense of her dignity, resonated with fans all over the world.

Patricia Routledge’s relationship with Keeping Up Appearances has always been complicated, but there’s no denying the massive impact the show had on her career and her legacy. While she may not have been as enamored with Hyacinth as fans were, the character has undoubtedly cemented her place in television history.

As for Routledge herself, she remains one of Britain’s most talented and versatile actresses, proving that even after leaving behind her most famous character, she had much more to offer.