Dame Patricia Routledge, the iconic actress behind Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances, was known for her high standards on set. Throughout the sitcom’s run from 1990 to 1995, she reportedly refused to film certain scenes that she found too unrealistic.

As the star of the show, Patricia had a strong influence over how Hyacinth was portrayed. When she believed a scene did not fit with the character’s carefully crafted persona, she made it clear to the writers. This led to numerous rewrites, with creators Roy Clarke and Harold Snoad frequently adjusting scripts to meet her expectations.

However, behind the scenes, these constant script changes reportedly caused tension. Clarke, who also wrote Last of the Summer Wine and Open All Hours, found that his original scripts were often altered by Snoad.

The two clashed over creative decisions, with Snoad admitting that he rewrote “large chunks” of the show without Clarke’s approval. Clarke, in turn, was frustrated to see scenes he hadn’t written make it into the final episodes, calling it a major challenge for a writer.

Snoad later admitted to The Guardian, “At times, we weren’t the best of mates.” Clarke added, “I watched on occasions and found scenes I hadn’t written and that’s, of course, death to a writer.”

Patricia’s insistence on maintaining the integrity of Keeping Up Appearances played a role in her decision to leave the series. She was clear that she wanted to end on a high note rather than let the show overstay its welcome.

“Well, I brought it to an end, which, of course, the BBC didn’t care for very much,” she shared in an interview. “I thought the writer was beginning to recycle old ideas. And remembering the glorious Ronnie Barker, he always stopped when he was at the height of something and left with people saying, ‘Oh, aren’t you doing any more?’ rather than, ‘Is that still on?’”

For Patricia, walking away while the show was still beloved was the right decision. “That’s the place to be, really, and I had other adventures to explore. I’m an actress, and I wanted to take on the stories of other people.”

Following her departure, Patricia took on several high-profile roles. She starred as Hetty Wainthropp in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates from 1996 to 1998, bringing her talent for strong character work to a crime drama setting.

She later returned to the stage, starring as Lady Bracknell in a two-year run of The Importance of Being Earnest from 1999 to 2001.

Though she moved on to new projects, Keeping Up Appearances remained a defining part of her career. Decades later, the show continues to air worldwide, attracting new generations of fans.

In 2023, Patricia revealed just how far the show’s popularity extended. Keeping Up Appearances had famous admirers, including members of the British royal family and even the Pope.

“We were one of the Queen Mother’s favorite sitcoms, which was lovely, and the Queen enjoyed it, too,” she shared in the documentary Keeping Up Appearances: 30 Years of Laughs. “Hyacinth would have been flattered beyond words, and why not?”

Even years after its final episode, Keeping Up Appearances remains one of Britain’s most cherished sitcoms. Patricia’s dedication to the role and insistence on maintaining high standards played a major part in ensuring its lasting success.