Keeping Up Appearances

Keeping Up Appearances
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Roy Clarke
Written by	Roy Clarke
Directed by	Harold Snoad
Starring	Patricia Routledge Clive Swift David Griffin Josephine Tewson Geoffrey Hughes Judy Cornwell Shirley Stelfox Mary Millar
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	5
No. of episodes	44 + 1 short (list of episodes)
Production
Producer	Harold Snoad
Original release
Network	BBC1
Release	29 October 1990 (1990-10-29) – 25 December 1995 (1995-12-25)

Keeping Up Appearances is a British sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke for the BBC. Centred on the life of eccentric, social-climbing snob Hyacinth Bucket (who insists that her surname is pronounced Bouquet), the sitcom portrays a social hierarchy-ruled British society. It jokes about a small obsessive world where a determined snobbish middle class woman desperately and continually looks for opportunities to climb the social ladder, despite being wedged between a working class background and upper class aspirations. The premise of the show hinges on the fact that one can never completely escape the social class one is born into in England. She desperately tries to hide the fact that she was born into the working class. If people find out about this, she will automatically lose her 'middle-class' status.

The show stars Patricia Routledge as Hyacinth Bucket, the pompous and self-serving central woman obsessed by perfection, image and etiquette, and also includes performances from Clive Swift as her calm, tolerant and long-suffering husband, Richard Bucket, and Josephine Tewson as a friendly pushover neighbour who lives with her brother, played by David Griffin, who is continually fearful of Hyacinth's presence. Judy Cornwell, Geoffrey Hughes and Mary Millar play Hyacinth's relatives whose working-class presence she is continually fearful of.

Broadcast between 1990 and 1995 on BBC One, the sitcom spawned five series and forty-four episodes—four of which are Christmas specials. Enhanced by Routledge's receipt of two BAFTA nominations for her performance, Keeping Up Appeances received abundant success in its native origin while captivating a large audience in the US and Australia, but production ceased in 1995 when Routledge wanted to move on to other projects. Since its original release, all five series—including Christmas specials—are available on DVD. Its original success has been reinforced by its regular repetition worldwide (PBS in the US; BBC One and G.O.L.D. in the UK) and when, in 2004, the sitcom was ranked 12th in the countdown of Britain's Best Sitcom.

Plot summary

Hyacinth Bucket (Patricia Routledge)—who insists her surname is pronounced Bouquet—is a social-climbing snob who passes her time visiting stately homes, hosting "executive-style" candlelight suppers (with her Royal Worcester double-glazed Avignon china and Royal Doulton china with "the hand-painted periwinkles"), bragging of her "white slimline telephone with automatic redial", and maintaining the integrity of her woodblock floor, wallpaper, and status in the community, name-dropping at any hint of an opportunity.

Her aim in life is to impress neighbours, friends, and important people. When answering the telephone, she greets the caller with "The Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking!" Frequently she receives calls asking for Chinese take-away, causing her great consternation. Always hindering her best efforts are her underclass sisters Daisy (Judy Cornwell) and Rose (Shirley Stelfox and Mary Millar), and Daisy's proudly "bone-idle" husband Onslow (Geoffrey Hughes). This threesome, along with Hyacinth's senile father, are forever turning up inconveniently and embarrassing Hyacinth, who goes to great lengths to avoid them. ("Richard, you know I love my family, but that's no reason why I should have to acknowledge them in broad daylight!")

Such excessive snobbery makes life difficult for those around her, especially long-suffering hen-pecked husband Richard Bucket (Clive Swift). Most people either dislike or are afraid of Hyacinth, to the point of running or hiding when seeing her or hearing her voice, exclaiming "The Bucket Woman!". The only recurring character who actively seeks out Hyacinth's company is the Major (Peter Cellier) (although a few other people show interest in Hyacinth in some episodes, e.g. Signore Ferrini, the Commodore, the incoherent rural man, etc.)

However one relative Hyacinth isn't ashamed of is wealthy sister Violet (Anna Dawson); the leading lady will often boast to visitors of Violet's home—a luxury bungalow—and of how this sister has a "Mercedes, sauna, and room for a pony", whilst trying to keep the oddities of Violet's cross-dressing husband, Bruce, a secret. (Bruce's cross dressing is revealed to Hyacinth in series 2.) Hyacinth also tries to impress people with the intellectual prowess of her beloved, but unseen, son Sheridan (he takes courses in needlework at a polytechnic), inviting the derision of those she is desperately trying to impress. She often begins the stories with "I'm sure you've heard about Sheridan" to which the listener responds "frequently". Sheridan makes frequent phone calls from his polytechnic asking for money, much to the despair of Richard. It is also implied many times throughout the series that Sheridan, who lives with a man named Tarquin (who makes his own curtains, wears silk pyjamas, and has won prizes for embroidery), is gay. Hyacinth, however, seems blissfully oblivious to the fact.

Richard tries to keep his head down and cope with his domineering wife, always getting dragged into her elaborate but unsuccessful plots to avoid the family or to help his wife up the social ladder. Richard initially works for the local council; however, he reluctantly accepts early retirement at the turn of series three.

Hyacinth's brother-in-law, Onslow, sympathises with Richard, only too aware of how difficult Hyacinth must be to live with. Onslow calls Richard "Dickey", which Hyacinth does not like. Onslow and his wife, Hyacinth's sister Daisy, are idle slobs who live with younger sister Rose and their senile father, referred to by Hyacinth as "Daddy". Their home is a run-down council house, where Daisy and Onslow spend their time drinking, eating and watching television, whilst Rose spends her time in short skirts and high heels, trying to seduce married men, including Hyacinth's local vicar Michael (Jeremy Gittins), along with divorced neighbour Emmet (David Griffin). Onslow and Daisy have two children: Stephanie (who had a daughter named Kyliee, whose father is unknown to her and Stephanie) and Kevin. Hyacinth is the eldest sister, because in "Playthings for Daddy", when Onslow, Daisy, and Rose are deciding who should tell Hyacinth where Daddy is, Rose states, "You should tell her, Daisy. You're the eldest." to which Daisy snaps, "She's[Hyacinth] the eldest, I'm the second-eldest!"; also, when Rose locks herself in her room in an episode, Hyacinth demands she open the door, saying, "Rose, I am your eldest sister!"

Rose might best be described as a full-time "other woman" and part-time door-to-door cosmetics sales girl; she is forever unlucky in love, as her lovers often "sneak back" to their wives. The men in her life have included the following: an unnamed 17 year-old "toy boy", Boris, C.P. Benedict, Charlie, Dennis, Derrick, Edgar, Mr. Bickerstaff, Mr. Blankensopp, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Crabtree, Mr. Finchley, Mr. Halliwell, Mr. Heppelwhite, Mr. Marinopolous, Mr. Merchesson, Mr. Merriweather, Mr. Murray, Mr. Ripley, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sudbury, Reg, Roger, and Mr. Whatsit? (having an unpronounceable name of Polish extraction, he is also referred to as "Cuddly Chops"). She might have been married but divorced, in "Half a Camel", she states, "Sometimes I wonder whether I should get married again, but you get a problem in your love life."

Meanwhile, the senile "Daddy" pinches women's bottoms and frequently believes he is back in the trenches of the First World War. Onslow owns a dog, who lives outside in a ruined Hillman Avenger. The dog always manages to startle Hyacinth into the hedge by barking (though he never barks at Richard, who once actually happily waved at the dog - knowing what was coming for Hyacinth).

Neighbour Elizabeth (Josephine Tewson) is frequently invited round to the Buckets' for coffee. Terrified of spilling drinks in house-proud Hyacinth's home, her nerves get the better of her and she invariably does. She eventually moves to a beaker and in one episode, a pink sippy cup with taped on lid. Her brother, Emmet (David Griffin) arrives at the beginning of series two to live with his sister after a "messy divorce". He produces and directs an amateur operatic society, and quickly becomes terrified of Hyacinth, who gives broad hints by singing at him, that he should give her a part in his productions.

Episodes

Main article: List of Keeping Up Appearances episodes

Keeping Up Appearances aired for five series, four Christmas specials, and one short Children in Need special, from 29 October 1990 to 25 December 1995. The series officially ended after the episode "The Pageant", because Patricia Routledge wanted to focus on other TV and theatre work, including Hetty Wainthropp Investigates which began airing in 1996. Clive Swift, who portrayed Richard, stated in a BBC interview that Routledge "didn't want to be remembered as simply 'Mrs Bucket'". In the March 2011 PBS pledge drive programming special Behind the Britcoms: from Script to Screen hosted by Moira Brooker and Philip Bretherton of As Time Goes By, the Keeping Up Appearances creators/writers/producers stated that they believed the series had many more years in it, that they had many more stories to tell, and that "it still had legs".

Production

Locations

The council terrace in Stoke Aldermoor occupied by Daisy and Onslow.

Exterior shots around Hyacinth's house were taped in Binley Woods, Warwickshire, a village east of Coventry. Bucket's Residence Street View

Exterior shots around Daisy and Onslow's council terrace were taped in Stoke Aldermoor in Coventry. Onslow and Daisy's Street View Other exterior street and town shots were taped in Leamington Spa, and in various towns throughout Warwickshire, along with many scenes from the large town of Northampton. Some scenes were also shot in Swindon, Oxford, and Bristol.

The setting of the show is not entirely clear, but there are several references to the characters being in the West Midlands throughout the series, as when Hyacinth said that she could become the "Barbara Cartland of the West Midlands Social Circuit Scene" in The Hostess, also, in one episode, police officers wearing West Midlands Police Nato Jumpers escorted Mr Bucket home.

Vehicles

Richard and Hyacinth Bucket's car is a Rover 200-series saloon (a re-badged version of the Honda Civic). Early episodes show a light blue 1987 216S, but later episodes feature a 1989 216SE EFi model (re-badged for continuity as a 216S, and with the same numberplate).

Onslow drives a clapped-out 1978 Ford Cortina that backfires loudly every time it starts or stops, embarrassing Hyacinth, and frequently crushing her hopes of creating a perfect impression with new people. Onslow is also the owner of the rusting carcass of a Hillman Avenger in his front garden, wherein lives a stray dog that always barks at Hyacinth as she approaches.

Violet and Bruce own a Mercedes-Benz W126 S-class. Neighbour Elizabeth drives a white 1989 Austin Metro City hatchback.

After Keeping Up Appearances

Various shows related to the programme were released.

• The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket

In March 1997 Geoffrey Hughes and Judy Cornwell reprised their roles as Onslow and Daisy for a special compilation episode recorded for broadcast in the United States on PBS. The show saw the pair introduce classic clips from the series.

• Comedy Connections

In 2004 the documentary series featured an episode dedicated to Keeping Up Appearances. Stars Clive Swift, Josephine Tewson, Judy Cornwell, and David Griffin, along with writer Roy Clarke and producer/director Harold Snoad, all discussed the series. Clips from an interview with Patricia Routledge from 2002 were also included. The episode revealed that there were serious artistic differences between Clarke and Snoad.

• Life Lessons from Onslow

In early 2008, Geoffrey Hughes reprised his role as Onslow once again for a clipshow of the series; this was to be broadcast on American television, and sees him teaching a credit course at the Open University, and has selected "successful relationships" as his subject matter. The special was also released on Region 1 DVD.

Two cast members died within two months of each other in 1998. Mary Millar – who played Rose from 1991 to 1995 – on 10 November 1998 due to ovarian cancer. George Webb – who played Daddy throughout the show's run – died on 30 December 1998, of natural causes. Charmian May – who appears as Mrs. Councillor Nugent recurringly in the first three series died on 24 October 2002.

Media

Audio

In 1998 the BBC released three episodes of the show: "A Job for Richard", "Country Retreat", and "Sea Fever" on audio cassette. Clive Swift reprised his role as Richard recording a narrative to compensate for the lack of images.

VHS

BBC Video released three videos featuring episodes from the series.

• How to Enhance Your Husband's Retirement

This was released in 1993 and featured the episodes: "Iron Age Remains", "What to Wear when Yachting", and "How to Go on Holiday Without Really Trying".

• Sea Fever

This was released in 1994 and featured the episodes: "Sea Fever" and "A Job for Richard".

• Rural Retreat

This was released in 1995 and featured the episodes: "Country Retreat", "Let There Be Light", and "Please Mind Your Head".

DVD

File:KUA DVD.jpg

DVD cover of the Region 2 Essential Collection release.

• Series one and two

The first two series were released on Region 2 DVD, by Universal Playback on 7 March 2003.

• Series three and four

The third and fourth series, along with the 1991 Christmas Special, were released on 16 February 2004.

• Series 5

The final series along with the 1993, 1994 and 1995 specials, were released on 26 December 2006.

• Keeping Up Appearances: The Essential Collection

On 8 October 2007, all episodes were released in a singular boxset.

• Keeping Up Appearances: The Full Bucket (Bouquet)

In 2004 all five series and the specials were released as a box set on Region 1 DVD.

• Keeping Up Appearances: The Complete Collection

The entire series was released in Region 4 in 2005 under the title.

• Keeping Up Appearances: Christmas Specials
• Keeping Up Appearances: The Full Bouquet: Special Edition

A second edition of the complete series was released in North America in 2008. This release in almost identical in terms of content to that released in 2005, except for the inclusion of the new Life Lessons from Onslow special, filmed for PBS in early 2008.

Unlike the Region 1 release, the region 2 set does not contain any special features.

Books

Three books related to the series have been released in the UK. Two were written by Jonathan Rice and published by BBC Books and the other one was written by Harold Snoad (the director of Keeping Up Appearances) and was published by Book Guild Publishing.

• Hyacinth Bucket's book of etiquette for the socially less fortunate

This was first published in 1993, and is a light-hearted guide to manners, as seen through Hyacinth Bucket's eyes. It is based on the TV series' scripts and contains many black-and-white photos of scenes from the show.

• Hyacinth Bucket's Hectic Social Calendar

This was published in 1995 and is presented in a diary format chronicling a year in Hyacinth Bucket's life, with typical comments about her relations and neighbours.

• It's Bouquet - Not Bucket

This was published in late 2009, the book includes rare photos which were taken during the filming of Keeping Up Appearances. The book contains full plot synopses for all episodes, main cast details, filming locations for all episodes which used outside shots, and stories of some entertaining events which happened during filming.

Overseas books

Due to the popularity of Keeping Up Appearances in the United States, books about the series have also been published across the Atlantic.

• Keeping Up Appearances: A Companion to the Series

This comical series guidebook was published in the late 1990s by WLIW21. It was co-authored by mother and daughter writers, Georgene and Mary Lee Costa. It features summary descriptions of each episode, cast and crew biographies, series photographs, and an interview with Harold Snoad.

Since it was written during the filming of the final series of episodes, Snoad included the co-authors of the guide as extras in the episode, “The Fancy Dress Ball.”

Transmissions

Series 1-5

Series	Premiere	Last in series	Episodes
1	29 October 1990	3 December 1990	6
2	1 September 1991	3 November 1991	10 + 1 Special (25 Dec 1991)
3	6 September 1992	18 October 1992	7
4	5 September 1993	17 October 1993	7 + 2 Specials (26 Dec 1993 & 25 Dec 1994)
5	3 September 1995	5 November 1995	10 + 1 Special (25 Dec 1995)

Theatre

In 2010 the show was adapted into a theatre play that toured the UK. The cast included:

• Rachel Bell as Hyacinth
• Gareth Hale as Onslow
• David Janson as Mr Edward Milton [a new character created for the stage show] (Janson had previously appeared in the TV show as The Postman)
• Steven Pinder as Emmet
• Kim Hartman as Elizabeth
• Debbie Arnold as Rose

The character Richard (Hyacinth's husband – a main character in the original show) is frequently referred to (Hyacinth addresses to him off-stage, talkes to him on the phone etc.), but does not actually appear in the production.

The main plot of the show revolves around Emmet directing a play at the local village hall, when Hyacinth is cast in the play's leading role disaster is in the making...

Running times

• 42x30 minutes
• 1x50 minutes
• 1x60 minutes

Quotes by Hyacinth

• "Rose, you will not commit suicide. I forbid it...No one in this family has ever committed suicide, and I'm sure we are not going to start on the day I'm having the new vicar for tea and light refreshments", from "The New Vicar", Series 1, Episode 2.

• "Sheridan deserves a father full of executive stress wearing a bowtie", from "The Charity Shop", Series 1, Episode 4.

• "She'll come to no good identifying with the continental classes", from "A Strange Man", Series 2, Episode 1.

• "I will not raise Sheridan in a continental atmosphere", from "A Strange Man", Series 2, Episode 1.

• "I don't think that's very amusing, dear. I hope you are not going to spoil things with lower middle-class humour", from "Driving Mrs. Fortescue", Series 2, Episode 2.

• [To the postman] "I hope that's a first class stamp. I object to having second class stamps thrust through my letterbox. I should have thought postmen would be trained to recognise first class stamp houses", from "A Job for Richard", Series 4, Episode 1.

External links

• Keeping Up Appearances at BBC Online
• Keeping Up Appearances at BBC Online
• Keeping Up Appearances at British Comedy Guide
• Keeping Up Appearances at IMDb
• Template:TV.com show