Patricia Routledge

Acting

Patricia Routledge

Born February 17, 1929 · Tranmere, Merseyside, England, UK

Died October 3, 2025 · aged 96

Dame Katherine Patricia Routledge, DBE (17 February 1929 – 3 October 2025) was a British actress, comedian and singer. She was best known for her role as Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, for which she was nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance in 1992 and 1993.

Known For

To Sir, with LoveTo Sir, with Love · 1967
To Sir, with Love
7.51967
MovieDrama
A British Guianese engineer starts a job as a high school teacher in London’s East End, where his uninterested and delinquent pupils are in desperate need of attention and care.
If It's Tuesday, This Must Be BelgiumIf It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium · 1969
If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
5.91969
MovieRomanceComedy
A group of travelers from the United States race through seven European countries in 18 days.
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the RiverDon't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River · 1968
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
6.61968
MovieComedy
George Lester is a man who is chasing rainbows, looking for the pot of gold at the end. When his wife, Pamela grows tired of being dragged all over the world, she leaves him. While she is away, George converts her family home into a discotheque, when she returns, she threatens to send George to jail for fraud, cause she didn't give her approval. George needing some fast bucks, decides to turn to an old cohort of his, William Homer but Willy's a little short. George then decides to steal the plans to a new drill, Pamela's suitor, Dudley Heath is working on. But when George gets the mumps, he can't make it to the meeting place and refuses to give Willy the plans unless he gives him the cash first. And the buyers won't give unless they see the merchandise first.
Pretty PollyPretty Polly · 1967
Pretty Polly
4.21967
MovieDramaRomance
Miss Polly decides to spend a few months with her wealthy spinster aunt as a traveling companion. While in Singapore her aunt's demise leaves her alone to pursue her freedom and explore an arm's length romance with a local boy.
Egghead's RobotEgghead's Robot · 1970
Egghead's Robot
6.01970
MovieFamily
'Egghead' Wentworth adapts his father's robot paratrooper to perform his chores, but forgets to programme it to keep him out of trouble.
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-DuckThe World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck · 1993
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck
8.01993
MovieAnimationFamily
"The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends", episode 2. Tom Kitten and his sisters spoil the tea party of their mother Tabitha, while Jemina Puddle-Duck meets the most peculiar foxy gentleman.
Lock Up Your DaughtersLock Up Your Daughters · 1969
Lock Up Your Daughters
6.01969
MovieComedy
Three sailors on leave turn a British town upside down.
The Pirates of PenzanceThe Pirates of Penzance · 1980
The Pirates of Penzance
6.61980
MovieMusicComedy
As a young child, Frederic had been apprenticed to a pirate by mistake when he should have been apprenticed to a pilot. Now, having reached his 21st year, Frederic's indentures are at last over and he happily leaves the service of the pirates. When Frederic meets the beautiful Mabel, one of the many daughters (or wards in Chancery) of Major-General Stanley, they fall in love and decide to marry. However, complications arise when the pirates decide to marry the rest of the Major-General's daughters, themselves - and Frederic's birthdate turns out to be not all it seems. Filmed live from Central Park prior to the production's transition to Broadway.

Filmography

Sort
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the RiverDon't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River · 1968
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
6.61968
MovieComedy
George Lester is a man who is chasing rainbows, looking for the pot of gold at the end. When his wife, Pamela grows tired of being dragged all over the world, she leaves him. While she is away, George converts her family home into a discotheque, when she returns, she threatens to send George to jail for fraud, cause she didn't give her approval. George needing some fast bucks, decides to turn to an old cohort of his, William Homer but Willy's a little short. George then decides to steal the plans to a new drill, Pamela's suitor, Dudley Heath is working on. But when George gets the mumps, he can't make it to the meeting place and refuses to give Willy the plans unless he gives him the cash first. And the buyers won't give unless they see the merchandise first.

Lucille Beatty

The World of Peter Rabbit and FriendsThe World of Peter Rabbit and Friends · 2006
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends
8.52006
MovieActionAnimation
Classic tales of Peter Rabbit."Once upon a time there were four little rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter." So begins the first of Original Peter Rabbit TalesTM, which have been translated into 35 languages and have achieved international success in more than 117 countries worldwide. The beautiful illustrations are magically brought to life in this captivating series, including a live action introduction featuring Niamh Cusack as Beatrix Potter, specially tailored for each story. This DVD includes three delightful tales: "The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny", "The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies and Mrs. Tittlemouse", and "The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck", all beautifully animated and featuring the voices of Richard Griffiths (Harry Potter), June Whitfield (Ab Fab) and others!

Cousin Ribby

Natural WorldNatural World · 1983
Natural World
7.41983
SeriesDocumentary
Natural World is a nature documentary television series broadcast annually on BBC Two and regarded by the BBC as its flagship natural history brand. It is currently the longest-running series in its genre on British television, with more than 400 episodes broadcast since its inception in 1983. Natural World is produced by the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, but individual programmes can be in-house productions, collaborative productions with other broadcasters or films made and distributed by independent production companies and purchased by the BBC. Natural World programmes are often broadcast as PBS Nature episodes in the USA. Since 2008, most Natural World programmes have been shot and broadcast in high definition.

Narrator

Keeping Up AppearancesKeeping Up Appearances · 1990
Keeping Up Appearances
7.71990
SeriesComedy
Hyacinth Bucket (whose name, she insists, is pronounced "Bouquet") is a suburban housewife in the West Midlands. She would be the first to tell you that she is a gracious hostess, a respected citizen, and a well-connected member of high society. If you don't believe that, just ask her best friend Elizabeth, held captive in Hyacinth's kitchen; or the postmen and neighbours who bristle at the sound of her voice; or Richard, her weary and compliant husband. In fact, Hyacinth's reputation could be as perfect as her new lounge set, if not for her senile father's love of running wild in the nip. Oh, and she would prefer it if her brother-in-law was a sharper dresser. And that her husband was more ambitious. And that her sisters were more presentable. And do take your shoes off before you come in the house, dear. Mind that you don't brush against the wallpaper.

Hyacinth Bucket

Steptoe and SonSteptoe and Son · 1962
Steptoe and Son
7.81962
SeriesComedy
Steptoe and Son is a British sitcom written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson about a father and son played by Wilfred Brambell and Harry H. Corbett who deal in selling used items. They live on Oil Drum Lane, a fictional street in Shepherd's Bush, London. Four series were broadcast by the BBC from 1962 to 1965, followed by a second run from 1970 to 1974. Its theme tune, "Old Ned", was composed by Ron Grainer. The series was voted 15th in a 2004 BBC poll to find Britain's Best Sitcom. It was remade in the US as Sanford and Son, in Sweden as Albert & Herbert and in the Netherlands as Stiefbeen en zoon. In 1972 a movie adaptation of the series, Steptoe and Son, was released in cinemas, with a second Steptoe and Son Ride Again in 1973.

Madame Fontana (Beryl Duddy)

Victoria ReginaVictoria Regina · 1964
Victoria Regina
10.01964
SeriesDrama
Patricia Routledge gives a career-best performance as Queen Victoria in this 1964 series of plays based on the celebrated collection of dramas by playwright Laurence Housman. Self-willed, obstinate, imperious and passionate... a now-familiar description of one of history's longest-serving female monarchs – but Housman's satirical tribute marked a decisive break with the tradition of the uncritical historical portrait. A Broadway hit deemed too disrespectful for public performance in Britain until the late 1930s, Victoria Regina is a frank portrayal of an extraordinarily complex woman, tracing her development from royal teenager to inconsolable widow at the helm of a vast empire, with all her contradictions, prejudices and unconstitutional behavior.

Queen Victoria