Dame Patricia Routledge, who played the iconic Hyacinth Bucket – or rather, Bouquet in the BBC television series Keeping up Appearances, has passed away at the age of 96.
Her agent said in a statement on Friday: "We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of Dame Patricia Routledge, who died peacefully in her sleep this morning surrounded by love.”
"Even at 96-years old, Dame Patricia's passion for her work and for connecting with live audiences never waned, just as new generations of audiences have continued to find her through her beloved television roles."
The statement added: "She will be dearly missed by those closest to her and by her devoted admirers around the world."
Routledge was best known as Hyacinth Bucket - pronounced "bouquet" – the central character of the British sitcom Keeping up Appearances, which ran from 1990 to 1995.
An immensely popular series, it centred on Hyacinth’s efforts to gain social standing and be considered among the British upper classes of society – efforts which invariably always land her and usually her long-suffering husband Richard (portrayed by the late Clive Swift) in a farcical situation to preserve her social credibility.
"She's an absolute monster and I enjoyed playing her enormously," the actress had once said on portraying Hyacinth. She was voted the nation’s most popular actress at the BBC’s 60th anniversary awards in 1996.
Before her portrayal of Hyacinth Bucket, Routledge also had a distinguished theatre career, winning a Tony Award in 1968 for her role in the musical Darling of the Day and an Olivier Award in 1998 for her role in the musical Candide.
On television she also played the lead character Hetty Wainthropp in the British television series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, a crime drama which ran in 1990 and between 1996 and 1998.
She was made a dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017 for her services to entertainment and charity.