< Keeping Up Appearances

Keeping Up Appearances/Characters


Hyacinth Bucket ("Bouquet")

The main protagonist, if you want to call her that. Hyacinth Bucket (or "Bouquet" as she prefers) is a pompous middle-class woman living in The Midlands with her husband Richard. Determined to be a Grande Dame, Hyacinth's snobbish ways comes off as a Jerkass. Her numerous attempts to climb the ladder of classes often fail due to her own incompetence, the unexpected appearance of her lower class family members, or other reasons.

Richard Bucket

Hyacinth's long-suffering Henpecked Husband. Working as a local government official, Richard is forced into early retirement and becomes a Reluctant Retiree. He is Hyacinth's Bumbling Sidekick, chauffering her around and is often pushed about by her, although they still love each other.

Onslow

Hyacinth's brother-in-law and the husband of her sister Daisy. Onslow is a Lazy Bum who spends most of his time watching TV and drinking beer, with little interest in his wife's brooding antics and Hyacinth's snobbish attitude. However, he is actually Brilliant but Lazy, very philosophical and intelligent. He lives in a council house with Daisy, her sister Rose, their father Daddy and the family dog.

  • The Alleged Car: Onslow's beatup 1978 Ford Cortina that usually blasts out a burst of fumes whenever it starts up or stops. Hyacinth is usually against riding in the car unless it is necessary.
  • Brilliant but Lazy
  • Catch Phrase: "Oh, nice!"
  • Deadpan Snarker
  • Fat Bastard: At times, usually towards Hyacinth or Daddy.
  • Informed Attractiveness: Daisy finds Onslow's body fascinating. He can't understand why.
  • Lazy Bum: Spends much of his time sleeping or watching TV, in a vest and cap.
  • Percussive Maintenance: Onslow turns on the TV by bashing the top of it.
  • What Does She See in Him?: Hyacinth's attitude towards Onslow and Daisy, often pointing out Onslow's lazy behaviour. However, she is willing to accept and/or ask Onslow for help depending on the situation.
    • In the 1993 Christmas Episode, Hyacinth is accidentally kissed by Onslow when she dresses in a Santa Claus outfit, Elizabeth having dressed in it beforehand. Hyacinth is so shocked, she drops her usual attitude and invites all her family and friends back to her house for dinner, realising the meaning of Christmas is family and good will to all men.

Daisy

Hyacinth's sister and Onslow's wife. She is similarily lazy to her husband, but more concerned about her father than he is. She often reads romantic novels, longing for the distant Onslow to show her some passion in their lives, often prompting her to make romantic passes at him.

Rose

Hyacinth's youngest sister. Still maintaining her looks, Rose is usually with a new man on an episodic basis. She has a stalker-like crush on Emmet and the Vicar.

Elizabeth "Liz" Warden

Hyacinth's next door neighbour and best friend. While she genuinely likes Hyacinth, she becomes a nervous wreck whenever invited over for coffee, spilling it all over the floor and usually destroying Hyacinth's prized china tea set. Her husband is working in Saudi Arabia.

  • Butt Monkey: Often becomes this if Richard is unavailable.
  • Drop-In Character: Usually against her will.
  • He Who Must Not Be Seen: Her husband who is only mentioned in the show, but is never named.
  • Just Drink Elizabeth: Often forced to attend Hyacinth's coffee invites regardless.
  • Nosy Neighbor: Hyacinth acts like this on Elizabeth occasionally.
  • Running Gag: Elizabeth's hilarious mishaps with the coffee, often caused by sudden sounds which cause her to jump. Hyacinth tries to combat her clumsiness by giving her a beaker, but it still does not work. Elizabeth uses a straw on one occasion to drink, but Hyacinth bins it.

Emmet Hawksworth

Elizabeth's brother who moves in with her after he had a shaky divorce. A talented musician, Emmet unfortunately attracts Hyacinth interest in theatre and she badly sings whenever she sees him. Emmet often hides indoors until he can flee to work.

Daddy

The father of Hyacinth, Daisy, Rose and Violet. A World War II veteran, now a senile, Dirty Old Man who lives with Onslow, Daisy and Rose. He is in a world of his own, often sneaking out of the house to chase down women, join the foreign legion or go on some sort of madcap adventure before being retrieved by his family.

The Vicar and His Wife

Introduced in episode two, the Vicar (or Michael) becomes another one of Rose's romantic interests, and is terrified of Hyacinth whenever she appears. He often refers to her as "The Bucket Woman". His wife is more able to deal with Hyacinth, but has a habit of mistaking the Vicar for having a fling with Rose.

Sheridan Bucket

Hyacinth and Richard's son. He never appears in the show aside from a couple of cameos where his face is unseen, and always calls his mother. He often asks for money, much to Richard's anger. He attends college, with a roommate called Tarquin. It is implied he may be Ambiguously Gay.

  • Ambiguously Gay: Hyacinth never wonders why her son dropped all of his lessons in college aside from designing clothes.
    • Richard sincerely asks Hyacinth: "Do you ever wonder why Sheridan doesn't show any interest in girls?" As usual, Hyacinth is off in her own world and pays him no attention.
  • The Faceless
  • The Ghost
  • He Who Must Not Be Seen
  • Spoiled Brat: Implied to have been and still is with the amount of money Hyacinth sends to him with every phone call.

Violet and Bruce

Hyacinth's third sister, who was mostly unseen except for a few appearances in the last season. Much respected by Hyacinth for having married a wealthy turf-accountant Bruce, her life isn't as idyllic as Hyacinth likes to make out due to her husband's penchant for women's clothes. Violet and Bruce both face divorce in the final season

  • Awful Wedded Life: Despite Hyacinth's attempts to insist otherwise. Bruce crossdresses, wears Violet's dresses and has a passion for horses.
  • The Ghost: Violet until Season 5, Bruce cameoing and did not get a proper talking role until the very last episode.
  • Phrase Catcher: She's the one with the Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony.
  • Toilet Seat Divorce: The two nearly split up twice but they don't in the end.
  • Wholesome Crossdresser: Bruce is shown and mentioned crossdressing on numerous occasions.
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