Keeping Up Appearances: Hyacinth in Full Bloom

When it comes to snobbery, Hyacinth Bucket is in a class of her own!

Tireless social climber Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced 'Bouquet,' of course!) puts her best foot forward in this high-class comedy's first two seasons. Hyacinth busies herself performing selfless acts of charity for the lower classes (including her sisters), doling out invaluable advice to her husband Richard, and acting the adoring eldest daughter to her incapacitated Daddy, yet still finds the time to keep her neighbors on edge by hosting insufferable morning coffees and candlelight suppers. Hyacinth goes to incredible lengths in her quest for perfection and admittance to the upper-echelon of society. Hers is a carefully polished home, even the empty milk bottles sparkle on the doorstep after their obligatory rinse in the dishwasher. Husband Richard acts as chauffer in their immaculately kept car and even their permanently absent son has a superior name, Sheridan.

Whatever Hyacinth does, her common family can always be guaranteed to show her up. Can she ever live down the disgrace? And more importantly... What will the neighbors think?!?

Featuring Complete Series One and Two along with four hilarious specials!

Series 1
Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "bouquet") goes to incredible lengths in her quest for perfection. Hers is a spick-and-span house. Her downtrodden husband, Richard, acts as chauffeur in their immaculately kept car. Their permanently absent son has a superior name, Sheridan. Even the empty milk bottles sparkle on the doorstep after their obligatory rinse in the dishwasher. Hyacinth delights in her "candlelit suppers", but her guests live in fear of receiving her invitations. Next-door neighbor Liz is so nervous that she is guaranteed to break or spill something. Her brother Emmet hides every time he sees Hyacinth. And the Buckets' distinguished friend, the Major, and the vicar and his wife all do their best to keep out of her way. In marked contrast to Hyacinth's meticulously ordered life, however, the rest of her family are as common as muck. They live together in a rundown house that looks like a junkyard. Sister Daisy and her husband, Onslow, are out-and-out slobs. Her other sister, Rose, is an aging tart. And her elderly father is a lecherous drunk, given to cycling stark-naked down by the canal, chasing the milkwoman. Whatever Hyacinth does, her family can always be guaranteed to show her up. Can she ever live down the disgrace?

Series 2
When it comes to snobbery, Hyacinth Bucket is in a class of her own. Series Two of this award-winning comedy reveals that Daddy has gone missing - again. Meanwhile Hyacinth drags Richard off for a weekend of golf at an executive golf club, in spite of the fact that he doesn't like the game. And, determined that the neighbors should see the van delivering her new three-piece suite, Hyacinth has parking cones placed outside the house, along with a special notice warning of an immediate delivery.

Series 1
Episode 1 - Hyacinth Bucket (she pronounces it 'bouquet') will go to manic lengths to ensure that even the most routine of daily events is just so, much to the chagrin of husband Richard and neighbor Liz.

Episode 2 - Hyacinth has asked the new vicar to tea and, in her usual meticulous fashion, she has organized the event down to the last lump of sugar. But things go awry...

Episode 3 - Hyacinth looks forward to soaking up a little culture at her favorite stately home.

Episode 4 - Hyacinth is at her wit's end, what with the charity shop, Councilor Nugent, Rose's love life and her Daddy! Can she cope?

Episode 5 - Hyacinth's social standing at a church function is jeopardized when Daisy tries to encourage Onslow to become more ardent.

Episode 6 - Hyacinth enjoys a quiet family christening - for a few moments at least until pandemonium breaks loose.

Series 2
Episode 1 - Hyacinth is appalled when she sees a strange man next door at Liz's who has obviously spent the night there! What will such behavior do to the property values?

Episode 2 - Hyacinth is very thrilled when the wealthy Mrs. Fortescue asks them to give her a lift into town. After all, she is practically aristocracy!

Episode 3 - Hyacinth plans to hold one of her celebrated candlelight suppers in order to impress Emmet, head of the local amateur operatic society, with her vocal talents.

Episode 4 - Hyacinth has decided that she and husband Richard should have a weekend at a golfing hotel in order that she be able to keep up with the Major and his wife.

Episode 5 - Hyacinth is fearful that the tumultuous lives of her family members will cast a pall on the carefully polished image she tries so hard to maintain.

Episode 6 - Onslow's birthday celebrations may only come around once a year, but that is far too often as far as Hyacinth is concerned.

Episode 7 - Hyacinth is still eager to impress Emmet with her prowess as a singer, especially now that he is divorced and has moved in next door with his sister Liz.

Episode 8 - Hyacinth has to intervene when she learns from her relatives "on the other side of town" that Daddy has slipped out and run up a toy store bill that he cannot pay.

Episode 9 - Hyacinth is eager to take delivery of a new suite, which she is quick to tell everyone is an exact replica of one in Sandringham House. But the delivery goes awry.

Episode 10 - Hyacinth suddenly decides to take Daddy out for a picnic in the country, but Daddy equally suddenly decides that he will take her car!

1991 Christmas Special - Hyacinth roars into the Christmas season. She manages to get poor Richard into a Father Christmas outfit but then has to confront with a very drunken "Daddy" who is making passes at the parish ladies in the church rectory. To make matters worse, there is a case of mistaken identity that culminates with her kissing under the mistletoe with a most unexpected partner.

1993 Christmas Special - Hyacinth buys tickets for a holiday cruise on the QE2, looking forward to making acquaintances with the better class of person that one meets in such circumstances. Little does she know that Onslow has won tickets for that very same trip.

1994 Christmas Special - Hyacinth has been very busy planning a new kitchen (a process which includes asking the Vicar whether a worktop color described as "Angel Gabriel Blue" is accurate). She becomes busier still when Daisy tells her that someone has been found in "Daddy's" bed - and it isn't "Daddy"!

1995 Christmas Special - Hyacinth decides to organize and direct a local pageant titled "Our Town in the Civil War." She also, naturally, casts herself in the starring role of Queen Henrietta Maria and coerces various members of her family to play assorted Cavaliers and Roundheads. The Church Hall is soon in pandemonium.

Written by Roy Clarke
Directed by Harold Snoad
Produced by Harold Snoad
Film Editing by Andy Quested
Costume Design by Rita Reekie, Laura Ergis