BBC2: Keeping Up Appearances

== Keeping up Appearances ==

This is a BBC programme playing an important part in day time television it has appeared of both BBC1 and BBC2 it was first show on BBC1 in 1990 and I am sure it was watched back then and still is watched and enjoyed by a wide audience who find themselves entertained by watching television throughout the day.
I only started watching this as from being young my mother would have it on during the day ...
...was ill off school I would have to suffer this programme(secretly actually getting really into it and coming close to enjoying it)

The cast that make up this funny British comedy programme include

*Patricia Routledge, plays the famous part of Mrs Hyacinth Bucket a want to be lady who is really just a snob yet a rather amusing one, choosing to call herself Mrs Bouquet and always correction people that dare to use the ... more

Keeping up Appearances

This is a BBC programme playing an important part in day time television it has appeared of both BBC1 and BBC2 it was first show on BBC1 in 1990 and I am sure it was watched back then and still is watched and enjoyed by a wide audience who find themselves entertained by watching television throughout the day.
I only started watching this as from being young my mother would have it on during the day whilst cleaning up, a lot of the time if I was ill off school I would have to suffer this programme(secretly actually getting really into it and coming close to enjoying it)

The cast that make up this funny British comedy programme include

• Patricia Routledge, plays the famous part of Mrs Hyacinth Bucket a want to be lady who is really just a snob yet a rather amusing one, choosing to call herself Mrs Bouquet and always correction people that dare to use the term of Bucket as her surname. She also answers the phone in a very famous lady like manor referring to herself as the lady of the house.
• Clive Swift, plays Richard Bucket the husband to Hyacinth who suffers greatly from living with his wife, he is very calm and well mannered almost the opposite to Hyacinth, he finds himself doing as he is told to keep the peace at it is an easier option.
• Sheridan, this is Hyacinth and Richards son, who has never ever made an appearance in this programme so isn't played by anyone, Hyacinth is extremely proud of her son who is supposed to be away at university. Hyacinth sees herself as a perfect role model for this son who she has brought up so well in her own eyes that is.

Then there is some more of the same family living in another house not far away the cast within this family includes the following…

• Judy Cornwell, plays Daisy who is Hyacinths sister she lives with her husband and her other sister and the sisters daddy. Hyacinth is much ashamed of this half of the family and doesn't like other people seeing her with them and realising they are part of the family. Daisy is part of a scrubby family who don't care much for how they look or the house they live in. All though Daisy does not come across as very intelligent she is however very down to earth she spends a lot of time in front on the television on the sofa along with her husband that she is usually feeling quite frisky towards.
• Geoffrey Hughes, plays the part of Onslow who is Daisy's husband, he is rather dirty and scruffy looking, not at all motivated and spends his time glued to his chair in front of the television. He is very much so an embarrassment to Hyacinth who sees herself has far more superior to such people as Onslow.
• Shirley Stelfox/Series 1 & Mary Millar/Series 2, plays the more attractive looking of the four three sisters usually bringing some new random male home or just off out to see one.
  She shares the same council house with her Daisy, Onslow and Daddy.
  Rose is always dressed up usually wearing lots of make-up and short skirts and rather revealing clothes.
• George Webb, he plays 'Daddy' to Hyacinth, Daisy, Violet and Rose, he has rather lost the plot in his old age and is much loved by the family except Onslow who appears to just put up with him. 'Daddy' is obsessed with the war and often thinks there is still a war going on and will often go missing and have the family very worried, Hyacinth is also slightly embarrassed by him and feels he would be better of living and being looked after by her and Richard.

There are also other members of the community they play important roles within this programme these are played by cast including...

• Anna Dawson, made a rare appearance as Violet the favourite of Hyacinths sisters, the one seen to of done well for herself, Hyacinth always tells people she Violet has lots of money as well as a Mercedes, a sauna and room for a pony which is a very common phrase used within this television programme.
• Josephine Tewson, plays the part of Elizabeth Warden the next door neighbour to Hyacinth and Richard Bucket. Elizabeth dreads Hyacinth calling at the door and hides from her at times, when she is talked into going round to her neighbours house she becomes very nervous and accident prone. This often causes spillages and accidents that Hyacinth just looks a side as she enjoys showing off her posh house and the chance to get her posh top of the range china out to show off to her neighbours.
• David Griffin, plays Emmet Hawksworth who is Elizabeth's brother who comes to live with her after being divorced, he is just as scared of Hyacinth as his sister and will do anything to avoid her at all costs.
• Jeremy Gittins, plays Michael the Vicar who also tries to avoid Hyacinth as she has an obsession with him almost to the extent of stalking him, Rose also fancies the Vicar and refers to him often as the 'dishy vicar'

The acting they perform is of excellent quality and very realistic making it believable and not far fetched like some modern day comedies.
Most of the actors are well know within family households and have become family favourites.Some of what this programme is about

This television programme mainly surrounds the life of Hyacinth and her day to day life of trying to make it known that she is better than everyone else.
Often shown within the programme are the hilarious moments of their outings where Richard is driving and Hyacinth continuously nags him to mind everything that could be of possible danger even if it is no where near them.
There are often regular visits to family members mostly being the council house where her sister's life with 'Daddy' and Onslow, their house is not much more than a tip with an old car in the front yard with a dog that barks and sends Hyacinth into the hedge every time she walks past.
Through out the showing of this there have been several humorous outings and day trips which often include other members of the family.
Hyacinth is often snooping around spying on people and generally being a busy body, usually thinking she is doing the best for the community.
The vicarage is also a favourite place for Hyacinth to visit doing her bit for religion as all good citizens should and she wants to be seen to be doing this.
Hyacinth is extremely proud of her daddy although sometimes becomes embarrassed whist retrieving his from random places when he wonders off believing a war is on, if 'Daddy' is in danger it is usually Richard that is left to go and save him usually from great heights and ends up with Richard up a un-stable ladder coaxing 'Daddy' down so family peace is restored again.

All in all this programme is funny and witty so to find out more about what the programme is about go on watch it!!

A few more interesting bits

In the 1990s several episodes of this programme were available on VHS to be bought in the shops available for people to buy, these episodes included..

Rural Retreat which included episodes - Rural Retreat, Let there be Light and Please Mind Your Head.
How to Enhance Your Husband's Retirement which included episodes - How to Enhance Your Husband's Retirement, What to Wear When Yachting and How to Go On Holiday Without Really Trying.
Sea Fever which includes two episodes - Sea Fever and Hyacinth Tees Off

This programme has also been bought out on a DVD series as a box set which can be purchased in your local supermarket or film store. This is ideal for any Keeping up Appearances fan and a must have collection.

Each episode is on for half an hour at a time, there have been five series of this programme show on the BBC channels.

There are also two books that are related to the series published one in 1993 the other in 1995 the first being - Hyacinth Bucket's Book of Etiquette for the Socially less Fortunate the second - Hyacinth Bucket's Hectic Social Calendar, both of these books were written by Jonathan Rice and published by BBC books.

Scenes from this programme were shot in various different locations mainly being around the Midlands, some of these included, Coventry, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire and Northampton.

Not only was this programme show in the UK but also America where it was also enjoyed by a wide audience.

Production of Keeping up Appearances stopped in 1995 and as far as I know there are no plans to film any more episodes, but repeat episodes will still be shown and be part of out day time television life probably for years to come.

My personal opinion

I would no way consider myself a massive fan of this programme more an occasional watcher, usually when there is nothing else to do in the day the television will be turned on and I will watch it as it is usually one of the best things on offer.
There is something about this programme that is easy to get into and sucks you in to watching it. I'll definitely watch it again if I flick through the channels and it is on!
It is definitely one of the best day time comedy programmes and one of the only ones I will really ever watch, I can not think of any other programme that is as good or better within this line of comedy programmes, as usually comedy programmes are not really my kind of thing.

If you've never seen it give it a try watching it if it is on in the day and you are bored you might actually enjoy it, all though if you do it's not something you should be admitting to!
I would say this programme is suitable for children all though they may not be completely into it and just see it as boring day time television there is no content in it that would no be suitable for them to watch. Some older children might even find it slightly humorous.

Hope this review is at least somewhat helpful to people maybe those of you looking into buying the box set or even have seen it in the television book and though about watching it. Yeah give it a watch absolutely nothing wrong with it, its humorous and entertaining. A good programme created by the BBC!

I have to thank my mother for help and information source on reminding me on names of characters and the roles they played, and also other useful information on other Keeping up Appearance related things that have gone into my review.
Seen as she is nearing a fan of this programme she has been of much help.

Got to give this programme a 5 star rating it is still being shown now so people must enjoy it and even though it is not my favourite programme in the world I do think it is worth an excellent rating. 

...less