'She was a brilliant person, and a lovely one'

'She was a brilliant person, and a lovely one'

She’s a monster but very good-hearted,” was Patricia Routledge’s summing up of her most celebrated TV character Hyacinth Bucket, indomitable social climber and resident of 22 Blossom Avenue – “the Bou-quet residence”. Keeping Up Appearances drew audiences of up to 15 million during its five-year run, which finished in 1995. The following year, when viewers voted Routledge their favourite TV actress at the BBC’s 60th anniversary awards, she spoke…