PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE, BEST known for her role as Hyacinth Bucket in the classic sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has died at the age of 96.

The English actress played the hilariously snobbish character on the BBC show in the early 1990s, but also had a prolific career in the theatre.

The sitcom, which ran from 1990 to 1995, was a huge hit with audiences on both sides of the Irish Sea. 

“We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of Dame Patricia Routledge, who died peacefully in her sleep this morning surrounded by love,” her agent said. 

“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.

“She will be dearly missed by those closest to her and by her devoted admirers around the world.”

Routledge won an Olivier Award for her role as the Old Lady in Leonard Bernstein’s operetta Candide in 1988, and a Tony Award for her part as Alice Challice in Darling Of The Day in 1968, and worked in a number of productions across six decades.

She was born in Birkenhead, Merseyside where her father was a high-class gents’ outfitter where ‘keeping up appearances’ was the name of the game.

She studied English at Liverpool University where she appeared in student shows, later making her professional debut at the Liverpool Playhouse.

In 2017, she was honoured at Buckingham Palace as she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire for her services to the theatre and charity.