1. Shirley Stelfox (Rose) THEN
image source: bbc.com
Rose was the bags-of-confidence, s*x crazed sister of Hyacinth (who, of course, would never want to be seen with her). The original actress for the role of Rose was Shirley Stelfox, and the character of Rose served to be the chalk to Hyacinth’s cheese – especially in a short skirt.
2. Shirley Stelfox NOW
image source: tvtonight.com.au
Actress Shirley Stelfox is perhaps best known to UK telly watchers as Edna from Emmerdale, and she also appeared in soaps EastEnders, Brookside and Family Affairs. She was married twice in her life, and sadly was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 at the age of 74, before she passed away.
3. Mary Millar (Rose) THEN
image source: keepingupappearances.fandom.com
Mary Miller was the second actress to play Rose, introduced in the second season and continuing to play her for its full run. The previous actress Shirley had to leave the show due to other commitments, and Mary successfully picked up where she left off with all the same big-haired charm of Rose.
4. Mary Millar NOW
image source: wikipedia.org
Mary Miller had a successful acting career alongside Keeping Up Appearances, which included on the West End stage. She was even the understudy to Dame Julie Andrews for one show, and played Mrs Potts in a production of Beauty and the Beast. Sadly, the actress passed away at the age of 62 in 1998 due to cancer.
5. Geoffrey Hughes (Onslow) THEN
image source: imdb.com
Onslow was the character you could always depend on to be slobbing on the couch, much to the disappointment of his wife, Daisy, who very much would rather they try things out in the bedroom. Onslow could also be depended on to always be wearing his baseball cap.
6. Geoffrey Hughes NOW
image source: blu-ray.com
Onslow was portrayed by actor Geoffrey Hughes, who has also starred in Coronation Street. He also bagged the role of Twiggy in The Royle Family, as well as starring in our favourite Sunday night drama, Heartbeat. He had to retire from acting in 2010 when he was suffering with prostate cancer, and sadly he later passed away at the age of 68 in 2012.
7. Judy Cornwell (Daisy) THEN
image source: imdb.com
Daisy was a ray of sunshine, even if her husband, Onslow, didn’t do much to help keep her shining bright! She was always wearing a colorful outfit, reading an even more colorful romance novel and dropping many hints to her husband about how she’d like to be swept off her feet.
8. Judy Cornwell NOW
image source: express.co.uk
Daisy was portrayed by the actress Judy Cornwell, who also starred in other hit British TV shows like Doctor Who, Birds of a Feather, Midsomer Murders and EastEnders. Her character’s love of romance novels must have rubbed off, too, because Cornwell has published several novels.
9. Jeremy Gittins (Michael the vicar) THEN
image source: bbc.co.uk
Keeping Up Appearances was one of many sitcoms and British TV shows that like to cast a rather ‘dishy’ vicar for the locals to fawn over – and Michael the vicar was no exception! He starred from 1990 to 1995 as the Church of England vicar – and provided eye candy for the residents.
10. Jeremy Gittins NOW
image source: coventrytelegraph.net
Now 67 years old, Michael the vicar’s actor Jeremy Gittins is a married man and enjoyed other acting roles in various British TV shows, including EastEnders, Doctors, Midsummer Murders and a Touch of Frost. He’s also appeared on the TV show Pointless, with fellow Keeping Up Appearances actress, Judy Cornwell.
11. Marion Barron (the vicar’s wife) THEN
image source: imdb.com
One person who the show’s women would consider a very lucky lady indeed would be the Michael the vicar’s wife, played by Marion Barron. The character’s real name is never revealed, as even her husband only refers to her as “dear” throughout the show. She’s yet another character who wants nothing more than to avoid Hyacinth!
12. Marion Barron (the vicar’s wife) NOW
image source: linkedin.com
The vicar’s wife was played by Marion Barron, now 65 years old and while born in Nigeria, was raised in Scotland. She now has two children, and has been married to her husband, Simon Fuller, since 1982. Alongside Keeping Up Appearances, she’s also starred in Don’t Wait Up and Screen Two.
13. David Griffin (Emmet) THEN
image source: keepingupappearances.fandom.com
Emmet Hawksworth was the brother of Hyacinth’s neighbour, Josephine Tewson, played by actor David Griffin. Emmet was just as weary (and nervous) of Hyacinth’s behaviour as his sister, Elizabeth, and the character debuted in the second season of the hit show.
14. David Griffin (Emmet) NOW
image source: keeping-up-appearances.fandom.com
Now 80 years old, David Griffin has continued his success in acting by going on to star in other shows like Hi-De-Hi and The Good S*x Guide. He’s also, like many older actors, tried his hand at panto. He’s happily married and speaks French fluently, due to the fact his wife is French!
15. Josephine Tewson (Elizabeth) THEN
image source: x.com
Elizabeth was Hyacinth’s very nervous neighbour in the show – and living next to Hyacinth Bucket, you’ve every reason to be nervous, particularly if you were housesitting, or being anywhere near Hyacinth’s possessions – including her precious china. She was played by actress Josephine Tewson.
16. Josephine Tewson NOW
image source: thescotsman.com
Josephine had a successful acting career, and had been married twice in her life – first to actor Leonard Rossiter, known for Rising Damp, and second to a dental surgeon. Back in 2012, she even did a show dedicated to her time as Elizabeth, called Still Keeping Up Appearances. Sadly, the actress passed away at 91 years old in 2022.
17. Clive Swift (Richard) THEN
image source: imdb.com
Richard Bucket was the very, very long-suffering husband of wife, Hyacinth, whose expression seemed to be fixed into one of constant dismay at his wife’s antics! We can still hear Patricia’s delivery of ‘Richard’ in our minds now, can’t we? Richard’s actor, Clive, had mainly taken Shakespearian parts before bagging the role of the TV husband.
18. Clive Swift NOW
image source: chortle.com
Clive had a successful acting career for the Royal Shakespeare Company before Keeping Up Appearances, and was grateful for the show’s success at giving him a regular paycheck! In later years, he had three children, and at the age of 82 in 2019 the actor passed away.
19. Patricia Routledge (Hyacinth Bucket) THEN
image source: bbc.co.uk
Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet, of course) was the leading lady we loved to hate, as she tried very much to climb the social ladder despite her own humble backgrounds, and constantly getting involved in what the neighbors thought of her, much to her husband, Richard’s, chagrin.
20. Patricia Routledge NOW
image source: youtube.com
Dame Patricia Routledge, the acting legend, is now 94 years old. Although she did officially retire from acting a few years ago, this was after a highly successful career, making herself a household name, and has even earned an honourary membership at the Royal Academy of Music last year.
