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Performer Dame Patricia Routledge, renowned for portraying Hyacinth Bucket in the popular TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has died at the 96, as confirmed by.

Additionally, she appeared in Alan Bennett's celebrated solo performances and took on the role of the BBC's amateur sleuth Hetty Wainthropp.

"We mournfully announce to share the passing of Dame Patricia Routledge, who passed away peacefully in her sleep today in the presence of family."

"Despite her advanced years, Dame Patricia's love for performing and for reaching out to fans stayed vibrant, just as modern audiences have continued to find her through her cherished TV characters."

The announcement continued: "Her absence will be deeply felt by her family and friends and by her devoted admirers around the world."

Decades of Performance

Dame Patricia was most famous as the character Hyacinth Bucket - who insisted it be said "bouquet" - a funny persona who embodied the extremes of affectation and class consciousness.

"She is a wonderfully awful character and I had great fun with the role enormously," the actress commented.

Keeping Up Appearances ran from the early 1990s, and the following year she was voted the most beloved female performer at the television awards.

Additionally, she earned praise both live and recorded after launching her acting journey in the stage in the mid-20th century.

After appearances in London theater, she established herself in the US when she won the Broadway trophy for best lead actress in a musical on New York theater for Darling of the Day in 1968.

Her talents extended at dramatic roles as she was at light entertainment - she took part in classic plays at the Royal Shakespeare Company, then earned an theater prize for best actress in a musical for Candide in the 1980s.

That decade also marked her rise as a household name - being given roles by Victoria Wood in As Seen on TV, and writer Alan Bennett in three of his renowned Talking Heads monologues, including her Bafta-nominated role, for which she received a Bafta award nomination.

She received additional Bafta nods, for Keeping Up Appearances, in the early 1990s, then headlined the central part as a senior citizen on a quest to solve crimes in BBC One's Hetty Wainthropp Investigates between 1996 and 98.

She was made an OBE in 1993, a CBE in 2004, and the title of Dame in 2017.

A Lasting Legacy

With her unforgettable roles, Dame Patricia Routledge provided comedy and delight to millions, leaving behind a impressive career portfolio that will continue to be celebrated by admirers for generations to come.