Dame Patricia Routledge died aged 96 in October 2025, and the BBC legend reflected on the cherished sitcom just months prior to her death. She spoke about beloved sitcom Keeping Up Appearances and the "great difference" it made to audiences, particularly those facing difficult periods in their lives. During a Channel 5 documentary marking 30 years since the comedy concluded, she stated: "There are people who can't really get beyond Keeping Up Appearances if they think about me, but it did make a great difference, and I do get the most wonderful letters.

"I'm very grateful for that because you realise how important it is to have made people happy. I remember a wonderful letter some years ago from a little lady, and she felt that the world had really come to an end." The actress recounted how this woman wrote that she "made herself a cup of tea and sat down and put the television set on" to watch Keeping Up Appearances. And then she said, 'There you were'. It just helped me get through a very, very difficult time. It makes it all thoroughly worthwhile."

Patricia also disclosed that Keeping Up Appearances had received commendation from religious figures and members of the Royal Family. She revealed: "We were one of the Queen Mother's favourite sitcoms, which was lovely, and the Queen enjoyed it too.", reports the Mirror.

"Hyacinth would have been flattered beyond words," she joked. Patricia's character, Hyacinth Bucket, was a snobbish social-climber desperate to forget her working-class routes.

The actress also revealed she accepted the role because Hyacinth "leapt off the page" and she "knew that woman".

The programme aired for five series between 1990 and 1995. Patricia decided to conclude it aged 77, allegedly leaving BBC executives bitterly disappointed.

She said: "I thought the writer was beginning to recycle old ideas. And also, remembering the glorious Ronnie Barker, he always stopped when he was at the height of something and he always left with people saying, 'Oh, aren't you doing any more?' Rather than people saying, 'Is that still on?'

"That's the place to be, really, and I had other adventures to explore. I'm an actress, and I wanted to take on the stories of other people."

Following the show's conclusion, Patricia starred as Hetty Wainthrop in Hetty Wainthrop Investigates and performed on stage as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest.