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Performer Patricia Routledge, renowned for portraying the character Hyacinth Bucket in the beloved TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has passed away at the age of 96, according to.

Additionally, she appeared in Alan Bennett's TV monologues and portrayed BBC One's crime-solving retiree Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.

"We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Patricia Routledge, who passed away peacefully in her sleep this morning with loved ones near."

"Even at 96-years old, Dame Patricia's love for performing and for connecting with live audiences never waned, just as new generations keep discovering her work through her beloved TV characters."

Her agent added: "She leaves a void by her family and friends and by her dedicated supporters worldwide."

An Illustrious Career

Dame Patricia was most famous as Hyacinth Bucket - with the affected pronunciation "bouquet" - a humorous character who represented the height of affectation and class consciousness.

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

This classic sitcom ran from 1990 to 95, and the following year she was voted the nation's most popular actress at the television awards.

Beyond television, she received recognition in theater and film after launching her acting journey in the stage in the 1950s era.

Following roles in London theater, she built a reputation in the United States when she won the Tony Award for best lead actress in a musical on Broadway for Darling of the Day in the late 1960s.

Her talents extended at intense theater as she was at musicals and comedy - she performed in classic plays at the Royal Shakespeare Company, then earned an Olivier Award for outstanding musical performance for Candide in the 1980s decade.

The 1980s also marked her rise as a true national TV star - being given roles by Victoria Wood in the show As Seen on TV, and writer Alan Bennett in multiple solo performances, including her Bafta-nominated role, for which she was given a Bafta nomination.

She received two further Bafta nominations, for her Hyacinth role, in 1992 and 1993, then starred in the central part as a retired woman on a quest to solve crimes in the series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates between 1996 and 98.

She was made an Order of the British Empire in 1993, a CBE in the 2000s, and the title of Dame in 2017.

A Remarkable Life

Via her unforgettable roles, Patricia Routledge provided comedy and delight to audiences worldwide, establishing a impressive body of work that is still enjoyed by viewers into the future.