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This is a list of characters for the British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, which was first broadcast from 1990 to 1995.

Main Characters

Hyacinth Bucket

The central character of the show whose main aim in life is to climb the social ladder. Hyacinth is a kind, caring and cheerful character, despite being incredibly snobbish. Hyacinth loves her family (if ashamed of them), however creating the right impression is so paramount to her, she’ll do everything she can to avoid them.

Hyacinth goes to extreme measures in her attempt at social superiority. Quite often, this’ll mean creating lies or hiding from her lower-class relatives, who often turn up when she least expects them to, or wants them to. Unfortunately for Hyacinth, her actions taken to avoid her social image being sabotaged, along with attempting to climb the social ladder, often backfire and her plans descend into disaster. Hyacinth is one of four sisters; herself, Daisy, Violet and Rose. Her snobbery causes her to be despised by those around her.

Richard Bucket

The “Foil” as Roy Clarke said, to show Hyacinth’s character to worst advantage. Richard is always there to follow out Hyacinth’s instructions; however eccentric, trivial or outrageous they are; usually such orders are designed to saviour Hyacinth’s image from collapse, or to heighten her profile. He has an undiminished level of confidence and tolerance, the characters around him are amazed how he manages to live with Hyacinth. Richard is only human after all, so on rare occasions he understandably looses his temper.

Elizabeth Warden

Hyacinth’s next door neighbour, who regularly gets invited round for coffee at the Bucket residence. Liz is terrified of marking Hyacinth’s home, but her best efforts always cause her to spill coffee, much to her house-proud neighbours dread. Liz has adjusted to life next door to Hyacinth, and doesn’t go to the lengths her brother does to avoid her. Elizabeth understands how difficult Hyacinth is to live with.

Emmet Hawksworth

Elizabeth’s brother Emmet lives with his sister. A classically trained musician, Emmet hence finds Hyacinth giving broad hints that he should include her in his work. Hence, Emmet is terrified of coming into contact with Hyacinth, and will do all he can to avoid her; from hiding to simply not leaving the house.

Daisy

Happy and cheerful; Daisy chases romance with her husband, who always deprives her of it. As a result she buries herself in romantic novels, and like her husband Onslow is a slob. Together with her husband, Daisy lives in a shabby squalor-downing council house; and if Hyacinth is going to successfully impress those higher up the social scale, she has to do all she can to avoid Daisy, along with Onslow and her youngest sister Rose. Like Rose and Violet, Daisy turns to Hyacinth for help, when problems rise.

Onslow

A gentle, relaxed character of whom indulges in crisps and beer and nothing else. Onslow wear’s a scruffy old vest and appearance is contrastingly unimportant to him, in comparison to Hyacinth. He’s simply another member of Hyacinth’s lower-class clan who jeopardises the leading ladies image.

Rose

Lost in love and tangled in romance, Rose waddles after married men for long relationships with short skirts. Despite her numerous male friends, and presenting herself, as she puts it, “cheep and common” Rose is a gentle, harmless sole.

Like Hyacinth, Rose’s appearances is paramount to her, however her appearance is completely different to Hyacinth’s, and her social aims are very different. Unfortunately, Cupid’s arrow never hits Rose.

Other Characters

Michael, the Vicar

Michael is the vicar of Hyacinth's parish. He is terrified of Hyacinth and tries to avoid her, often unsuccessfully. Moreover, he often forgets that Hyacinth prefers that her last name be pronounced "bouquet" and addresses her as Mrs. Bucket, pronounced as spelt. He is called "that dishy vicar" by Hyacinth's sister Rose, who often pursues him, and of whom he is scared.

His name is very seldom used in the series, and then only by his wife. He is generally referred to as "the Vicar" and is referred to as such in the closing credits.

The vicar's long-suffering wife often suspects him of being involved with the ladies, a suspicion that is untrue, and is often jealous of him. While she doesn't like Hyacinth, she is less intimidated by her than her husband is. Her name is never given.

Violet and Bruce

Violet is the sister of Hyacinth (who considers Violet her favourite), Rose and Daisy. She is married to a turf accountant named Bruce. Hyacinth brags about Violet because of wealth: when Hyacinth gets a phone call from Violet or vice versa, she boasts about Violet to whomever is listening (usually her next door neighbour Elizabeth) by saying that she's the one "...With the Mercedes, a sauna, and room for a pony" or some variation on this theme.

Violet seems to be somewhat unhappy with her marriage because of Bruce's unusual behavior (i.e., cross-dressing, playing Robin Hood while Bruceesd plays Maid Marion) and often considers divorce; however, Hyacinth will do whatever it takes to keep her sister and brother-in-law together because she knows that a divorce in the family could hurt her chances to attain upper-class status.

While Violet is obviously far more affluent than Hyacinth, she is not the snob Hyacinth is. Intriguingly, she is far more accepting of Daisy, Onslow and Rose than Hyacinth, in that she is not embarrassed by them.

Violet and Bruce were not seen in the show until the last series, prior to that they were either partially seen or as in the episode "The Christening" from a distance.

The Major

The Major only starred in the first two series, and is the only character to be incredibly attracted to Hyacinth. Hyacinth semi-enjoys her association with the man, however his flirtatious advances to her causes the house-proud snob many problems.

Councillor Nugent

Another upper-class character Hyacinth tries to impress. Mrs. Nugent is high up the social ladder but low down the charismatic scale; a dull, ill-mannered women.

• Keeping Up Appearances characters