Cast keep up appearances

For years the popular television sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, following the life of social snob Hyacinth Bucket, attracted huge audiences.

Now, given a new lease of life as a stage play, it features an all-star cast at Lincoln’s Theatre Royal next week.

In the play, Hyacinth’s neighbour, Emmet, is directing a play for the local amateur dramatic company and will go to extreme measures to keep Hyacinth out of it.

Hyacinth, however, is showing her painting, Willow By Moonlight, at an exhibition at the same venue and when she hears that the part of Lady Malvern is yet to be cast then nothing will stop her.

Taking the role of Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced bouquet) is Rachel Bell from The Darling Buds Of May, Grange Hill, and Dear John.

Rachel said that over the years a lot of people had said she looked and sounded very much like Hyacinth, so the role was a dream come true.

She said: “I have watched episodes of Keeping Up Appearances over and over again so I have been able to recreate Mrs Bucket and have really taken a liking to wearing hats and chiffon.

“I am loving the role as I am rarely off stage. Although there is no Richard in the play, she does shout at him a lot as if he is around.”

Rachel was born in York and became involved in amateur dramatics through her mother.

“I did a couple of things as a child and, like a lot of people, I got involved in school plays,” she said.

“I have been very lucky as I have been in a couple of television shows that keep being shown — Darling Buds Of May and my favourite show, Dear John.”

Gareth Hale plays Hyacinth’s brother-in-law, slob Onslow, while Debbie Arnold, from Eastenders, is his wife, Rose.

Neighbours Elizabeth and Emmet are played by Kim Hartman from ‘Allo, ‘Allo and Steven Pinder from Brookside.

Keeping Up Appearances, written by Roy Clarke, runs from Monday, June 28, until Wednesday, June 30.