I loved this series! Although every episode was built on the same formula - Hyacinth wanted to snob in some way, but was instead humiliated - it never became boring. I think the reasons are several: 1) very witty dialogue, I laughed all the time! 2) characters that you can relate to, because we have all met them: the snobbish and dominant Hyacinth, her husband the long-suffering Richard, the lazy and unkempt White Trash-man Onslow, the over-sexed and mutton-dressed-as-lamb Rose, the nervous and submissive Elizabeth etc.. 3) very good actors that play their parts perfectly (the only one who was not right was the actress playing the Vicar's wife, she was somewhat wooden and unlikeable) and 4) the recognition factor. There are so many situations you can recognize from real life, for instance the women running after the handsome young vicar although they know he is married (this is happening in churches all over the world). Or the way Hyacinth is always boasting about her son, although everybody else understands that he is far from perfect...But the most important thing is that this series has this strange, alluring quality of sucking the viewer into the world on the screen. I feel that I want to be there with them - yes despite of Hyacinth! The troubles they have are very small really, nothing very bad happens, it is an idyllic and almost old-English world, like an oasis in all the terrible things that happen in the world today. I want to have this world to flee to, when reality overcomes me! When I have forgotten the episodes a little, I am going to watch it all from the beginning again!

Patricia Routledge was excellent as the bumbling middle class snob Hyacinth Bucket(or "Bouquet" as she insisted her last name be pronounced)who tried to climb the British social ladder while desperately trying to keep her working-class background a secret. Hilarity ensued as Hyacinth's working class relatives, including her brother-in-law the bone-idle pensioner Onslow, his wife Hyacinth's younger sister Daisy, and Hyacinth's other sister, the single man-hungry Rose, whom also lived with Rose and Onslow, constantly foiled Hyacinth's many social-climbing schemes. Sometimes along for the ride was Hyacinth's senile father, who was only referred to as "daddy." Clive Owen was also great as Hyacinth's down to earth and long-suffering husband Richard. Often getting caught up in Hyacinth's many schemes were Hyacinth's next door neighbors, the friendly pushover Liz and her divorced brother Emmett, who hilariously tried to avoid Hyacinth at all costs. This show used to play on my PBS station every Saturday night, and I hope they bring it back very soon.

Now I like sit-coms, from Britain I love Open All Hours, Last of the Summer Wine, Only Fools and Horses and of course this. Keeping Up is just delightful to watch, it is charming and very funny. Complete with engaging characters and great writing.I like how Keeping Up Appearances is filmed, the scenery is beautiful, the costumes are luscious and the photography is very nice. Also lovely is the music, the main theme is just great especially. The story-lines are always well-written with the characters getting into situations with uproarious results and the writing is consistently hilarious as are the visual jokes. And the acting is wonderful, Patricia Routledge is perfect as Hyacinth, Geoffrey Hughes is a sheer delight as Onslow and Clive Swift is wonderful as Richard, Hyacinth's slobbish husband.Overall, a real jewel of a British comedy. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This show is so great, you could never get tired of it. Patricia Routledge plays Hyacinth Bucket ("bouquet" as she would prefer people to pronounce it), who drives everyone on her block crazy to the point where they avoid her at all costs. Her best friend and neighbor Elizabeth is asked over for coffee on almost a daily basis and she rarely leaves without spilling some on the rug, the table, or herself. Elizabeth's brother Emit is constantly annoyed by Hyacinth, who decides to sing (if you want to call it that) every time she sees him because Emmit's profession involves music. Hyacinth constantly boasts about her sister Violet and continually mentions all the things she has thanks to her rich husband Bruce (swimming pool, sauna, room for a pony, etc.). Hyacinth doesn't like to mention her other sisters Daisy and Rose because Daisy's house is always a mess and Rose dresses in skimpy outfits. Not to mention Daisy's husband Onslow is not exactly the type of person you'd invite to formal social occasions. One of the things I love about this show is Onslow's car, which almost always backfires every time it starts and stops. Every time Hyacinth visits Daisy's, which isn't often, their dog that lives in a broken-down car barks at her as she approaches their door. This show is a true delight and highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good laugh.