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Star Patricia Routledge, renowned for playing Hyacinth Bucket in the classic TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has left us at the 96 years old, her agent announced.

She also featured in Alan Bennett's celebrated solo performances and played the BBC's amateur sleuth Hetty Wainthropp.

"We mournfully announce to announce the passing of Dame Patricia Routledge, who passed away peacefully in her sleep today with loved ones near."

"Even at 96-years old, Dame Patricia's dedication to acting and for reaching out to fans remained strong, just as younger viewers keep discovering her work through her popular screen performances."

The statement noted: "She will be dearly missed by her family and friends and by her dedicated supporters worldwide."

An Illustrious Career

Dame Patricia was primarily recognized as Hyacinth Bucket - pronounced "bouquet" - a humorous character who exemplified the extremes of affectation and class consciousness.

"She's an absolute monster and I enjoyed playing her enormously," the performer commented.

The series Keeping Up Appearances was broadcast from the early 1990s, and the following year she was named the nation's most popular actress at the television awards.

Additionally, she earned praise both live and recorded after launching her acting journey in the stage in the 1950s.

With performances in London's West End, she established herself in the US when she was awarded the Tony for leading musical performer on Broadway for Darling of the Day in the late 1960s.

She proved equally skilled at intense theater as she was at song-and-dance and humor - she appeared in classic plays at the prestigious theater company, then received an theater prize for leading musical actress for the production Candide in the eighties.

The 80s also witnessed her emergence as a true national TV star - receiving parts by Victoria Wood in the show As Seen on TV, and Alan Bennett in his acclaimed monologue series, including the 1988 piece A Lady of Letters, for which she received a Bafta nomination.

She earned additional Bafta nods, for her Hyacinth role, in 1992 and 1993, then took the lead in the central part as a retired woman on a journey into detective work in the series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates between 1996 to 1998.

She received an OBE in 1993, a CBE in 2004, and damehood in 2017.

A Lasting Legacy

Through her memorable characters, Patricia Routledge provided comedy and entertainment to millions, leaving behind a extensive collection of performances that remains cherished by viewers for generations to come.