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Star Patricia Routledge, famous for embodying the character Hyacinth Bucket in the popular TV sitcom the series Keeping Up Appearances, has passed away at the age of 96, according to.

She also starred in Alan Bennett's celebrated solo performances and portrayed the BBC's amateur sleuth Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.

"It is with great sadness to announce the death of Dame Patricia Routledge, who passed away peacefully in her sleep today with loved ones near."

"At the remarkable age of 96, Dame Patricia's dedication to acting and for connecting with live audiences never waned, just as younger viewers are still enjoying her roles through her cherished screen performances."

The announcement added: "She will be dearly missed by her inner circle and by her dedicated supporters globally."

A Life in the Spotlight

Patricia Routledge was most famous as Hyacinth Bucket - who insisted it be said "bouquet" - a humorous character who represented the height of affectation and class consciousness.

"She is a wonderfully awful character and I enjoyed playing her enormously," the star said.

This classic sitcom aired from the early 1990s, and a year later she was voted the nation's most popular actress at the television awards.

She also found acclaim both live and recorded after beginning her professional life in the theatre in the 1950s era.

With performances in London theater, she built a reputation in the America when she received the Tony Award for outstanding actress in a musical on Broadway for Darling of the Day in the late 1960s.

She was as adept at serious drama as she was at light entertainment - she appeared in Richard III and Henry V at the Royal Shakespeare Company, then won an theater prize for leading musical actress for Candide in the 1980s.

The 80s also witnessed her emergence as a household name - being given roles by comedian Victoria Wood in her comedy series, and Alan Bennett in multiple solo performances, including her Bafta-nominated role, for which she earned a Bafta award nomination.

She earned more award nominations, for the popular sitcom, in 1992 and 1993, then took the lead in the main character as a senior citizen on a quest to solve crimes in Hetty Wainthropp between 1996 to 1998.

She was made an OBE in 1993, a CBE in 2004, and the title of Dame in 2017.

An Enduring Impact

With her iconic performances, Dame Patricia Routledge brought laughter and delight to audiences worldwide, establishing a rich collection of performances that is still enjoyed by viewers for years ahead.