Keeping Up Appearances (TV Series) Richard's New Hobby (1992) User Reviews

Poor Richard.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 22 January 2022]

Hyacinth believes it's time for Richard to have a hobby, she thinks that film making would be a good one for him, and her social climbing.

It's a riot, it's funny from start to finish, all of the usual elements are there, but turbocharged. Elizabeth is again made to come face to face with Hyacinth's Royal Doulton handpainted periwinkles, that scene is a scream, as is the one where Onslow and Rose appear.

Anyone wanting to know, Hyacinth's beautiful lady was made by Coalport, and was called Bridget.

Councillor Mrs Nugent always made a splash when she appeared, and Charmian May is hilarious in this one, who could forget her dressed up in the gear.

Richard was lucky not to have been locked up for prowling around with that video camera.

Very funny, 8/10.

R.I.P Josephine Tewson

[Rabical-91 · 10/10 · 19 August 2022]

The sad death of Josephine Tewson has just been announced. Tewson has many memorable television credits to her name such as 'The Two Ronnies', 'Clarence', 'Shelley' and, what I think is her most memorable role, as timid neighbour Elizabeth in Roy Clarke's 'Keeping Up Appearances'.

With Richard now retired from his position with the local council, Hyacinth feels Richard needs a hobby and sends him off with a camcorder ( which he was given as a retirement gift ) to film something interesting, much to his dread.

Hyacinth meanwhile is expecting a visit from Councillor Nugent ( Charmian May ) for tea and is keen to impress her in the hopes she will offer Hyacinth to serve on her committee. She invites along Elizabeth to help her convince Mrs. Nugent that Hyacinth is a suitable person to serve on the committee. Elizabeth is less than thrilled as she knows it will mean she will be having to handle Hyacinth's valuable Royal Doulton tea set.

Nugent later arrives and it looks as though things are going well, that is until the police turn up at the door with Richard, who have apprehended him for lurking in bushes ( he was filming in a place of concealment as per Hyacinth's advice! )....

A great episode which puts both Patricia Routledge and Josephine Tewson's talents for physical comedy to good use, most apparent in the scene when whilst alone, Elizabeth practices gently picking up and putting down Hyacinth's Royal Doulton, only then to be startled by Hyacinth's voice to the point where she throws the cup into the air, causing Hyacinth to jump in the air and catch it. The scene originally was simply to have Elizabeth drop the cup as per usual but Tewson, mindful of the fact that it had been done too many times before, suggested to Patricia that they do something more daring.

Jonathan Stratt plays a police officer here. Interestingly, he appeared as a policeman this same year in another BBC sitcom - in the 'Burglary' episode of 'Bottom'.

R. I. P Josephine Tewson, you will be fondly remembered.

Funniest bit - without doubt the aforementioned scene involving the Royal Doulton being thrown in the air and caught. One of the finest improvised comedy scenes I have ever seen, rightfully earning both Tewson and Routledge applause from the audience.

"The 1 with the Mercedes, swimming pool, sauna, & room for a pony!"

[nlk87 · 5/10 · 16 October 2023]

"Hyacinth Bucket" has always reminded me of my grandmother. Not her personality, just her hair, style, voice, & accent. I find it a rare thing that a little 3 yr old American girl always enjoyed watching, "Keeping Up Appearances" when it 1st aired in 1990. Every Saturday night between 8-9p.m. I always watched it with my mom. Weird thing is it's still airing every Saturday night, same time & same channel 32 yrs later. But what's funny to me is that Hyacinth always thinking that buying expensive things that people would admire & see her as a "Lady." Though her "expensive" items are never items from designers & labels. You'd think she'd have something important from a designer. A painting painted from a famous sought after artist.