Keeping Up Appearances (1990)
Hyacinth Bucket (whose name, she insists, is pronounced "Bouquet") is a suburban housewife in the West Midlands. She would be the first to tell you that she is a gracious hostess, a respected citizen, and a well-connected member of high society. If you don't believe that, just ask her best friend Elizabeth, held captive in Hyacinth's kitchen; or the postmen and neighbours who bristle at the sound of her voice; or Richard, her weary and compliant husband. In fact, Hyacinth's reputation could be as perfect as her new lounge set, if not for her senile father's love of running wild in the nip. Oh, and she would prefer it if her brother-in-law was a sharper dresser. And that her husband was more ambitious. And that her sisters were more presentable. And do take your shoes off before you come in the house, dear. Mind that you don't brush against the wallpaper.
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Episode 1 - A Strange Man
Release Date: 1991-09-01Hyacinth is shocked to see a strange man wearing only a towel emerge from Elizabeth's house, thus she tells Richard they will have to move house. However her opinions change when discovering who the man really is. Meanwhile Daddy has gone missing.
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Episode 2 - Driving Mrs. Fortescue
Release Date: 1991-09-08Hyacinth and Richard drive a wealthy Mrs Fortescue into town, however Hyacinth's plans to impress are crushed by her family when Daisy and Rose flag down the Buckets for a lift. Eventually to Hyacinth's dismay, this leads to Mrs Fortescue playing darts with Onslow in a public house.
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Episode 3 - The Candlelight Supper
Release Date: 1991-09-15Hyacinth wants to impress Emmet with her musical talents at an elaborate musical supper. However her plans backfire when a short-skirted Rose turns up, followed by two aggressive men who begin fighting on Hyacinth's doorstep.
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Episode 4 - Hyacinth Tees Off
Release Date: 1991-09-22The Major invites the Buckets for a golfing weekend at a luxury hotel. All is well until Onslow and Daisy turn up unexpectedly to collect Rose after she has spent a raunchy weekend away with a Mr Smith. Inevitably, when Hyacinth realises her family are there, she fears for her social standing. Adding to her dilemma is the amorous intentions of the Major.
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Episode 5 - Problems with Relatives
Release Date: 1991-09-29Hyacinth's brother-in-law Bruce is stuck up a tree, Daddy goes to the register office to be married and Emmett meets Daisy, Onslow and Rose, throwing Hyacinth into dismay. Liz offers to drive Daddy back to Daisy's, but to avoid herself and Emmett seeing how Daisy and Onslow live, Hyacinth insists they stop off at Violet's.
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Episode 6 - Onslow's Birthday
Release Date: 1991-10-06Hyacinth is dreading an invite to Onslow's birthday party, but changes her mind when finding out she and Richard will be picked up by Rose's wealthy Greek boyfriend. Thus Hyacinth holds a gathering at her house to impress the neighbours as she departs in the luxury vehicle. However her hopes die when a hearse arrives instead.
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Episode 7 - Singing For Emmet
Release Date: 1991-10-13Richard is offered early retirement and so ponders over the possibility of having to spend all day everyday with Hyacinth. Emmett is enraged when Hyacinth ends up rehearsing a performance for the old people at the Church Hall with him, and a tranquilised Rose arrives at the scene wanting to become a nun.
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Episode 8 - The Toy Store
Release Date: 1991-10-20Daddy has ended up at the toy store and is "improving" a few toys with the help of a screw driver. This results in Hyacinth and Richard having to go into town to solve the problem, where Hyacinth fears for her status when meeting Mrs. Counsellor Nugent.
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Episode 9 - The Three-Piece Suite
Release Date: 1991-10-27Hyacinth is very excited at the prospect of having her new three piece suite, an exact replica of the one at Sandringham House, delivered. She will also give Daisy and Onslow her old suite, provided they pick it up themselves. But of course these two events are likely to collide at some point, creating an insurmountable disaster.
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Episode 10 - A Picnic For Daddy
Release Date: 1991-11-03Hyacinth arranges a picnic for Daddy, but things go awry when the senile old man decides to test-drive the Buckets' car. Thus Hyacinth has to ride in Onslow's, as a car chase gets underway.