Customer Reviews

Keeping Up Appearances: The Full Bouquet

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Fans of Keeping Up Appearances cannot be without The Full Bouquet; especially those who are "socially less fortunate" and need the lessons from England's expert on social etiquette, Hyacinth Bucket...er, Bouquet. Every episode is included in this set which is beautifully packaged in the most tasteful manner deserving of a glass of the "Dowager Lady Ursula's homemade gooseberry wine." It also offers holiday specials and lots of extras including Routledge's monologues as "Kitty" on Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV in the early 1980s (definitely a precursor to Hyacinth) which are waaaay too British for me to comprehend. Brit Comedy fans also get a guest appearance by Are You Being Served? star Trevor Bannister (Mr. Lucas). Here's what you get:

1. My Way or the Hyacinth Way with the following episodes: "The Name is Bouquet: B-U-C-K-E-T," "Welcoming the Dishy Vicar," "Visiting the Acquaintance's Stately Home," "A Fate Worse Than Serenity," "Our Daisy and Her Boy Toy," "How to Manage a Family Christening" (my personal favorite where Hyacinth's niece Stephanie is having her baby christened but does not know which of her two hippy companions is the father). Bonuses: Outtakes (bloopers), Cast bios.

2. Hints from Hyacinth with the following episodes: "A Strange Man" (Emmet's debut), "Driving Mrs. Fortescue," "Candlelight Supper," "Golfing with the Major," "The Googley-Eyed Register. Bonuses: Outtakes (bloopers) and cast bios.

3. Home is Where the Hyacinth Is: "Cocktails with a Greek Shipping Millionaire," "The Unfortunate Prospect of Early Retirement," "Playthings for Daddy," "Three Piece Suite," "Picnic for Daddy." Bonuses: "Funny Woman" profile of Patricia Routledge, outtakes (bloopers), cast bios.

4. Deck the Halls with Hyacinth: "A Very Merry Hyacinth," "Sea Fever"-an hour-long special featuring Hyacinth and Richard running all around the QE2, "Angel Gabriel Blue-another hour-long special although not very Christmasy but it does feature a guest spot by Trevor Bannister known for his role as Mr. Lucas in Are You Being Served? as well as a bio of him in Hyacinth's guest book, "Historical Pageant." Bonuses: Kitty monologues which I'll warn you are very British, cast bios.

5. Everything's Coming Up Hyacinth: "Half a Camel," "How to Retire Early if You're Not Careful," "A Portrait of an Artist as a Hen-pecked Man," "The French Lieutenant's Daughters," "How to Go on Holiday Without Really Trying," "What to Wear When Yachting," "Violet's Cottage." Bonuses: outtakes, cast bios.

6. Some Like It Hyacinth: "Hyacinth Tees Off!" (another favorite of mine where Hyacinth tries to get Richard in the "Frosticles" firm, "The Nautical speaker," "Indoor/Ourtdoor Luxury Barbeque and Finger Buffet," "Rural Retreat" (starting the episodes where the Buckets have a "cozy, charismatic country cottage"), "Beacon for the Best in Hospitality," "Please Mind Your Head" (featuring Hyacinth on a horse), "Let There Be Light." Bonuses include a UK commercial with Hyacinth and Elizabeth for Second Chance National Vocational Qualifications.

7. Living the Hyacinth Life: "Seaside Fun," "The Fancy Dress Ball," "Riparian Entertainments," "Sister, Sister," "Country Estate Sale." Bonuses: Pebble Mill interview with Routledge and Clive Swift, outtakes, cast bios.

8. Hats Off to Hyacinth: "General Bucket," "A Bon Vivant Buffet," "A Crafts-Woman Scorned," "Scintillating Socializing." Bonuses: Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket, outtakes, cast bios.

I thought I had seen every episode of Keeping Up Appearances on my local public broadcasting channel, but there are many here I have not seen before. Buy this set now, or Elizabeth will drop a cup of hot tea in your lap!

This official name of this re-release is "Keeping up Appearances: The Full Bouquet Special Edition". Based on images of the set it appears to be in either slim-pack cases or a digi-pack design. This set contains the same 8 disks as the original "Full Bouquet" set along with the special "Keeping up Appearances: Life Lessons from Onslow" added as the 9th disk. The Onslow special is available separately so you don't need to double-dip for this title if you already own the first set.

Here are the Special Features (which are the same as on the original release):
Outtakes
"Four Women" profile of Patricia Routledge
The Kitty Monologues
Second Chance Shorts: Exclusive UK commercial featuring Hyacinth and Elizabeth
Pebble Mill interview with Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift
The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket
"Extra Footage" interviews from the cast
Comedy Connection
Children in Need
Cast Biographies

This is a wonderful series from the BBC about everyone's favorite social climber, Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "bouquet"). Her house is spick-and-span. Richard, her long-suffering and hen-pecked husband, keeps the car in immaculate condition (under Hyacinth's every-watchful eye). The empty milk bottles sparkle on the doorstep after their obligatory rinse in the dishwasher. To Hyacinth's horror and shame, most of her family is dead common, living together in a rundown house that looks like a junkyard. Sister Daisy and her husband, Onslow, are out-and-out slobs while another other sister, Rose, is an aging tart, and Daddy is not quite "all there". At least she is proud of her 3rd sister, Violet, the one "with the Mercedes, a sauna, and room for a pony" although Violet's husband is a cross-dresser and somewhat of an embarrassment to Hyacinth. However, she loves them all, and never fails to rush to their assistance when they need her help. Often it is Daddy that has got into an embarrassing situation which Hyacinth (or Richard) has to always solve.

Highly recommended!

I have always loved this show and was very happy to see it when it was originally released on DVD. It has truly paved the way to BBC Television for me, making me truly appeciate good British humour. However, the show was released in two box sets and I couldn't decide which to get: I had rented from my library all of the Hyacith in Full Bloom DVD's and a few of the Hyacith Springs Eternal. On the one hand, I had already watched the first one but on the other, I wanted to start at the beginning to get the entire series. Well, now I can just buy the full set! I can't wait to see all Eight DVDs lined up together: It should look rather impressive! Plus, the other sets were up to 79.99 a piece; that's 159.98 all together! So this box actually saves you nearly 50.00! I truly can't explain the happiness it brings to my heart to see the complete series in its great, snobbery glory. Enjoy and don't hesitate for even in a moment in your decison of purchase, Buy it-You won't be dissapointed!

What a super collection! Pure delight! With these episodes, one can watch any one at any time, as the episodes do not depend upon previous ones for their story line. I have one caveat for purchasers wanting the full spectrum; if you buy this set, do not buy "Deck the Halls with Hyacinth"; this (very funny) Christmas DVD is included! Or...do buy it and give it to a friend!

Why is it that the best British sitcoms have incredibly annoying lead characters?

First there was John Cleese as a mad hotelier, and Rowan Atkinson as the entire offensively sarcastic Blackadder dynasty. Now, there is Patricia Routledge as a social-climber with affected manners and a piercing voice. And with the aid of talented supporting actors and some gloriously madcap scripts, this sitcom becomes almost pure comic bliss.

Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "Bouquet," ss) is the local social climber, and a terror to all who know her -- she views herself as the doyenne of good taste, artistry, morals, decorum, and class, and her perpetually-in-debt son Sheridan as being the next Einstein.

She kisses up to the wealthy and aristocratic, and anyone who is closely associated with them, unaware of how much her self-promotion scares them and occasionally offends. Her weary husband Richard (Clive Swift) and nervy neighbor Elizabeth (Josephine Tewson) dread whatever she has next, especially when Elizabeth's sharp-tongued brother Emmett moves in.

She adores her sister Violet, who married a wealthy, unfaithful transvestite and has "a swimming pool, Mercedes, and room for a pony." But she'll do anything to hide her impoverished family members: her wacked-out father, sloppy romantic Daisy (Judy Cornwell) and skanky Rose (Mary Millar), who has a new boyfriend for every episode. Not to mention Daisy's couch potato hubby Onslow (Geoffrey Hughes).

The series opens with Hyacinth trying to hide the fact that "dear Daddy" was hurt while bicycling naked after the milk lady. And when she makes an effort to befriend the handsome new vicar (the "dishy vicar" as Rose calls him), her family shows up in full crazy mode, announcing that dear Daddy has been kidnapped by a gypsy.

From there on, she must tackle dozens of other problems: athlete's foot, mad cruises on the QE2 (with Onslow and Daisy), inadvertent theft of a Rolls Royce, riverside picnics gone awry, suicide attempts, estate sales, country retreats, anniversaries, nautical disasters, musicals, barbecues, raunchy Majors, Richard's ill-fated stint as a filmmaker, Christmas kisses, and Rose's decision to become a nun in a miniskirt. "It's all right," she announces as she drunkenly smooches the vicar. "I'm going to be a nun!"

This one also includes the later-produced "Life Lessons From Onslow," a funny little clip show in which Onslow finds himself teaching a university course, illustrated by various clips from the series. God help those students.

"Keeping Up Appearances" is in the grand tradition of really embarrassing British sitcoms, usually with at least one person who makes everyone else insane. And there's no excessive need to get Hyacinth out of her various dilemmas -- the writers just crank up the humiliation and craziness, and let it climax as the show finally ends.

Sure, there are some dud episodes -- the amusement park one with all the old people is full of one-note jokes. Sorry, but old ladies throwing up is not funny more than once. Most of the time, however, the writing is spot-on, from Rose's affairs with married men ("You swore you'd be faithful... and then... I catch you sneaking back to your wife!") to Hyacinth's efforts to hide her family (singing so people won't hear Violet's brawl with her husband).

Routledge is the star of this series, no doubt about it -- she makes Hyacinth a magnificently awful character. She is frighteningly annoying, but she's also completely oblivious. Not only is she unaware that other people see her as an upholstered harpy, but she's unaware that her son is gay, her hubby is the walking dead, and that when people hide from her it's not a cute little joke.

Swift is a great counterpoint, as the weary husband who has stopping trying to fight Hyacinth, and only hopes that he can find a few reprieves at work. Tewson and the perpetually grimacing David Griffin are excellent as her neighbors, and Judy Cornwell and Geoffrey Hughes as Hyacinth's distinctly unaristocratic sister and brother-in-law.

Social appearances, family and madcap misunderstandings are the heart of "Keeping Up Appearances." Snobbery has never been so funny.

Why is it that the best British sitcoms have incredibly annoying lead characters?

First, there was John Cleese as a mad hotelier. Now, there is Patricia Routledge, as a social-climber with affected manners and a piercing voice. And with the aid of talented supporting actors and some gloriously madcap scripts, this sitcom becomes almost pure comic bliss.

Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "Bouquet") is the local social climber, and a terror to all who know her -- she views herself as the doyenne of good taste, artistry, morals, decorum, and class, and her perpetually in-debt son Sheridan as being the next Einstein.

She kisses up to the wealthy and aristocratic, and anyone who is closely associated with them, unaware of how much her self-promotion scares them. Her weary husband Richard (Clive Swift) and nervy neighbor Elizabeth (Josephine Tewson) dread whatever she has next.

She adores her sister Violet, who married a wealthy transvestite and has "a swimming pool, Mercedes, and room for a pony." But she'll do anything to hide her impoverished family members: her wacked-out father, sloppy romantic Daisy (Judy Cornwell) and skanky Rose (Mary Millar), who has a new boyfriend for every episode. Not to mention Daisy's couch potato hubby Onslow (Geoffrey Hughes).

The series opens with Hyacinth trying to hide the fact that "dear Daddy" was hurt while bicycling naked after the milk lady. From there on, she must tackle dozens of other problems: athlete's foot, mad cruises on the QE2 (with Onslow and Daisy), inadvertant theft of a Rolls Royce, riverside picnics gone awry, suicide attempts, Richard's ill-fated stint as a filmmaker, Christmas kisses, and Rose's decision to become a nun in a miniskirt. "It's all right," she announces as she drunkenly smooches the vicar. "I'm going to be a nun!"

Sure, there are some dud episodes -- the amusement park one with all the old people is full of one-note jokes. Sorry, but old ladies throwing up is not funny more than once. Most of the time, however, the writing is spot-on, from Rose's affairs with married men ("You swore you'd be faithful... and then... I catch you sneaking back to your wife!") to Hyacinth's efforts to hide her family.

Routledge is the star of this series, no doubt about it -- she makes Hyacinth a magnificently awful character. Not only is she frighteningly annoying, but she's also unaware of how other people see her. Swift is a great counterpoint, as the weary husband who has stopping trying to fight Hyacinth's social climbing.

Social appearances, family and madcap misunderstandings are the heart of "Keeping Up Appearances." Snobbery has never been so funny.

If you are a fan of British comedy you are certain to recognize the name Hyacinth Bucket. This show premiered in 1990 and the original VHS tapes were very expensive and difficult to come by, thereby keeping it out of reach of the average customer. This set, which for me was a surprise gift ordered from Amazon, is a marvelous value. Purchasing individual seasons can be costly, especially when you add in the postage. The color in this series is excellent, the sound clear, and the packaging makes it easy to store. Each DVD is in its individual, hard plastic casing. The entire set is set up so you can turn these cases like a book easily finding your episodes.

There is no booklet with this set, but the cast of characters and the history of the series is readily found on the Internet. The only "major" change to the cast was that of Rose. Shirley Stelfox played her on season one and the subsequent four seasons were played by Mary Millar. If you want British comedy at its best, you'll be looking at this affordable set. Whether you favorite character is Hyacinth, Richard, Daisy, Onslow, Rose, or even Bruce you'll have hours of fun with this series. Which is your favorite episode?

Volume 1
"My Way or the Hyacinth Way"

The Name is Bouquet: B-U-C-K-E-T
Welcoming the Dish Vicar
Visiting an Acquaintance's Stately Home
A Fate Worse Than Senility
Our Daisy and Her Toy Boy
How to Manage a Family Christening
Plus Outtakes


Volume 2
"Hints from Hyacinth"

A Strange Man
Driving Mrs. Fortescue
Candlelight Supper
Golfing with the Major
The Googley-Eyed Registrar
Plus Outtakes


Volume 3
"Home is Where the Hyacinth Is"

Cocktails with a Greek Shipping Millionaire
The Unfortunate Prospect of Early Retirement
Playthings for Daddy
Three Piece Suite
Picnic for Daddy
Plus Funny Women, Outtakes


Volume 4
"Deck the Halls With Hyacinth"

Christmas Specials
A Very Merry Hyacinth
Sea Fever
Angel Gabriel Blue
Hisorical Pageant
Plus the Kitty Monologues


Volume 5
"Everything's Coming Up Hyacinth"

Half a Camel
How to Retire Early if You're Not Careful
A Portrait of the Artist as a Hen-Pecked Man
The French Lieutenant's Daughters
How to Go on Holiday Without Really Trying
What to Wear When Yachting
Violet's Country Cottage
Plus Outtakes


Volume 6
"Some Like it Hyacinth"

Hyacinth Tees Off!
The Nautical Speaker
Indoor/Outdoor Luxury Barbeque & Finger Buffet
Rural Retreat
Beacon for the Best in Hospitality
Please Mind Your Head
Let There Be Light
Plus Second Chance Shorts, Outtakes


Volume 7
"Living the Hyacinth Life"

Seaside Fun
The Fancy Dress Ball
Hyacinth is Alarmed
Riparian Entertainments
Sister, Sister
Country Estate Sale
Plus Pebble Mill, Outtakes


Volume 8
"Hats Off to Hyacinth"

General Bucket
A Bon Vivant Buffet
A Crafts-Woman Scorned
Scintillating Socializing
Plus Memoirs, Outtakes


Volume 9
"Life Lessons From Onslow"

Onslow has been reen lighted to teach an Open University credit course on successful relationships. In this "introductory lecture," he addresses the underpinnings of healthy human interactions, using "real lfe," examples from the world of "Keeping Up Appearances."

Plus Interviews with Patricia Routledge and Judy Cornwell, Comedy Connections

I've watched "Keeping Up Appearances" for years on Louisiana Public Broadcasting, but was never able to see all the episodes or how they progressed. It's easy to see why this British comedy has such a cult following; there is no one quite like Hyacinth, yet EVERYONE knows someone who is somewhat like her! The cast is amazing, and in a world of profane and off-color humor, it's truly incredible to laugh at situations that are so ordinary through a means of extraoridinary actors. I love this series, not only because it is TRULY funny, but because it never loses it's humor or changes to the point to where you end up missing the point! This box-set is worth every penny I paid for it, plus more.

Ahhh, I love this show, and i'm not even British.

The maddening Hyacinth Bucket, (pronounced Bouquet) is a somewhat high class house wife who lives with her impossibly pateint husband, RIchard Bucket, and constantly terrorizes her two neighbors, Emmet and Elizabeth with candlelight suppers and threats of joining one of Emmets stage plays, even though she has a most horrible voice. (though the actress got a Tony for her real voice, which is pretty good.)

KUA is a fantastic character study because one just has to wonder, how does Richard do it? Hyacinth is a great mental case. She never hears anything that she really doesn't want to hear, she ignores peoples feeling but expects to be treated like Queen Elizabeth herself. She has a royalty complex which causes her to bulldoze over everything just because she feels she can get her way. She constantly flaunts the tiniest of her social acheivements in peoples faces and tries to hide any smudges on her crystal clean social record, such as her step brother Onslow and sister Daisy.

The seasons are disappointingly short, I wish the seasons could have gone on longer, since the shows are only an hour and a half long. I found my self choking with laughter at many of thier jokes. The lovably lazy Onslow and sweet, horny wife Daisy, and slutty yet hilarious Rose (you'll note they're all named after flowers) are a great ensemble cast. (and predominantly aquarian.)

KUA is definatly a show to behold. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to have a good laugh.

Now, please remember to take your shoes off and don't rub against the walls as you adjourn to the lounge. Would you like some biscuts? And please watch the crumbs. I do hate it when crumbs get on the sofa. You'll notice my Keeping Up Apearances, the Full Bouquet Set, Volumes 1 through 8 purchasd through Amazon.com. And do watch the finger prints on the disc underside, will you dear?

I just love love love "Keeping Up Appearances" with Hyacinth Bucket and her family/friends. I first found them on PBS and fell in love with everything about the show. This collection covers the entire run of the series and the extras are wonderful. (Who knew Dominic Monaghan (from "Lost") was Patricia Routledge's sidekick on her detective show after "Keeping" completed it's run.) You will not be disappointed with this very reasonably priced collection. It hasn't left my DVD player. American sitcom writers could learn a thing or two about subtlety and wringing laughs from something as simple as answering the phone. British humor rules and Hyacinth Bucket is the Queen!