Young Hyacinth (BBC-1 2 Sep 2016, Kerry Howard, Mark Addy)

Part of the BBC’s Sitcom Season celebrations Young Hyacinth is a prequel to Roy Clarke’s Keeping Up Appearances taking us back to the 1950’s when Hyacinth was a young woman living in a crowded canal cottage with her sisters Rose, Violet and Daisy and their Dad. Even at this young stage in her life Hyacinth is keen to better her standing in life.

The sisters have their own dreams and ambitions, Violet dreams of wealth, Daisy dreams of the great outdoors and Rose dreams of film stars and boys; whilst Hyacinth dreams of the day she’ll have matching china. Oh and how she wishes that her darling Daddy, currently scraping by as a part-time brush salesman with a tricycle and a drink problem, could be more like ex-Squadron Leader Cooper-Smith for whom she works as a maid.

Early glimpses into the lives of established characters are always interesting and this one will be no exception. Hyacinth was built on the iconic performance of Patricia Routledge and whether anybody else can inhabit her we will wait and see.

production details
UK / BBC One – BBC Studios / 1×30 minute episode / Broadcast Friday 2 September 2016 at 9.30pm

Writer: Roy Clarke / Executive Producer: Gareth Edwards / Producer: Sarah Hitchcock / Director: Sandy Johnson

cast
Kerry Howard as Hyacinth
Debra Stephenson as Dulcie
Tony Gardner as Claude
Mark Addy as Daddy
Katherine Pearce as Daisy
Katie Redford as Rose
Thomas Pickles as Eric
Tamla Kari as Violet
Tim Downie as Freddy
James Wrighton as William