Katherine Patricia Routledge DBE (born 17th February 1929 in Birkenhead) appeared on Coronation Street between March and April 1961 as cafe owner Sylvia Snape.
Famous for her comic turn as Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances (co-starring Geoffrey Hughes), she also starred in the gentle detective drama Hetty Wainthropp Investigates about a crime-solving Northern pensioner.
Her extensive career includes roles on stage with many leading roles in West End productions. She won a Tony award for her role in the Broadway musical Darling of the Day.
She appeared in films such as To Sir, With Love but it's primarily for her television work that she is known. She is well known for performing monologues by Alan Bennett and Victoria Wood.
On the radio, she has made several series of Ladies of Letters with Prunella Scales.