Katherine Patricia Routledge DBE was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, on 17th February 1929. Famous for her comic turn as Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC sit-com 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.
Patricia Routledge 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
In Coronation Street she played Sylvia Snape in several episodes in 1961.