Onslow (Keeping Up Appearances)

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Onslow is a comical fictional character in the British comedy television series "Keeping Up Appearances" portrayed by actor Geoffrey Hughes. Onslow is married to Daisy, Hyacinth Bucket's sister. Onslow and Daisy have raised one daughter, Stephanie, though she was only seen in one episode in the series. Onslow and Daisy live with Rose, Daisy's sister, and Daisy's father known as "daddy" in a council house. Onslow's surname is never given in the series.

Onslow is always seen wearing a white vest, and he spends most of his time consuming beer, smoking cigarettes and watching television at home- one of the repeated elements of comedy being his method of turning the TV on, which is simply to hit it. Onslow describes himself as “work-shy, bone idle, and out of condition.” Whenever Onslow is unpleasantly surprised by something, such as running out of beer or being insulted, he usually retorts with a sarcastic "Oh, nice!"

Although he watches television endlessly, Onslow also reads substantially, especially in the bedroom (where he never changes out of the usual vest and jeans he wears through the day), and considers himself something of an intellectual. Onslow is surprisingly well-read and frequently raises technical or philosophical issues in normal conversation. He is seen many times reading The Principles of Condensed Matter Physics, Life Among The Primitives, The Financial Times, and The Racing Post. He also watches Open University Channel. One time he mentions to Daisy an idea about the universe full of black holes.

Onslow usually puts on a striped sleeveless vest over the singlet whenever he leaves the house, although he occasionally wears it inside the house. He often goes outside just wearing a white singlet. Away from the house, he usually rides a bicycle or drives an old 1978 Ford Cortina which backfires whenever it stops or starts. In one episode he described his style as "maximum chic": "your laid back slobby look". Hyacinth once remarked to Richard: "Why can't he wear a shirt? He wore a shirt to our wedding......he looked disgraceful, but at least he looked disgraceful in a shirt".

Despite his appearance (considered menacing by occasional characters in the series), Onslow is a very cheerful and friendly person, and gets on well with everyone he meets, with the notable exception of Hyacinth. Onslow has a particularly strong rapport with Hyacinth's long-suffering husband Richard (he usually calls him "Dicky"), and often rescues Richard from one of Hyacinth's unbearable social-enhancement schemes, allowing Richard and Onslow to escape to a nearby pub. Whenever Hyacinth and Richard visit Onslow, he offers Richard a beer and chats pleasantly with him, usually discussing Hyacinth's increasingly bizarre schemes.

Onslow is bone idle and is never seen having a job. It is never established how he supports his family financially, although Onslow remarked once over how long the state could afford to support him. This may imply that his family is on welfare. Onslow is seen many times busy working with the Racing Post and watching horse racing on television. Onslow bets money on horse racing through Violet's husband, a turf accountant. Onslow considers what he does with horse racing as work. "Don't hassle me when I'm working ... I'm struggling here, trying to earn a decent living for you and your father and your Rose." One time Onslow and Daisy went on a luxury cruise aboard Queen Elizabeth 2 won by Onslow in a newspaper contest.

Onslow gets along with almost everyone, however he has a difficult relationship with Hyacinth due to his lower class lifestyle. He doesn't like Hyacinth very much. He always says disparaging comments about Hyacinth behind her back to other people specially to Daisy or Rose. Onslow sometimes feels sorry for Richard, Hyacinth's husband, because he is constantly bossed around by Hyacinth. He said once that Richard was the "man in the iron mask." He tries to rescue Richard on many occasion like taking him to the pubs where they play a billiard game.

[edit] Trivia

The "FH" logo on Onslow's hat stands for Fulton Hogan, a New Zealand based roading company. The hat was given to Geoffrey Hughes in 1990 by Fulton Hogan when he visited New Zealand and appeared on that year's NZ 24 hour Telethon.

The wrecked car in Onslow's front garden is a Hillman Avenger.

The decaying car that Onslow is regularly seen driving is a 1978 Ford Cortina.