Richard Bucket
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| Richard Bucket | |
|---|---|
 Richard Bucket, played by Clive Swift. |
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| First appearance | in the episode Daddy's Accident |
| Last appearance | in the episode The Pageant |
| Created by | Roy Clarke |
| Portrayed by | Clive Swift |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | "Dick", "Dickie" |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | in middle age |
| Occupation | Local Government Official |
| Spouse(s) | Hyacinth Bucket |
| Children | Sheridan |
Richard Bucket is a fictional character played by Clive Swift in the British comedy TV series Keeping Up Appearances which was aired in 1990 to 1995. He was the mild-tempered and long-suffering husband of Hyacinth Bucket. Unlike Hyacinth, Richard is content to live a normal life and does not care to mingle with the aristocracy. He presents a dry foil to Hyacinth's superego.
Thanks to his wife and the precarious situations she gets them into, Richard has sustained many injuries, and had various brushes with the law. Between his materialistic wife and their equally self-absorbed son Sheridan (who is never seen on camera), Richard frequently has an empty wallet. Although his wife insists their surname is pronounced "Bouquet", Richard pronounces it as written.
Richard and Sheridan clearly are not close. Richard is almost never seen talking to him on the telephone, and often voices his displeasure to Hyacinth when he does call, usually due to his belief that Sheridan is calling only for money. The one time Sheridan did ring and Richard answered, Sheridan disguised his voice. Richard does have concerns for Sheridan, however, and actually has the idea that Sheridan may be gay.
Unlike Hyacinth he shares a close relationship with his brother-in-law Onslow and sisters-in-law Daisy and Rose, of whom Hyacinth is embarrassed. Unlike Hyacinth, Richard accepts them as members of his family without much thought, and he often tries to portray them positively to Hyacinth.
Other characters in the story tend to feel very sorry for Richard and wonder how he puts up with Hyacinth. Given the number of dry, even acerbic remarks he makes after his often oblivious wife has finished speaking, it seems it is his sense of humour. In the middle of the series, Richard is forced to take early retirement from his position as a local government official; some of his colleagues mentioned how lucky he was until they remembered he'll have to spend his retired life with Hyacinth. Onslow feels sorry for Richard so much that he tries to rescue Richard on many occasions, often taking him to the pubs where they play a billiards game and enjoy a round or two of beers. In one episode, a friend asks after his well-being with great concern, then adds, "We often talk about you at the club."
On only one occasion, when Hyacinth was making a scene over a man who would not surrender a public telephone to her, was Richard shown standing up to Hyacinth. She was so shocked that, for once, she was struck speechless.
Richard loves Hyacinth dearly, despite her faults, and despite his inability to clearly explain her finer qualities to his dumbstruck friends. He favourably describes living with Hyacinth as being like his time in the Army, when every day everything was planned out for him and he never had to make any decisions.
Richard drives a blue D-registered (1986 or 1987) Rover 213, a conventional family car which fitted in well with Hyacinth's upmarket image.
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