The star was best known for playing Hyacinth Bucket in the sitcom, Keeping Up Appearances. A statement to the PA news agency said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of Dame Patricia Routledge, who died peacefully in her sleep this morning, surrounded by love. “Even at 96 years old, Dame Patricia’s passion for her work and for connecting with live audiences never waned, just as new generations of audiences have continued to find her through her beloved television roles. She was born in Birkenhead, Merseyside, where her father was a high-class gents’ outfitter, where ‘keeping up appearances’ was the name of the game. She read English at Liverpool University, where she appeared in student shows, later making her professional debut at the Liverpool Playhouse.