She began her career on stage at the Liverpool Playhouse and went on to work extensively in theatre, television and film. Her television work included appearances in Coronation Street and Talking Heads, the BBC series of monologues written by Alan Bennett. From 1990 to 1995, Routledge starred as Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances. Her film credits included To Sir, With Love (1967), Pretty Polly (1967) and If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969). She was named BBC Television Personality of the Year in 1992, awarded an OBE in 1993, and made a Dame in 2017 for her services to entertainment and charity.