Richard Bucket

Infobox character
colour = #99FFCC
name = Richard Bucket


caption = Richard Bucket in "Keeping Up Appearances".
first = Series one, episode one: "Daddy's Accident"
last = Christmas Special 1994: "The Pageant"
cause = Show ended.
nickname = "Dickie"
alias =
gender = Male
age = middle-aged
occupation = Retired
title = Mr
spouse = Hyacinth Bucket
children = Sheridan
relatives = Hyacinth Bucket (wife), brother-in-law Onslow
episode =
portrayer = Clive Swift
creator = Roy Clarke

Richard Bucket is a fictional character played by Clive Swift in the British comedy TV series "Keeping Up Appearances" which was aired from 1990 to 1995. He is the calm, tolerant and long-suffering husband of social-climbing snob Hyacinth Bucket, who insists their surname is pronounced "Bouquet". Unlike Hyacinth, Richard is content to live a normal life and does not care to mingle with the aristocracy. As pointed out in the BBC documentary series "Comedy Connections", he is a foil to exploit Hyacinth's personality to the worst advantage, and after Hyacinth has behaved in a particularly snobbish fashion, Richard will mutter a dry, acerbic remark, that also provides some of the show’s humour. He pronounces his last name as it is spelled, "Bucket". Unlike Hyacinth, Richard is fond of brother-in-law Onslow (Keeping Up Appearances)
Onslow, sisters-in-law Daisy and Rose, and prefers their company to Hyacinth's other, but wealthier sister Violet's (this is stated in the last episode of series one, where Richard also explains how Violet is always moaning). Unlike Hyacinth, Richard accepts Onslow and company as members of the family, not caring about their lower-class status, and he often tries to portray them positively to Hyacinth. In the second episode of series one, Richard says to Hyacinth: "you've got to admire Onslow's relaxed attitude to life".

Onslow sympathises with Richard, knowing he's at Hyacinth's beck and call day and night. He tries to rescue him on one occasion in series three, taking him to a pub where they play pool together, and enjoy a round or two of beers. Other characters in the sitcom also sympathise with Richard, and wonder how he puts up with Hyacinth; neighbour Emett frequently asks sister Liz (who he lives with): "how does he live with her?" .

At the beginning of series three, Richard is forced to take early retirement from his position as a local government official; some of his colleagues mention how lucky he is until they remember he'll have to spend his retired life with Hyacinth.

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. He also doesn't appear to be particularly unhappy in living with Hyacinth, who, as Patricia Routledge pointed out in the "Comedy Connections" series, she keeps a good table, and irons his clothes, something that a lot of men like.

Richard and Hyacinth also have a son called Sheridan, and between his materialistic wife and their equally self-absorbed son (who is never seen on camera), Richard frequently has an empty wallet. 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. Richard does have concerns for Sheridan, however, and actually has the idea that Sheridan may be homosexual.

Richard drives a blue D-registered (1986 or 1987) Rover 213, a conventional family car which fits in well with Hyacinth's upmarket image.