She also starred in Alan Bennett's TV monologues and played BBC One's amateur sleuth Hetty Wainthropp, while also enjoying an acclaimed stage career. Her agent told the PA news agency on Friday that she died "peacefully in her sleep this morning surrounded by love".

The BBC's director of comedy was among those paying tribute, saying she "made millions laugh and left a legacy that will always be remembered with gratitude and admiration". Keeping Up Appearances creator Roy Clarke said in a statement to BBC News: "I'm sorry, as I'm sure so so many people will be to hear of the death of Patricia Routledge. "It's a fortunate coincidence to find your scripts in the hands of so accomplished an actor. She was a singer and it showed in the way she could use her voice without music. It was an instrument. "On top of such skills she was also a very fine physical clown. "With those talents she took my scripts to the heights. I can only salute her talents and regret their passing."

Dame Patricia was best known as Hyacinth Bucket - pronounced "bouquet" - a comic creation who lampooned the extremes of English pretension and snobbery. "She's an absolute monster and I enjoyed playing her enormously," the actress once said. Keeping Up Appearances ran from 1990 to 95, and the following year she was voted the nation's most popular actress at the BBC's 60th anniversary awards. Announcing her death, her agent's statement added: "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 will be dearly missed by those closest to her and by her devoted admirers around the world." (BBC)