Page "Keeping Up Appearances" Paragraph 7

One relative Hyacinth isn't ashamed of is wealthy sister Violet ( Anna Dawson ); the leading lady will often boast to visitors of Violet's home — a luxury bungalow — and of how this sister has a " Mercedes, sauna, and room for a pony ", whilst trying to keep the oddities of Violet's cross-dressing husband, Bruce, a secret.

( Bruce's cross dressing is revealed to Hyacinth in series 2.

) Hyacinth also tries to impress people with the intellectual prowess of her beloved, but unseen, son Sheridan ( he takes courses in needlework at a polytechnic ), inviting the derision of those she is desperately trying to impress.

She often begins the stories with " I'm sure you've heard about Sheridan " to which the listener responds " frequently ".

Sheridan makes frequent phone calls from his polytechnic asking for money, much to the despair of Richard.

It is also implied many times throughout the series that Sheridan, who lives with a man named Tarquin ( who makes his own curtains, wears silk pyjamas, and has won prizes for embroidery ), is gay.

Hyacinth, however, is blissfully oblivious to the fact.