Daughter of Catherine and Isaac Routledge. Her father was a haberdasher, and during WWII, the family lived weeks at a time living in the basement of her father's shop. She attended Birkenhead High School, where she sang in the choir and ran the Sunday School. She studied English at Liverpool University, and after graduation worked without pay at the Liverpool Playhouse. She was asked to join the company, and later studied at Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol. She then moved to London where she built an impressive stage career over the next several years, also appearing on Broadway in 1966 - 1968. Patricia has worked in TV since the early 1950s, most recently in Keeping Up Appearances. She has also recorded an album, Presenting Patricia Routledge, and worked in film and radio. She has never married or had children, has said that she will not retire, and lives in Kensington and Surrey when not working.



Named as the Top Television Comedy Actress for 1991. Named as the Personality of the Year in 1993 by the Variety Club of Great Britain. Voted Britain's all-time favourite TV actress. [1996] She graduated from the all girls Birkenhead High Girls Public Day School Trust in Birkenhead, England. She was awarded honorary Doctor of Letters in 1999 from her alma mater, the University of Liverpool in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. She was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to Drama. Last name is pronounced as spelled, Rout-ledge. Not Rut-ledge.