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Onslow (Keeping Up Appearances)
Encyclopedia
Onslow is a fictional character
in the British
1990s comedy
series Keeping Up Appearances
, portrayed by actor Geoffrey Hughes
. Onslow is a working class
relative of the social-climbing snob
, Hyacinth Bucket
. He is married to Hyacinth's sister Daisy
; their surname is never mentioned.
The character Onslow was based on the series creator, Roy Clarke
's, daughter Alex "Onslow" Wilson, who is the polar opposite of the character featured in the programme. Clarke stated in a documentary part of the BBC Comedy Connections
series, that Onslow is his favourite character.
with Daisy's promiscuous
sister Rose
, and the sisters' senile
father, called "Daddy"
. Onslow owns a dog, who lives outside in the rusting carcass of a Hillman Avenger
in the front garden.
Onslow is everything his sister-in-law Hyacinth despises, and threatens her social-climbing efforts. He is an overweight
and unemployed man who earns his money through betting on horses, spends his time drinking beer
, eating crisps
and smoking cigarette
s, and watching television. On many occasions he watches horse racing
, and one of the repeated elements of comedy is his method of operating his ancient TV set by banging on it. Onslow describes himself as "work-shy, bone idle, and out of condition" and has been known to ponder "the inconvenience of working." Whenever Onslow is unpleasantly surprised by something, such as running out of beer or being insulted, he usually retorts with his sarcastic
catchphrase: "Oh, nice!". He habitually wears a baseball cap
with the FH logo of New Zealand
earth-moving and road construction company Fulton Hogan
.
Although he watches television endlessly, Onslow also reads substantially, especially in the bedroom (where he never changes out of the usual vest and jeans he wears throughout the day), and considers himself something of an intellectual. Onslow is surprisingly well-read and frequently raises technical or philosophical issues in normal conversations. He is seen many times reading The Principles of Condensed Matter Physics
, Life Among The Primitives, A Brief History of Time
, The Financial Times, and The Racing Post
. He also watches Open University
programmes.
During the Christmas special titled "Sea Fever", in which Daisy and Onslow win tickets for the QE2 in a newspaper competition, he mentions to Daisy an idea about the universe being full of black holes, and muses over the paradox that light can be simultaneously a particle and a wave
. He also often proclaims nihilistic
and atheistic views about life and the universe, believing them to be "meaningless".
Onslow is more interested in such intellectual pursuits than in having sexual relations with wife, Daisy. His unromantic and blunt behaviour towards his wife contrasts to her romantic behaviour towards him, creating some of the show's humour. When his wife attempts to seduce him, he often responds with excuses ("I've got a headache.") or will ask her to make him food ("Any more bacon?"). Despite their lack of intimacy, the couple do appear significantly closer than the long-suffering Richard and the domineering Hyacinth.
When Hyacinth is on one of her many missions to impress upper-class people or neighbours, it is always Onslow (with Daisy, Rose and "daddy") who turn up in a clapped-out Ford Cortina
that backfires loudly every time it starts or stops, embarrassing Hyacinth, crushing her hopes of creating that perfect impression. Not surprisingly therefore, Hyacinth both fears and detests Onslow; however he's a gentle, friendly character, and gets on well with everyone else, including other relatives and the local vicar. Onslow has a particularly strong rapport with Hyacinth's long-suffering husband, Richard
(he usually calls him "Dickie"), and on one occasion rescues Richard from the demands of life with Hyacinth, taking him to a nearby pub. Onslow sympathises with his brother-in-law as he has a good idea how difficult life must be living with the protagonist.
Onslow is also a football
fan, presumably of Everton
as he comes from Merseyside
, and dislikes Liverpool F.C.
– so much so that he felt ready to divorce Daisy when she revealed on their honeymoon that she supported Liverpool. He also shows patronage towards the United States' National Football League
, wearing a Green Bay Packers
shirt in a series 5 Episodes 38 and 40.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
1990s comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
series Keeping Up Appearances
Keeping Up Appearances
Keeping Up Appearances is a British sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke for the BBC. Centred on the life of eccentric, social-climbing snob Hyacinth Bucket , the sitcom portrays a social hierarchy-ruled British society...
, portrayed by actor Geoffrey Hughes
Geoffrey Hughes
Geoffrey Hughes, DL is an English actor.As well as a wide range of TV and film appearances, Hughes is best known for a series of supporting roles in popular UK television dramas...
. Onslow is a working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
relative of the social-climbing snob
Snob
A snob is someone who believes that some people are inherently inferior to him or her for any one of a variety of reasons, including real or supposed intellect, wealth, education, ancestry, taste, beauty, nationality, et cetera. Often, the form of snobbery reflects the snob's personal attributes...
, Hyacinth Bucket
Hyacinth Bucket
Hyacinth Bucket, who insists her last name is pronounced "Bouquet" , is the main character in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances , played by Patricia Routledge.-Personality:...
. He is married to Hyacinth's sister Daisy
Daisy (Keeping Up Appearances)
Daisy is a fictional character in the British situation comedy, Keeping Up Appearances, portrayed by actress Judy Cornwell. Daisy is the lower-class sister of social-climbing snob Hyacinth Bucket, who lives with her apathetic slob husband, Onslow, promiscuous sister Rose, and her senile father...
; their surname is never mentioned.
The character Onslow was based on the series creator, Roy Clarke
Roy Clarke
Roy Clarke OBE is an English comedy writer.-Career:Clarke is best known for creating BBC Sitcoms; Last of the Summer Wine, Open All Hours and Keeping Up Appearances...
's, daughter Alex "Onslow" Wilson, who is the polar opposite of the character featured in the programme. Clarke stated in a documentary part of the BBC Comedy Connections
Comedy Connections
Comedy Connections was a BBC One documentary series produced by BBC Scotland that aired from 2003 to 2008. The show looked at the stories behind the production of some of Britain's comedy television programmes, showing how they tied in with the production of other comedy shows...
series, that Onslow is his favourite character.
Character biography
Onslow and Daisy live in a run-down council houseCouncil house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
with Daisy's promiscuous
Promiscuity
In humans, promiscuity refers to less discriminating casual sex with many sexual partners. The term carries a moral or religious judgement and is viewed in the context of the mainstream social ideal for sexual activity to take place within exclusive committed relationships...
sister Rose
Rose (Keeping Up Appearances character)
Rose is a fictional character in the British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances. She is portrayed by two actresses: Shirley Stelfox in Series One, and the late Mary Millar from Series Two onwards...
, and the sisters' senile
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
father, called "Daddy"
Daddy (Keeping Up Appearances)
"Daddy" is a fictional character from the British comedy television series "Keeping Up Appearances", first broadcast in the 1990s. He is the father of the central character, the social-climbing snob Hyacinth Bucket, and one of the two actors who portrays him is George Webb.The character has very...
. Onslow owns a dog, who lives outside in the rusting carcass of a Hillman Avenger
Hillman Avenger
The Hillman Avenger was a rear-wheel drive small family car originally manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group from 1970–1976, and made by Chrysler Europe from 1976–1981 as the Chrysler Avenger and finally the Talbot Avenger...
in the front garden.
Onslow is everything his sister-in-law Hyacinth despises, and threatens her social-climbing efforts. He is an overweight
Overweight
Overweight is generally defined as having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is a common condition, especially where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary...
and unemployed man who earns his money through betting on horses, spends his time drinking beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, eating crisps
Potato chip
Potato chips are thin slices of potato that are deep fried...
and smoking cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
s, and watching television. On many occasions he watches horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, and one of the repeated elements of comedy is his method of operating his ancient TV set by banging on it. Onslow describes himself as "work-shy, bone idle, and out of condition" and has been known to ponder "the inconvenience of working." Whenever Onslow is unpleasantly surprised by something, such as running out of beer or being insulted, he usually retorts with his sarcastic
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is “a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt.” Though irony and understatement is usually the immediate context, most authorities distinguish sarcasm from irony; however, others argue that sarcasm may or often does involve irony or employs...
catchphrase: "Oh, nice!". He habitually wears a baseball cap
Baseball cap
A baseball cap is a type of soft cap with a rounded stiff brim. The front of the cap typically contains designs or logos of sports teams ,...
with the FH logo of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
earth-moving and road construction company Fulton Hogan
Fulton Hogan
Fulton Hogan is a large infrastructure construction, roadworks and aggregate supplier company in New Zealand, which is also active in wider Australasia....
.
Although he watches television endlessly, Onslow also reads substantially, especially in the bedroom (where he never changes out of the usual vest and jeans he wears throughout the day), and considers himself something of an intellectual. Onslow is surprisingly well-read and frequently raises technical or philosophical issues in normal conversations. He is seen many times reading The Principles of Condensed Matter Physics
Condensed Matter
Condensed matter may refer to several things*Condensed matter physics, the study of the physical properties of condensed phases of matter*European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, a scientific journal published by EDP sciences...
, Life Among The Primitives, A Brief History of Time
A Brief History of Time
A Brief History of Time is a popular science book written by renown physicist Stephen Hawking and first published by the Bantam Dell Publishing Group in 1988. It became a best-seller and has sold more than 10 million copies...
, The Financial Times, and The Racing Post
Racing Post
The Racing Post is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting newspaper, appearing in print form and online.From 30 May 2011 - 3 July 2011 it had a circulation of 56,507.-History:...
. He also watches Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
programmes.
During the Christmas special titled "Sea Fever", in which Daisy and Onslow win tickets for the QE2 in a newspaper competition, he mentions to Daisy an idea about the universe being full of black holes, and muses over the paradox that light can be simultaneously a particle and a wave
Double-slit experiment
The double-slit experiment, sometimes called Young's experiment, is a demonstration that matter and energy can display characteristics of both waves and particles...
. He also often proclaims nihilistic
Nihilism
Nihilism is the philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value...
and atheistic views about life and the universe, believing them to be "meaningless".
Onslow is more interested in such intellectual pursuits than in having sexual relations with wife, Daisy. His unromantic and blunt behaviour towards his wife contrasts to her romantic behaviour towards him, creating some of the show's humour. When his wife attempts to seduce him, he often responds with excuses ("I've got a headache.") or will ask her to make him food ("Any more bacon?"). Despite their lack of intimacy, the couple do appear significantly closer than the long-suffering Richard and the domineering Hyacinth.
When Hyacinth is on one of her many missions to impress upper-class people or neighbours, it is always Onslow (with Daisy, Rose and "daddy") who turn up in a clapped-out Ford Cortina
Ford Cortina
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...
that backfires loudly every time it starts or stops, embarrassing Hyacinth, crushing her hopes of creating that perfect impression. Not surprisingly therefore, Hyacinth both fears and detests Onslow; however he's a gentle, friendly character, and gets on well with everyone else, including other relatives and the local vicar. Onslow has a particularly strong rapport with Hyacinth's long-suffering husband, Richard
Richard Bucket
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 usually calls him "Dickie"), and on one occasion rescues Richard from the demands of life with Hyacinth, taking him to a nearby pub. Onslow sympathises with his brother-in-law as he has a good idea how difficult life must be living with the protagonist.
Onslow is also a football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
fan, presumably of Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
as he comes from Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
, and dislikes Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
– so much so that he felt ready to divorce Daisy when she revealed on their honeymoon that she supported Liverpool. He also shows patronage towards the United States' National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, wearing a Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
shirt in a series 5 Episodes 38 and 40.