Daddy's Accident (1990) User Reviews (5)

''I expect he wanted some more cream!''

[Rabical-91 · 9/10 · 11 February 2019]

In view of the recent death of Clive Swift, I felt it would be only right to review by way of a tribute the first episode of the sitcom which made the veteran actor a household name with viewers.

An elderly man is carted away in ambulance whilst his daughters stand watching helplessly. Those are Daisy and Rose. ''We are going to have to tell Hyacinth!'' whispers Daisy. Rose advises her not to: ''I couldn't face Hyacinth tonight!''.

The next morning we see a middle aged housewife going about her business in her swank bungalow before confronting the postman in regards to a missing letter. When the postman asks her name, she gives it as Bouquet, despite it being spelt B-U-C-K-E-T. This is Hyacinth, a social climbing housewife who, although essentially well meaning, is a snob who has ideas well above her station. Bearing the brunt of this is her brow beaten husband Richard, who has a very important position in local authority. Hyacinth later receives a phone call from her sisters saying that their father has been admitted to hospital after being fished out of the nearby canal.

Demanding to know how this accident occurred, Hyacinth is mortified to find that her father fell in the canal after drunkenly pursuing the local milkwoman. Later, Hyacinth agonises over whether or not this ordeal is worth cancelling her candlelight supper evening ( an event which would be used as a recurring joke throughout the show's run ).

A very good opener. Not hilarious as such but excellent in establishing the characters. Hyacinth is pompous, selfish, vain and sometimes even unfeeling, character traits which would normally make one barely ( if at all ) tolerable but thanks to Patricia Routledge's portrayal, you cannot help but like her. Judy Cornwell and Geoffrey Hughes slip effortlessely into character as the frumpy Daisy and her couch potato for a husband Onslow. Rose is played here by Shirley Stelfox. She is not bad as such though Mary Millar who would later replace her was far superior. Clive Swift's chemistry here with Routledge is powerful and their onscreen marriage would rightly go down in sitcom history.

Also making her debut here is Josephine Tewson as Hyacinth's cack handed neighbour Elizabeth who frequently drops things ( most especially Hyacinth's china cups ) due to her nerves whenever she is invited round for coffee. This too would be a regular source of humour in the show.

Funniest bit - Rose telling Daisy she is envious of her ( Daisy, that is ) marriage to Onslow. ''It must be great to be able to let yourself go completely!'' says Rose. ''I wouldn't say completely!'' says Daisy indignantly. ''Near enough completely!'' quips Onslow in the background!

Good start!

[sebastiansallingkierkegaard · 8/10 · 31 October 2018]

"Daddy's Accident" AS it's vakler on IMDb is a Great start to a even funnier TV-series. The reveal of "daddy's accident is hilarious! Classic British television!

"We're going to have to tell our Hyacinth...."

[extremesteamkeys · 10/10 · 24 April 2019]

Although I absolutely adore every single episode of the show, The pilot episode deserves special consideration - because without it, the rest wouldn't be possible.

The episode does extremely well at providing a basis for the rest of the series. The actors seem incredibly comfortable in their roles, and although, naturally, the characters they play become more multi-dimensional as the show rolls on, many of the classic, core elements of the shows humour are established in this episode.

If you wish to watch a single episode to see if you would like the show or not there is no better way to start than right here, at the beginning, because although arguably there are subjectively better episodes than this one if you don't like the pilot you most likely won't like the rest of the series.

If however, on the other hand, you are like me, you'll fall in love with the entire series from this episode forward, and never look back.

Roy Clarke, in my humble opinion, is a comic genius, and his script is delivered flawlessly by both the main ensemble and the entire supporting cast.

Yes, it's from the early 90's and it may seem outdated - but this is one comedy that for myself, and I'm sure many others, will stand the test of time for as long as it continues to be possible to watch it (and re-watch it, over, and over, and over again).

This is not just a television show. This is pure comedic art at it's greatest, and this episode is the foundation upon which such greatness is built.

10/10 Stars - *ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS*

An outstanding debut.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 20 November 2021]

Daddy's Accident introduces us to the character of Hyacinth Bucket, her loved ones, and those that suffer her.

It takes absolutely no time for us to get the measure of her, her snobbery, social climbing, torment over her family's financial poverty, and her desperation to maintain the social standards.

It's a flawless start, this first episode is an absolute classic, it's no wonder the nation fell in love with Hyacinth after this.

It introduces everyone incredibly well, suffering Richard, nervous Elizabeth, and the randy Major.

Almost every scene is comedy gold, the housing estate, the flowers, and best of all, Elizabeth's first afternoon tea, together with Elizabeth, the acting, the timing, tbe one liners, that was pure comedy gold.

They certainly don't make comedy like this anymore, Roy Clarke, I salute you, 10/10.

Start of classic comedy sitcom, respect the beloved deceased

[MarkLynnIreland1294 · 4/10 · 1 November 2022]

The first ever episode to one of my favourite comedy sitcoms which stars the stuck-up woman Hyacinth Bucket (nicknamed Bouquet).

Apart from her, got her sufferable husband Richard deceased Clive Swift and her nervous neighbour Elizabeth. And there's her sisters and brother-in-law Onslow who I idolise as favourite character by deceased beloved Geoffrey Hughes.

And this episode has the randy Major although he appears in few other episodes later, not after second series.

Although I really enjoyed Keeping Up Appearances as one of my favourite comedy sitcoms with help of director Harold Snoad and writer Roy Clarke - just this first episode isn't very much popular one of the entire series or rather of all episodes. And still Rest in peace to Clive Swift, Geoffrey Hughes, Shirley Stelfox.