Onslow (Keeping Up Appearances)
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| Onslow | |
|---|---|
.jpg/220px-Onslow_(Keeping_Up_Appearances).jpg) Onslow played by actor Geoffrey Hughes |
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| First appearance | in the episode Daddy's Accident |
| Last appearance | in the special episode The Memoirs Of Hyacinth Bucket |
| Created by | Roy Clarke |
| Portrayed by | Geoffrey Hughes |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | Middle-aged |
| Occupation | Unemployed |
| Spouse(s) | Daisy |
| Children | daughter Stephanie and grandchild Kylie |
Onslow is a comical fictional character in the British comedy television series Keeping Up Appearances portrayed by actor Geoffrey Hughes. Onslow is married to Daisy, Hyacinth Bucket's sister. Onslow and Daisy have raised one daughter, Stephanie, though she was only seen in one episode in the series for the christening of her baby, Kylie, Onslow's only grandchild. Onslow and Daisy live with Rose, Daisy's sister, and Daisy's father known as "daddy" in a council house. Onslow's surname is never given in the series.
The character Onslow was based on the creator's daughter Alex 'Onslow' Wilson, who is the polar opposite of the character featured in the programme.
Onslow is always seen wearing either a white vest (sleeveless shirt), or a knitted tank top (with the vest underneath). He often wears a cap with the "FH" logo of Fulton Hogan, a New Zealand based roading company. (The cap was given to Geoffrey Hughes in 1990 by Fulton Hogan when he visited New Zealand and appeared on that year's NZ 24 hour Telethon.) In one episode he described his style as "maximum chic": "your laid back slobby look". Hyacinth once remarked to Richard: "Why can't he wear a shirt? He wore a shirt to our wedding...he looked disgraceful, but at least he looked disgraceful in a shirt."
He spends most of his time drinking Stones beer, eating crisps, smoking cigarettes and watching television at home - one of the repeated elements of comedy being his method of turning his ancient television on, which is simply to bang it. Onslow describes himself as "work-shy, bone idle, and out of condition". He 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 a sarcastic "Oh, noice!"
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 through the day), and considers himself something of an intellectual. Onslow is surprisingly well-read and frequently raises technical or philosophical issues in normal conversation. He is seen many times reading The Principles of Condensed Matter Physics, Life Among The Primitives, The Financial Times, and The Racing Post. He also watches Open University programmes. One time he mentions to Daisy an idea about the universe full of black holes, and muses over the paradox that light can be simultaneously a particle and a wave.
Away from the house, he usually rides a bicycle or drives a 1978 white Ford Cortina which is in a bad state of repair and backfires whenever it stops or starts. He also has a beige Hillman Avenger, which is of "scrap" condition and is confined to the driveway of the house, and is home to a dog that barks only at Hyacinth when she passes.
Onslow's indifference towards his wife Daisy's romantic behaviour is a recurrent theme in the series. He often responds to Daisy's advances with excuses; "I've got a headache" or will ask her to make him food, "Any more bacon?". Despite their lack of a sex-life, the couple do appear quite close.
Despite his appearance (considered menacing by occasional characters in the series), Onslow is a very cheerful and friendly person, and gets on well with everyone he meets, with the notable exception of Hyacinth. Onslow has a particularly strong rapport with Hyacinth's long-suffering husband Richard (he usually calls him "Dickie"), and often rescues Richard from one of Hyacinth's unbearable social-enhancement schemes, allowing Richard and Onslow to escape to a nearby pub. Whenever Hyacinth and Richard visit Onslow, he offers Richard a beer and chats pleasantly with him, usually discussing Hyacinth's increasingly bizarre schemes.
Onslow is never portrayed as having a job of any sort. It is never established how he supports his family financially, although Onslow remarked once over how long the state could afford to support him. This may imply that his family are on benefits. Onslow is seen many times busy working with The Racing Post and watching horse racing on television. Onslow bets money on horse racing through Violet's husband, a turf accountant. Onslow considers what he does with horse racing as work. "Don't hassle me when I'm working...I'm struggling here, trying to earn a decent living for you and your father and your Rose." Onslow is also a football fan, presumably an Evertonian as he comes from Merseyside but dislikes Liverpool F.C. - so much so that he felt ready to divorce Daisy when she revealed on their honeymoon that she supported Liverpool. One time Onslow and Daisy went on a luxury cruise aboard Queen Elizabeth 2 won by Onslow in a newspaper-sponsored poetry contest.
Onslow has a difficult relationship with Hyacinth due to his lower class lifestyle. He doesn't like Hyacinth very much. He always says disparaging comments about Hyacinth behind her back to other people, especially to Daisy or Rose. Onslow sometimes feels sorry for Richard, Hyacinth's husband, because he is constantly bossed around by Hyacinth. He said once that Richard was the "man in the iron mask".
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