Talk:Patricia Routledge

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A news item involving Patricia Routledge was featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the In the news section on 4 October 2025.

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'English major'?

The article currently states At Liverpool she was an English major. This phrasing isn't normally used in British higher education and has a very American sound to it. I considered changing it to something like At Liverpool she read English but am completely unfamiliar with PR's education so don't know if that's actually true. --Ef80 (talk) 12:53, 28 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

It would be correct to say either that she "read English at Liverpool" or that she "took a degree in English at [or 'from'] Liverpool". The latter is universally correct. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.181.62.103 (talk) 23:46, 24 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Possible 1961 US TV Appearance

An early 30's version of Patricia appeared, uncredited, in the NBC Television Series "Car 54, Where Are You" Season 1, Episode 7, "Paint Job" which aired 10/29/61, as a young British woman who was pulled over in a traffic stop, and upon release, struck the principal characters patrol car.PA MD0351XXE (talk) 19:26, 22 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I just watched it on YouTube and it's not her. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.71.190.146 (talk) 01:16, 14 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Latest news?

Perhaps someone could find out why Patricia Routledge did not appear in the latest edition of Ladies of Letters, entitled "Ladies of Letters Go Crackers". Instead of the usual Prunella Scales and Patricia Routledge, this one stars Prunella Scales and Anne Reid (who plays Vera in the television version.)

Has Patricia left the series for good or was she unavailable because of another project or - heaven forbid - illness? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.181.62.103 (talk) 23:46, 24 December 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Comedian

Routledge is a both a "serious" actress and a comic actress. Is she also a comedian? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 09:37, 18 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

No. It was added in an unexplained and anonymous edit back in 2019. I've reverted it. Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:49, 18 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

PS: Other editors seem not to agree. I wonder if this is a US/UK style thing - as suggested by this edit. Obviously we should use British style in which she would not be classed as a "comedian". I'll encourage that editor to comment here, but it may be worth taking it to a wider discussion somewhere (I'm not sure where though). Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:33, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

All British (comedic) actresses here at WP such as Julie Walters, Dawn French, Catherine Tate, Kathy Burke, Miranda Hart et al are lead described as "comedians". Patricia Routledge is no different. Once again, I refer you to the definition: "Comedian: A comic actor. An actor who plays comedic roles." Maineartists (talk) 12:42, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I think that's a very misleading, and possibly outdated, definition. My understanding is that a comedian usually tells jokes. Martinevans123 (talk) 12:48, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, your definition is the one that is outdated. You are thinking of the term "Stand-up Comedian" in such leads as Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, Phyllis Diller etc. Two completely different terms. Merriam Webster presently defines it as what I presented; and WP supports the definition and term. Maineartists (talk) 13:50, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

No, I'm not thinking of the term "Stand-up Comedian", which is a subset of "comedian" as far as I'm concerned, not a synonym, thanks. If we want to consider dictionary definitions, then I'd suggest we look at British dictionaries, for an article written in British English, about a British performer. Keen to hear what other editors think about this. Martinevans123 (talk) 17:59, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Please, God, not another over-analysis of a minute detail on my watch list... Seasider53 (talk) 18:29, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Well if you've only got this one watched, that's going to be 100%, sorry. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:12, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

This is English WP and both American and British articles state: "comedian". End of story. All you've done so far is state personal "concern", "thought" and "understanding." Which is moot. Until you can prove otherwise with WP policy and definition, or gain consensus at a higher level of discussion, it should remain: comedian; in keeping with comparative subject articles. On a lighter note, to keep Seasider53's sanity, I will refrain from continuing this thread with my input. Maineartists (talk) 18:48, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Eh, we have separate American and British articles? Kindly give ours for Patricia Routledge back. Sorry, I'm not concerned with "proving" anything. I'm seeking to gain consensus, which currently doesn't lie with you. But many thanks for going away. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:12, 19 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Felicity Kendal appeared in the popular sitcom The Good Life, as did Richard Briers. Neither of the are "comedians". Martinevans123 (talk) 14:34, 21 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Whilst I (British English), like Martinevans123, might appreciate the finer distinction between "comedian" and "comic actor", I'm tempted, if a little reluctantly, to defer to our own Oxford Dictionary (in its basic form) which gives similar definitions for "comedian" in British and American English; respectively: An entertainer on stage or television whose act is designed to make an audience laugh. A comic actor or playwright. (often ironic) A person who is or thinks themselves to be amusing or entertaining.; and An entertainer whose act is designed to make an audience laugh. A comic actor. (often ironic) An amusing or entertaining person. Bazza (talk) 17:16, 21 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

A comedic actress is a type of actress. If she does both serious and comedic roles "actress" is sufficient as occupation as is covers both, and comedian is redundant. Comedian as a separate occupation would be appropriate if notable for that for more than just acting such as also doing stand-up. Geraldo Perez (talk) 17:26, 21 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Routledge won a British Comedy Award for a role in a sitcom, sure, but I don't think the article is improved by describing her as a "comedian". Routledge doesn't seem to have limited herself to the comedy genre, and it would be hard to imagine a career as long and successful of hers which didn't have comedy as an important facet. In contrast, Miranda Hart is essentially only known for comedy (not a slight! She's great) and has performed comedic one-person shows. Olivia Colman is maybe a better comparison, and we don't call her a "comedian" despite the fact that I know her only from comedic works (Mitchell and Webb productions, Flowers and Fleabag), because she has a very successful non-comedic side to her career. — Bilorv (talk) 17:37, 21 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I agree. I think your comparison is perfectly apt. We seem to have a split of opinion here. Currently the word "comedian" has been removed from both lead section and infobox. Do we need an RfC to decide this? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 17:45, 21 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Change of main photograph

Is it not normal, once a famous person dies, to have their main photograph being one from their best known years? The current one is from three years ago, when Routledge was 93. I would suggest one from the 1990s would be better suited. 80.7.91.9 (talk) 14:27, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The Sound of Music

Patricia Routledge features as the Mother Abbess on the LP recording of The Sound of Music (1966/7). I have not seen this acknowledged anywhere. Was she also at that time in the London stage cast of this musical? MyopicBookworm (talk) 08:57, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Do you mean The Sound of Music? The Peggy Wood article says: "She was thrilled to be in the movie, but she knew she could no longer sing "Climb Ev'ry Mountain". She was dubbed (for singing) by Margery MacKay." Martinevans123 (talk) 09:23, 6 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Anne Rogers and Patricia Routledge were featured singers in a 1967 LP recording of songs from The Sound of Music released in the UK. It doesn't appear to be connected to any stage, film or television performance of the musical. Google doesn't tell me much else. -- Pemilligan (talk) 22:49, 31 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks. I see it is now listed on the discography. MyopicBookworm (talk) 07:16, 4 June 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Are we talking about the recording in the "Cast recordings" table which is described as "1966 London Studio Cast (Mother Abbess)"? I see that there is currently no source. "Studio Cast" looks to be quite an odd description if it really has no connection to any stage, film or television performance? I'm guessing it's this one. Martinevans123 (talk) 08:11, 4 June 2026 (UTC)[reply]