Shooting to nationwide fame in the 1990s, Clive Swift was beloved for his role as Richard Bucket in the classic BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, which ended 31 years ago. Across five series and three specials, the actor brilliantly portrayed the long-suffering husband of the formidable Hyacinth Bucket.
The star, who passed away at the age of 82 on February 1, 2019, was also known for his roles in productions such as Doctor Who, The Old Guys, Excalibur, and Born and Bred.
© Getty ImagesAway from the camera, Clive was married to celebrated novelist and biographer Dame Margaret Drabble for 15 years, between 1960 and 1975. During their marriage, the couple welcomed three children: Adam, Rebecca, and Joe, all of whom have forged distinguished careers of their own.
Here is everything you need to know about Clive's accomplished children...
Adam Swift
© Getty ImagesWhile his father made his name on television, Adam followed in his mother's academic footsteps, carving out a prominent career in academia and political philosophy. He currently serves as a professor of political theory in the Department of Political Science at University College London.
Adam is the author of several books exploring social mobility, family ethics, liberalism, and communitarianism. He is also a founding director of the Oxford Centre for the Study of Social Justice and a committed member of Giving What We Can, an organisation whose members pledge at least 10 per cent of their income to effective charities.
While Adam rarely comments on his father's fame, he once shared a fond anecdote with an Excalibur retrospective site: "My only memory of [my father] in making the movie is that he was by no means a natural horseman or good with animals. He had to learn to ride from scratch, and with considerable trepidation.
"We children thought it was very funny to see him playing a warrior on a horse – a very long way from his natural self, and indeed from Richard Bucket, the role for which he is probably best known!"
Rebecca Swift
© Getty ImagesClive's daughter, Rebecca, also took inspiration from her mother's literary world, establishing herself as a respected poet, biographer, and essayist. Among her lasting achievements, Rebecca co-founded the ground-breaking editorial organisation The Literary Consultancy in 1996, creating a dedicated bursary scheme to provide free manuscript assessment for low-income writers.
Tragically, Rebecca passed away from cancer in April 2017 at the age of 53. She was survived by her parents, her two brothers, and her long-term partner, Helen Cosis Brown.
Joe Swift
© Getty ImagesClive's youngest son, Joe, chose a career in television, becoming one of the most recognisable presenters in British lifestyle broadcasting. He is a mainstay on BBC Two's Gardeners' World and an established anchor for the Royal Horticultural Society's coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show.
Joe has spoken warmly of his close relationship with his mother, telling The Independent: "I redesigned my mother's garden. I transformed it, actually. She deserves a nice garden."
