Elizabeth Warden

Infobox character
colour = #99FFCC
name = Elizabeth Warden


caption = Liz in "Keeping Up Appearances."
first = Series one, episode one: "Daddy's Accident"
last = Christmas Special 1995: "The Pageant"
cause = Show ended.
nickname = Liz
gender = Female
age = In her fifties.
occupation = not known.
title = Mrs
spouse = not known.
children = Gail daughter
relatives = Gail daughter, brother Emmet Hawksworth, husband (unknown)
episode =
portrayer = Josephine Tewson
creator = Roy Clarke

Elizabeth Warden ("née" Hawksworth) is a fictional character in the British situation comedy series Keeping Up Appearances, that first aired from 1990 to 1995. She is played by actress Josephine Tewson, and is the neighbour to social-climbing snob Hyacinth Bucket. She appeared in every episode.

Liz is a friendly, tolerant character, who appreciates the difficulty Richard Bucket must have in living with her neighbour, who frequently invites her round for coffee. Unfortunately for Liz, knowing Hyacinth is obsessively house-proud, she becomes nervous and repeatedly spills and drops things throughout the series in Hyacinth's home, especially Hyacinth's Royal Doulton cups with the hand-painted periwinkles, much to the devastation of house-proud Hyacinth. Even the most trivial of events such as Hyacinth raising her voice or the telephone ringing, causes Liz’s nerves to completely collapse. Hyacinth soon learns to offer her a beaker, but even then Liz still manages to spill it. The coffee-spilling scenario is a long-running segment of the series, providing some of the show's humour. The most spectacular scene involving the Royal Doulton is when Hyacinth manages a catch when Liz flings one of the precious periwinkle cups into the air.

Unlike most, Liz sympathises with Hyacinth, fully aware she's hated by everyone around her and oblivious to the fact. She also displays a reluctance to treat her cruelly like her brother Emmet, who relishes in doing so. In a series four episode, Hyacinth tries to give the impression to Emmet she can horse ride, and fully aware she can't, Emmet ends up persuading Hyacinth to go horse riding with him.

Liz is also the comforting ear of which Richard can express the reality of Hyacinth's snobbish endeavours to; either geared to lifting her up the social ladder or to avoid her lower-class relatives to prevent her falling down it. Although Hyacinth always tries to divert her lower-class clan away from Liz and her brother Emmet (like she does with every other character), Hyacinth considers Liz to be a close friend; hence when Hyacinth's status is on the brink of collapse, on occasions Liz will be dragged into her neighbour's contrived plots to help prevent such results.

Liz is the only female character who can drive, owning a white 1988 Austin Metro, which appeared in most episodes.

Elizabeth is often the target of Hyacinth's tactless and unintentionally hurtful comments, mostly regarding her clothing, car and frequent coffee spillages.