Kerry Howard has given Digital Spy an update on the upcoming Keeping Up Appearances prequel, and it sounds rather intriguing.

The Witless star will play a young Hyacinth Bucket - originally played by Patricia Routledge - in a one-off special on the BBC later this year. 

Having finished shooting the comedy last week, Kerry admitted that she was aware that many fans of the original might be critical of the idea, but hopes that the public will enjoy it.

"Obviously, if it wasn't me and it was someone else playing this part, I would be like, 'Ooh, that is very tricky shoes to fill'. Because I'm a huge fan of Patricia Routledge, she is a genius.

"But, I grew up watching that role, and I got the part, and you know what? The universe has given me this, I've just got to go with it and enjoy it. Luckily, everyone was amazing and has wanted me to win on this project. I feel good, I feel like I've done a good job.

"If the public don't agree then that's their prerogative, I can't control that! But I've done my job for the people who have employed me, so hopefully the public will enjoy it! I'm like Hyacinth Bucket, I've got no control!"

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Creator Roy Clarke has written the special, which follows Hyacinth as a young maid in the 1950s, as she attempts to prove that she's better than her lower-class family.

On trying to perfect the role, she said: "For me, it was just trying to picture the right tone and age, because I could do the voice, but it just sounded old. So I had to bring it down to make her younger and more Northern, because she's not quite on the turn yet. It was like being in Call the Midwife on speed!"

Kerry also revealed that certain characters from the original show - which was recently confirmed as the BBC's most exported TV series around the world - will not make an appearance.

"Roy Clarke's a clever writer. He's not put Richard or Onslow in, so you watch this show and you're already intrigued as to when she's going to meet Richard. She's dating someone else, and Daisy's single. He's already pricked the interest, it's really smart."

But would she like to film a whole series?

"There is room for it, it's whether [Roy] wants to! I'm inspired and amazed that someone of his talent and his age, he's 86, would still want to be creative and write. What a privilege."

Kerry Howard currently stars in Witless , which premieres every Friday on BBC Three online, before being shown the following Friday at 11.20pm on BBC One.