What is Fawlty Towers?
Fawlty Towers is a classic British sitcom written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, first broadcast on BBC Two in 1975. It follows Basil Fawlty, a rude and incompetent hotel owner in the seaside town of Torquay.
Only 12 episodes were made, in two series in 1975 and 1979. Despite this, it is often voted one of the best British sitcoms ever.
John Cleese played Basil Fawlty, Prunella Scales played his wife, Sybil, Connie Booth played Polly, the waitress, and Andrew Sachs played Manuel, a waiter from Barcelona.
Inspiration
Cleese was inspired by a real hotel owner, Donald Sinclair, whom he met while staying at the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay with the Monty Python team.
Famous episodes include The Germans, in which Basil repeatedly mentions the war, and Basil the Rat.
The show's humor comes from Basil's frustration, snobbery and chaotic attempts to run the hotel.
Fawlty Towers was adapted into a stage play in 2023 in London's West End. It remains one of the most quoted British comedies.
Torquay hotels still use the show in jokes.