British Comedy Guide
Fawlty Towers. Image shows from L to R: Manuel (Andrew Sachs), Basil Fawlty (John Cleese), Sybil Fawlty (Prunella Scales), Polly (Connie Booth). Copyright: BBC
Fawlty Towers

Fawlty Towers

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two
  • 1975 - 1979
  • 12 episodes (2 series)

Comedy about a hotel and its owner, a man of infinite rudeness with a rabid dislike of almost all guests. Stars John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth, Ballard Berkeley and more.

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Press clippings Page 14

Has Fawlty Towers dated?

Initial reviews in 1975 were poor and on one recent 2009 viewing, our TV critic found himself unamused by Basil and co.

Andrew Billen, The Times, 19th October 2009

Sitcoms don't get any funnier than Fawlty Towers

Basil Fawlty was rude, snobby, smarmy, hen-pecked, quick to anger, sarcastic and prudish - in the words of his creator, John Cleese, "an absolutely awful human being." But this unforgettable character stood at the center of one of the funniest sitcoms in television history, Fawlty Towers.

Bruce Dancis, San Luis Tribune, 19th October 2009

Prunella Scales, 30 years on from Fawlty Towers

One of Britain's best character actresses, Prunella Scales will inevitably be remembered for one character above all.

Damian Whitworth, The Times, 19th October 2009

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