"Celebrating Five Decades of Fawlty Towers: From Torquay to Television Icon, Despite the Conflict"
In the world of British comedy, few shows have left an indelible mark like the farcical series, "Fawlty Towers." First aired on BBC Two on September 19, 1975, this iconic show, set in a fictional hotel in Torquay, quickly became a beloved staple.
John Cleese, who played the role of the rude hotel owner Basil Fawlty, based the character on a real-life hotel owner, Donald Sinclair. Cleese, along with his then-wife Connie Booth, co-wrote the series, bringing to life a series of hilarious and chaotic situations that unfolded within the walls of the hotel.
The first series consisted of six episodes, and the second season, aired in 1979, featured various supporting actors, including Ballard Berkeley (Major Gowen), Gilly Flower (Miss Abbot), and other guest actors who appeared as hotel guests and staff. Among the notable cast members was Andrew Sachs, who portrayed the hapless Spanish waiter Manuel.
"Fawlty Towers" won the Bafta for best scripted comedy in 1976 and has a 100% score on ratings website Rotten Tomatoes, testament to its enduring popularity. The series regularly appears at the top of lists of the best shows and characters of all time.
A memorable quote from the series is Basil's famous line, "Don't mention the war," while another famous moment comes when Basil sarcastically asks a guest if she expected to see the Sydney Opera House, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, or "herds of wildebeests swinging majestically."
In 2022, a stage production of "Fawlty Towers" has been created, using material from three favourite episodes. The script for the stage production was written by John Cleese himself. This production has had a stint in London's West End and is due to go on tour around the UK later this month.
Fans of the series can look forward to reliving the chaos and laughter of "Fawlty Towers" on stage, as the show continues to delight audiences with its timeless humour. Prunella Scales, who starred as Fawlty's wife Sybil, and Connie Booth, who played the role of chambermaid Polly, are among the original cast members who have been confirmed to reprise their roles in the stage production.
John Cleese, however, expressed his reluctance to write a third series of "Fawlty Towers," fearing it would not be as good as the first two. But with the success of the stage production, it seems that the spirit of "Fawlty Towers" lives on, bringing laughter and joy to audiences old and new.
