Fawlty Towers... Farty Towels... Fawlty Tower... Farty Tower... Faw ty Tower... Warty Towels...Watery Fowls... Flay Otters... Fatty Owls... Flowery Twats...
Of all the classic comedies seen over the years, nothing comes close to the classic television show Fawlty Towers. First aired in 1975, it was instant hit with the public of Britain and around the world. Only twelve episodes were ever created, yet each were so tightly packed with laughs and gags, one hardly notices.

The show centres around the 'Master of hoteliers', Basil Fawlty, as he struggles to manage his Torquay hotel. His job is not made any easier as he has great difficulty dealing with guests. Ranging from hotel inspectors to a dead body, Basil tries his best to keep everything undercontrol. Ironically his influence generally makes things worse. With the help of the maid Polly, and his spanish butler Manuel- the hotel rapidly descends into a pit of maddness. While Basil's wife, Sybil tries to undo her husband's follies. Amongst all this mayhem, emerges the greatest sitcom of all.

Cast

CharacterActor
Basil Fawlty John Cleese
Sybil Fawlty Prunella Scales
Polly Connie Booth
Manuel Andrew Sachs
Major Gowen Ballard Berkeley
Miss Tibbs Gilly Flower
Miss Gatsby Renee Roberts
Terry Brian Hall (only 2nd series)

Episodes

    Series One: 1975
  1. A Touch of Class
  2. The Builders
  3. The Wedding Party
  4. The Hotel Inspectors
  5. Gourmet Night
  6. The Germans
    Series Two: 1979
  1. Communications Problems
  2. The Psychiatrist
  3. Waldorf Salad
  4. The Kipper and the Corpse
  5. The Anniversary
  6. Basil the Rat

Memorable Quotes

Basil: I'm so sorry, he's from Barcelona.
Mrs T: Veal substitute?
Polly: It's Japanese, actually - soya beans and essence of cow.
Sybil: What was the name of the horse?
Polly: Er..the name..I've gone blank...
(Basil dashes to the dining-room door, behind Sybil. He mouths
'Dragonfly'. Polly stares. He points to Sybil and flaps his hands.)
Polly: Bird Brain!
Basil: Oh, German! I'm sorry, I thought there was something wrong with you.
Mrs R: (at the window, which has a nice view) And another thing - I asked for a room with a view.
Basil: (to himself) Deaf, mad _and_ blind. (goes to window) This is the view as far as I can remember, madam. Yes, this is it.
Mrs R: When I pay for a view I expect something more interesting than that.
Basil: That is Torquay, madam.
Mrs R: Well, it's not good enough.
Basil: Well...may I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeast sweeping majestically...
Basil: Well I can assure you, they were perfectly fresh when they were frozen.
Mrs R: I'd need a telescope to see that.
Basil: Well, may I suggest you consider moving to a hotel closer to the sea. Or preferably in it.
Sister: I'll get the doctor. (She hurries out)
Basil: (calls after her) You need a plastic surgeon dear, not a doctor!
Basil: Oh dear, what happened? Did you get entangled in the eiderdown again?...Not enough cream in your eclair? Hmmm? Or did you have to talk to all your friends for so long that you didn't have time to perm your ears?