how many episodes of fawlty towers were made in total
12
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held by Five on 14 May 2006. In 1997, "The Germans" was ranked No. 12 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time. The iconic filmmaker Martin Scorsese has professed to being a great fan of the series, especially the episode "The Germans". Three BAFTAs were awarded to people for their involvement with the series. Both of the series were awarded the BAFTA in the category "Best Situation Comedy", the first being won by John Howard Davies in 1976, and the second by Douglas Argent and Bob Spiers in 1980. John Cleese won the BAFTA for "Best Light Entertainment
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The Anniversary (Fawlty Towers) "The Anniversary" is the fifth episode of the second series of BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers". As in other episodes, the letters of the sign for Fawlty Towers are shown rearranged in the opening sequence. In this episode, it says "Flowery Twats". The use of the obscene word has caused this to be given a 12 certificate by the BBFC, which is the only episode in the series to have a more restrictive rating than PG. On the morning of their wedding anniversary, Sybil recalls how Basil forgot last year. Basil has secretly invited their closest friends
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The Kipper and the Corpse "The Kipper and the Corpse" is the fourth episode of the second series of the British sitcom "Fawlty Towers". It first aired at 9.00pm on 12 March 1979 on BBC2. Distinguishing it from other episodes is its heavy use of black comedy. During the early 1970s, John Cleese met a young hotelier called Andrew Leeman. They went on holiday together to the Aegean with their girlfriends between the first and second series of "Fawlty Towers", a time when Cleese was looking for ideas for plots. During the holiday, Leeman told him how when he was
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the place in a week",the way he'd handle guests' demands. In the next episode, the idea of him running a hotel was seen as him being a Basil Fawlty. In the 2004 film "Shrek 2", John Cleese's character of King Harold references the character by using Fawlty's excuse of "war wound shrapnel" with "Crusade war shrapnel". Basil Fawlty Basil Fawlty is the main character of the British sitcom "Fawlty Towers", played by John Cleese. Basil has become an iconic British comedy character that is widely recognised around the world, despite only 12 half-hour episodes ever having been made. Basil, who
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Basil Fawlty Basil Fawlty is the main character of the British sitcom "Fawlty Towers", played by John Cleese. Basil has become an iconic British comedy character that is widely recognised around the world, despite only 12 half-hour episodes ever having been made. Basil, who runs the titular hotel in Torquay, is a misanthropic, pessimistic and somewhat snobbish man, whose main aspiration is to become a member of more "respectable" (richer) social circles. He sees the successful running of the hotel as a means of achieving this dream, yet his job frequently requires him to be pleasant to people he despises
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the guests, including a horrified Miss Tibbs, as Sybil desperately calls out Basil's name. With: In 1994, "The Kipper and the Corpse" was one of two "Fawlty Towers" episodes which were adapted for the stage and performed at the Theatre Geo in Hollywood. The other was "Basil the Rat". The Kipper and the Corpse "The Kipper and the Corpse" is the fourth episode of the second series of the British sitcom "Fawlty Towers". It first aired at 9.00pm on 12 March 1979 on BBC2. Distinguishing it from other episodes is its heavy use of black comedy. During the early 1970s,
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held by Five on 14 May 2006. In 1997, "The Germans" was ranked No. 12 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time. The iconic filmmaker Martin Scorsese has professed to being a great fan of the series, especially the episode "The Germans". Three BAFTAs were awarded to people for their involvement with the series. Both of the series were awarded the BAFTA in the category "Best Situation Comedy", the first being won by John Howard Davies in 1976, and the second by Douglas Argent and Bob Spiers in 1980. John Cleese won the BAFTA for "Best Light Entertainment
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Major Gowen Major Gowen, usually known as the Major, is a fictional character played by Ballard Berkeley in the BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers". Major Gowen is an old, befuddled, slightly senile, retired artillery officer permanently residing in the hotel. He appears in all 12 episodes, along with the other permanent residents Miss Gatsby and Miss Tibbs. He enjoys talking about the world (especially the cricket scores and workers' strikes) and is always on the lookout for the newspaper. He has trouble forgiving Germany for the Second World War. He often appears slightly hard of hearing, which leads to some confusion
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obvious hint that the bar should be open and his drink should be served. Early in the day, Basil tends to say ""Ah, morning Major"". John Cleese has said that the Major was based on his Latin teacher from school. Major Gowen Major Gowen, usually known as the Major, is a fictional character played by Ballard Berkeley in the BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers". Major Gowen is an old, befuddled, slightly senile, retired artillery officer permanently residing in the hotel. He appears in all 12 episodes, along with the other permanent residents Miss Gatsby and Miss Tibbs. He enjoys talking about
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Fawlty Towers Fawlty Towers is a British television sitcom broadcast on BBC2 in 1975 and 1979. Just two series of six episodes were made. The show was created and written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, who also starred in the show and were married at the time of the first series, but divorced before recording the second series. The show was ranked first on a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000. The series is set in Fawlty Towers, a fictional hotel in the seaside town of Torquay on
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was sold to the Seven Network where it has been repeated numerous times. Two record albums were released by BBC Records. The first album, simply titled "Fawlty Towers", was released in 1979 and contained the audio from "Communication Problems" (as "Mrs Richards") and "Hotel Inspectors". The second album, titled "Second Sitting", was released in 1981 and contained audio from "Basil the Rat" (as "The Rat") and "The Builders". "Fawlty Towers" originally was released by BBC Video in 1984, with three episodes on each of four tapes. Each tape was edited with the credits from all three episodes put at the
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series. The DVD set was released on 20 October 2009. The reissue, titled "Fawlty Towers Remastered: Special Edition," contains commentary by John Cleese on every episode as well as remastered video and audio. All episodes are occasionally available as streamed video-on-demand via Netflix and Amazon Instant Videos as well. Both series are available for download on iTunes. A "Fawlty Towers" game was released on PC in 2000 and featured a number of interactive games, desktop-customizing content and clips from the show. Fawlty Towers Fawlty Towers is a British television sitcom broadcast on BBC2 in 1975 and 1979. Just two series
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exists, but André's now is a Chinese and Indian restaurant called Wings. Both Cleese and Booth were keen on every script being perfect, and some episodes took four months and required as many as ten drafts until they were satisfied. The series focuses on the exploits and misadventures of short-fused hotelier Basil Fawlty and his acerbic wife Sybil, as well as their employees: porter and waiter Manuel, maid Polly Sherman, and, in the second series, chef Terry. The episodes typically revolve around Basil's efforts to "raise the tone" of his hotel and his increasing frustration at numerous complications and mistakes,
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character to allow the girl the chance to make this wish come true. Manuel (Fawlty Towers) Manuel is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers", played by Andrew Sachs. He reappeared for a small sketch with John Cleese in "We Are Most Amused" in November 2008. Manuel himself appeared on the audio adaptations of "Fawlty Towers" as a linking narrator, explaining things from his point of view, when the series was released in audio format. The first two episodes released did not feature him at all, as the dialogue was edited and a short burst of piano music
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Manuel (Fawlty Towers) Manuel is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers", played by Andrew Sachs. He reappeared for a small sketch with John Cleese in "We Are Most Amused" in November 2008. Manuel himself appeared on the audio adaptations of "Fawlty Towers" as a linking narrator, explaining things from his point of view, when the series was released in audio format. The first two episodes released did not feature him at all, as the dialogue was edited and a short burst of piano music would indicate a change of scene. However, when the whole series was re-released,
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starring Bea Arthur, notable for switching the sexes of its Basil and Sybil equivalents. It also failed to pick up a major audience and was dropped after eight episodes had been aired, although 13 episodes were shot. A third remake, called "Payne" (produced by and starring John Larroquette), was produced in 1999, but was cancelled shortly after. Nine episodes were produced of which eight aired on American television (though the complete run was broadcast overseas). A German pilot based on the sitcom was made in 2001, named "Zum letzten Kliff," but further episodes were not made. The popular sitcoms "3rd
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"Basil the Rat", which have been printed in some programme guides. In addition, some of the early BBC audio releases of episodes on vinyl and cassette included other variations, such as "Mrs. Richards" and "The Rat" for "Communication Problems" and "Basil the Rat" respectively. It has long been rumoured that a 13th episode of the series was written and filmed, but never progressed further than a rough cut. Lars Holger Holm, author of the book "Fawlty Towers: A Worshipper's Companion," has made detailed claims about the episode's content, but he provides no concrete evidence of its existence. On the subject
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end of the tape. A Laserdisc containing all episodes spliced together as a continuous episode was released in the U.S. on 23 June 1993. It was re-released in 1994, unedited but digitally remastered. It also was re-released in 1998 with a special interview with John Cleese. "Fawlty Towers – The Complete Series" was released on DVD on 16 October 2001, available in regions 1, 2 and 4. A "Collector's Edition" is available in region 2. Series one of the show was released on UMD Video for PSP. In July 2009, BBC America announced a DVD re-release of the "Fawlty Towers"
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run of ten episodes, with three episodes remaining unaired. A&E channel broadcast reruns of the show during the late 1980s. Arthur has since described the show as "a big disappointment". Two years after the cancellation of "Amanda's", Arthur was cast in the sitcom "The Golden Girls". Following "Amanda's", a third remake of "Fawlty Towers" entitled "Payne" (produced by and starring John Larroquette) was also produced, but was cancelled shortly after. A German pilot based on the sitcom was made in 2001, named "Zum letzten Kliff", but further episodes were not made. Amanda's Amanda's (also known as Amanda's By The Sea)
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A Touch of Class (Fawlty Towers) "A Touch of Class" is the pilot episode in the first series of the BBC television sitcom "Fawlty Towers". The episode introduces Basil Fawlty, the cynical, sharp-tongued owner of Torquay's Fawlty Towers hotel; his henpecking wife Sybil; Manuel, the eager but hapless Spanish waiter; Major Gowen, a semi-senile and often whisky-soaked permanent resident; and Polly Sherman, a maid/waitress who is the only sane and sensible employee of the hotel. The episode opens with Sybil reminding Basil of many chores he must do: prepare the bill for some guests in a hurry to depart, hang
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back to the bar to be served at last. Episode-credited cast: Also starring: A Touch of Class (Fawlty Towers) "A Touch of Class" is the pilot episode in the first series of the BBC television sitcom "Fawlty Towers". The episode introduces Basil Fawlty, the cynical, sharp-tongued owner of Torquay's Fawlty Towers hotel; his henpecking wife Sybil; Manuel, the eager but hapless Spanish waiter; Major Gowen, a semi-senile and often whisky-soaked permanent resident; and Polly Sherman, a maid/waitress who is the only sane and sensible employee of the hotel. The episode opens with Sybil reminding Basil of many chores he must
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Payne (TV series) Payne is an American sitcom based after the British program "Fawlty Towers". It starred American John Larroquette, who was also an executive producer for the series. "Payne" was a mid-season replacement on CBS and aired in March and April 1999. The show also starred JoBeth Williams, Julie Benz and Rick Batalla. Despite fairly positive reception, and receiving the blessing of John Cleese, who agreed to take a recurring role as the antagonistic rival hotelier if the show was renewed, "Payne" was quickly cancelled. Nine episodes were filmed; eight were aired. "Payne" was a remake of "Fawlty Towers",
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"Fawlty Towers" in 1979, which already had an enormous reputation on the basis of its initial six episodes in 1975, and it won him his first BAFTA award. Spiers subsequently provided a commentary for all the episodes he directed of "Fawlty Towers" when the series was released on DVD. Shortly after he directed the series and the unbroadcast pilot of "Not the Nine O'Clock News", Spiers left the staff of the BBC to work as a freelance director. Throughout the 1980s he worked on a number of programmes, of particular note being Channel 4's anthology comedy series "The Comic Strip
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Rock from the Sun" and "Cheers" (in both of which Cleese has made guest appearances) have cited "Fawlty Towers" as an inspiration, especially regarding its depiction of a dysfunctional workplace "family". Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan have cited "Fawlty Towers" as a major influence on their sitcom "Father Ted." "Guest House" on Pakistan's PTV also resembled the series. Several of the characters have made other appearances, as spinoffs or in small cameo roles. In 1981, in character as Manuel, Andrew Sachs recorded his own version of the Joe Dolce cod-Italian song "Shaddap You Face" (with the B-side "Waiter, There's a
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Amanda's Amanda's (also known as Amanda's By The Sea) is an American sitcom based on the 1970s British sitcom "Fawlty Towers" that aired on ABC from February 10 to May 26, 1983. The series starred Bea Arthur as the main character, Amanda Cartwright, who owns a seaside hotel called "Amanda's By The Sea" and was Arthur's first return to series television since her sitcom "Maude" ended in 1978. A total of thirteen episodes were produced, with three remaining unaired following the series' cancellation. Amanda Cartwright (Bea Arthur) is the formidable owner of "Amanda's By The Sea", a struggling California seaside
Amanda's
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though set in this version at an ambiguous location on the coast of California, as opposed to Torquay, England, in "Fawlty Towers". The action takes place at the Whispering Pines Inn, owned and operated by Royal Payne and his wife, Constance. Royal was always trying to improve the quality of his hotel and eventually franchise the place, in search of immortal legendary status as a hotelier, like Hilton or Waldorf. The pilot episode, "Pacific Ocean Duck" (which actually aired fifth in sequence), merged the plots of the "Fawlty Towers" episodes "Gourmet Night" and "The Hotel Inspectors". Payne (TV series) Payne
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Booth to quit before a third series often has been lauded as it ensured the show's successful status would not be weakened with later, lower-quality work. Subsequently, it has inspired the makers of other shows to do likewise. Most notably, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant refused to make a third series of either "The Office" or "Extras", citing "Fawlty Towers' " short lifespan. Rik Mayall, Ben Elton and Lise Mayer, the writers behind "The Young Ones", which also ran for only two series (each with six episodes), used this explanation as well. Victoria Wood also indicated this influenced her decision
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of whether more episodes would be produced, Cleese revealed (in an interview for the complete DVD box set, which was republished in the book "Fawlty Towers Fully Booked") that he once had the genesis of a feature-length special – possibly sometime during the mid-1990s. The plot, never fleshed out beyond his initial idea, would have revolved around the chaos that a now-retired Basil typically caused as he and Sybil flew to Barcelona to visit their former employee Manuel and his family. Of the idea, Cleese said: We had an idea for a plot which I loved. Basil was finally invited
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BBC's annual "Children in Need" charity telethon. The character was seen taking over the management of the eponymous hotel from the BBC drama series "Hotel Babylon," interacting with characters from that program as well as other 1970s sitcom characters. The character of Sybil was used by permission of John Cleese. In 2007, the Los Angeles Film School produced seven episodes of "Fawlty Tower Oxnard" starring Robert Romanus as Basil Fawlty. In 2016, Cleese reprised his role as Basil in a series of TV adverts for High Street optician chain Specsavers. The same year, Cleese and Booth reunited to create and
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wish them goodbye. When Sybil enters the lobby, the partygoers are bewildered and confused; Basil pretends she is the "northern woman" they mentioned previously, before rushing her into the kitchenwhere Manuel and Terry are wrestling furiously amidst the mess they have made arguing over the paellaand locks her in a cupboard. After ushering the guests out, Basil declares "Piece of cake. Now comes the tricky bit," as he returns to the kitchen to explain everything to Sybil. With: The Anniversary (Fawlty Towers) "The Anniversary" is the fifth episode of the second series of BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers". As in other
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a small, close-knit production team. These are "pitched" in the traditional way, but since the creator(s) handle all the writing requirements, there is a run of six or seven episodes per series once approval has been given. Many of the most popular British comedies have been made this way, including "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (albeit with an exclusive team of six writer-performers), "Fawlty Towers", "Blackadder" and "The Office". The production company is often separate from the broadcaster. The executive producer, often the show's creator, is in charge of running the show. They pick the crew and help cast the actors,
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fact all of the regular cast reprised their roles from "Hark at Barker". Barker wrote all the scripts under the pseudonym Jonathan Cobbald. . He liked to refer to the show as "Fawlty Towers mark one" as it appeared on television three years before that other hotel bound sitcom. Four episodes of the sitcom were recently performed on stage by Nottingham University's New Theatre. For many years it was thought that the series had been entirely lost after the tapes were wiped by the BBC. However, the first episode of "His Lordship Entertains", 'The Food Inspector', was recovered in 2009.
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has seen, and not altogether certain that he did see it. Sybil ends the series with the line "I'm afraid it's started to rain again," in an attempt to distract Carnegie as Manuel drags Basil, who has fainted off-screen, out of the dining room. With: In 1994, "Basil The Rat" was one of two "Fawlty Towers" episodes that were adapted for the stage and performed at the Theatre Geo in Hollywood. The other was "The Kipper and the Corpse". Basil the Rat "Basil the Rat" is the sixth and final episode of the second series of the BBC sitcom "Fawlty
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that he never got the best of any argument and was regularly shown up to be stupid and ill-informed. The series regularly provoked controversy in the media, and for millions it became a common gossiping point at work or in the pub. Many popular British situation comedies (sitcoms) were gentle, innocent, unchallenging portrayals of middle-class life, avoiding or only hinting at controversial issues; typical examples were "Happy Ever After" (later succeeded by "Terry and June"), "Sykes" and "The Good Life". Set in a hotel in Torquay, "Fawlty Towers" was a massive success for the BBC, despite only twelve episodes being
1970s in television
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by Bob Spiers, a noted British comedy director who had previously worked on "Fawlty Towers" amongst many other programmes. He would work again with Moffat on his sitcom "Joking Apart" and "Murder Most Horrid", and with Sawalha on "Absolutely Fabulous". According to Moffat, Spiers was the "principal director" taking an interest in the other episodes and setting the visual style of the show. Spiers particularly used tracking shots, sometimes requiring more dialogue to be written to accommodate the length of the shot. The other directors would come in and "do a Spiers". All of the directors were encouraged to attend
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and many of them were in the front row seats, apparently not entirely amused. The Builders "The Builders" is the second episode in the first series of the BBC TV sitcom "Fawlty Towers". As Fawlty Towers is undergoing renovations over the weekend, Basil informs Major Gowen, Miss Tibbs, and Miss Gatsby that they will have to have dinner at the Gleneagles Hotel. Basil and Sybil themselves are going on a golfing holiday in Paignton with friends, leaving Polly and Manuel in charge of the hotel. Before they leave, Basil reminds Polly that the workmen are to block off the drawing
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Performance" in 1976, Andrew Sachs was also nominated but lost. In a list drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted by industry professionals, "Fawlty Towers" was named the best British television series of all time. Four attempted remakes of "Fawlty Towers" were started for the American market, with three making it into production. The first, "Chateau Snavely" starring Harvey Korman and Betty White, was produced by ABC for a pilot in 1978, but the transfer from coastal hotel to highway motel proved too much and the series never was produced. The second, also by ABC, was "Amanda's,"
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The Fawlty Towers Dining Experience, Experience Another spoof, this time of the famous Fawlty Towers Dining Experience. Weirdos held it in Edinburgh 2013 and reportedly the only audience members were the cast of the Fawlty Towers Dining Experience. Weirdos Comedy Club Weirdos Comedy Club is a UK based group of alternative comedians founded by Adam Larter in 2010. Weirdos Comedy Club, or Weirdos as it’s commonly referred to, was formed by Adam Larter as an experimental night and a safe place to try out riskier or more alternative material than usual circuit comedy. Nights generally focussed on anarchic and silly
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"Great, Grand & Famous Hotels" remarked that "Fawlty Towers is real to everybody who has ever worked in a hotel, anybody who has ever stayed in one, or anyone who has ever tried, unsuccessfully, to order a Waldorf salad." Waldorf Salad (Fawlty Towers) "Waldorf Salad" is the third episode of the second series of the BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers". Directed by Bob Spiers, it first aired on 5 March 1979. Dinner time is exceptionally busy, and several guests are dissatisfied with the quality of the service and the food. One guest, Mr. Johnston, and his wife complain that her starter
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audience, a second series was commissioned before the first had been broadcast. However, journalists were critical of the show, highlighting stylistic similarities to "Fawlty Towers". Some members of the teaching profession and its unions objected to the negative representation of teachers and the comprehensive system. The second series did not receive a stable broadcast slot, with many episodes aired after 10pm. The first series was released on DVD in December 2008. Steven Moffat left his job as an English teacher at Cowdenknowes High in Greenock to write the BAFTA-award winning show "Press Gang". However, its high cost and changes in
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the show wasn't topical enough. It is said that Lane and Woodley wrote six episodes for a third season, and comedy writers such as Tony Martin, Matthew Quartermaine and Matt Cameron wrote seven episodes for a fourth season. "The Adventures of Lano and Woodley" first screened on the ABC on 1 September 1997, and in the UK it was shown on BBC2 in September 1999. The series was produced by Working Title/Polygram UK, with Marc Gracie as the Australian Producer. The episodes "Starquest" and "The Girlfriend" were directed by Bob Spiers (who also directed "Fawlty Towers" and "Absolutely Fabulous"), with
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gender...". Johnson agrees that there is indeed another person in his room: "Mrs Johnson", his mother. Basil mocks this disbelievingly, until Johnson's elderly mother appears and he greets her in a sudden burst of politeness. When everyone has left, he crouches, pulls his jacket up over his head in total frustration and embarrassment, and moans while making small, frog-like hops. The Abbotts, typically on the scene at the wrong time, encounter him, but Mr Abbott sighs, "I'm on holiday" and they ignore him. Episode-credited cast: With: The Psychiatrist (Fawlty Towers) "The Psychiatrist" is the second episode of the second series
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exception of "The Anniversary") is often the only support she gets. "The Anniversary" is one of the few episodes in which Basil tries to be nice to Sybil, who misreads the situation and believes he has forgotten their anniversary. John Cleese reprised the role of Basil in the song "Don't Mention the World Cup", based on the situation in the episode "The Germans", for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which was played in Germany. Cleese appeared as Basil in a 2016 TV advertisement for Specsavers during which, in a reference to the Fawlty Towers episode "Gourmet Night" where the character
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"an absolutely awful human being" but says that in comedy if an awful person makes people laugh they unaccountably feel affectionate towards him. Indeed, he is not entirely unsympathetic. The "Hotel Inspectors" and "Gourmet Night" episodes feature guests who are shown to be deeply annoying, with constant and unreasonable demands. In "Gourmet Night" the chef gets drunk and is unable to cook dinner, leaving Basil to scramble in an attempt to salvage the evening. Much of the time, Basil is an unfortunate victim of circumstance. Sybil Fawlty, played by Prunella Scales, is Basil's wife. Energetic and petite, she prefers a
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character of Sybil was used by special permission of John Cleese. Sybil Fawlty Sybil Fawlty is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers". She is played by Prunella Scales. Her age is listed as 34 years old as seen on her medical chart in the 1975 episode "The Germans", thus presumably indicating that she was born in 1941. Scales was 43 years old when "Fawlty Towers" began. She is Basil Fawlty's wife, and the only regular character in the series who usually refers to him by his first name (Major Gowen addresses Basil by his first name in
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Sybil Fawlty Sybil Fawlty is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers". She is played by Prunella Scales. Her age is listed as 34 years old as seen on her medical chart in the 1975 episode "The Germans", thus presumably indicating that she was born in 1941. Scales was 43 years old when "Fawlty Towers" began. She is Basil Fawlty's wife, and the only regular character in the series who usually refers to him by his first name (Major Gowen addresses Basil by his first name in "Communication Problems"). Sybil is a far more effective worker and manager
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Elephant Man". On television she appeared in "Remington Steele", "Doctor Who", "Minder", "George and Mildred", "Robin's Nest", "Fawlty Towers" and at least three episodes of "On the Buses" among others. She also made a cameo appearance in an episode of "Mind Your Language". Among the last of her television appearances was a 1993 episode of "The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer". She suffered a series of strokes in the 1990s, which stopped her working. Claire Davenport died in London on 25 February 2002 (not 4 March as often stated), aged 68, from kidney failure. Claire Davenport Claire Bernice Davenport (24
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couple (as well as saying that, if a third series had been made, there would have been similar episodes). In keeping with the lack of explanation about the marriage, not much is revealed of the characters' back-stories. It is known that Basil served in the British Army and saw action in the Korean War, possibly as part of his National Service. (John Cleese himself was only 13 when the Korean War ended, making the character of Basil at least five or six years older than he.) Basil exaggerates this period of his life, proclaiming to strangers, "I killed four men."
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cancer. I do not know where he found the strength." A year before his death, Hall told the "Mirror": "Cancer is a bully and I hate bullies. This old boy cancer will get about as much change out of me as all the other bullies I've met - nothing." Brian Hall (actor) Brian Charles Hall (20 November 1937 – 17 September 1997) was an English actor. He played hotel chef Terry Hugh in the British sitcom "Fawlty Towers". Hall played many hard-boiled tough guy Cockney roles: his role as the amiable chef Terry in "Fawlty Towers" was a casting against
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co-write the official theatrical adaptation of "Fawlty Towers", which premiered in Melbourne at the Comedy Theatre. It was critically well received, subsequently embarking on a successful tour of Australia. Cleese was intimately involved in the creation of the stage version from the beginning, including in the casting. He visited Australia to promote the adaptation, as well as oversee its success. Melbourne was chosen to premiere the adaptation due to "Fawlty Towers' " enduring popularity in Australia, and also because it has become a popular international test market for large-scale theatrical productions in recent years, having recently been the city where
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The Wedding Party (Fawlty Towers) "The Wedding Party" is the third episode of the BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers". In the episode, Basil is disgusted when two young lovers, Alan and Jean, begin 'hanky-pankying' under his very nose while checking in. He becomes convinced that they and two other guests (a couple called the Lloyds) are engaged in group sexual misbehaviour, somehow also involving Polly. Meanwhile, another guest, Mrs Peignoir, has become attracted to Basil, and circumstances conspire to put him in apparently compromising situations whenever any of the aforementioned are around. A heatwave has hit Torquay, bringing Basil's incompetence—not to
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The Psychiatrist (Fawlty Towers) "The Psychiatrist" is the second episode of the second series of BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers". In this episode, Sybil flirts with a young male guest named Mr. Johnson (who Basil believes resembles an orangutan). Meanwhile, two doctors arrive at the hotel, and Basil becomes concerned when he realises one is a psychiatrist. He becomes obsessed with finding a woman that Johnson has sneaked into his room, but instead stumbles into several compromising situations with a beautiful young female guest. His maniacal behaviour infuriates his wife and alarms the psychiatrist. "The Psychiatrist" begins in the foyer of
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and humiliation, Basil draws back the frying pan for a final vengeful clout. Episode-credited cast: With: The Wedding Party (Fawlty Towers) "The Wedding Party" is the third episode of the BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers". In the episode, Basil is disgusted when two young lovers, Alan and Jean, begin 'hanky-pankying' under his very nose while checking in. He becomes convinced that they and two other guests (a couple called the Lloyds) are engaged in group sexual misbehaviour, somehow also involving Polly. Meanwhile, another guest, Mrs Peignoir, has become attracted to Basil, and circumstances conspire to put him in apparently compromising situations
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Brian Hall (actor) Brian Charles Hall (20 November 1937 – 17 September 1997) was an English actor. He played hotel chef Terry Hugh in the British sitcom "Fawlty Towers". Hall played many hard-boiled tough guy Cockney roles: his role as the amiable chef Terry in "Fawlty Towers" was a casting against type. He played leading roles in police drama "" (1971–72), crime drama "McVicar" (1980), and sitcom "You Must Be The Husband" (1987). He also had several guest-starring roles in "The Professionals", "The Long Good Friday", "The Bill", "London's Burning", "The Sweeney" and "Minder" in Series 1 episode "You Gotta
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of newer (and cheaper) formats like reality shows, except on the BBC where older BBC shows, especially sitcoms like "Dad's Army" and "Fawlty Towers", are frequently repeated. Syndication did not exist as such in United Kingdom until the arrival of satellite, cable and later, from 1998 on, digital television, although it could be argued that many ITV programs up to the early 1990s, particularly imported programming was syndicated in the sense that each ITV region bought some programs independently of the ITV Network, and in particular many programs out of prime time made by smaller ITV stations were "part-networked" where
Rerun
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Waldorf Salad (Fawlty Towers) "Waldorf Salad" is the third episode of the second series of the BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers". Directed by Bob Spiers, it first aired on 5 March 1979. Dinner time is exceptionally busy, and several guests are dissatisfied with the quality of the service and the food. One guest, Mr. Johnston, and his wife complain that her starter prawns are "off", and they wish it to be deducted from their bill, even though she has already eaten half of them. Another couple, the Arrads, have been waiting nearly half an hour for their main course. When Basil
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December 1974, The rest of the series was recorded later in 1975, It was then originally broadcast on 19 September. The 12th and final episode was first shown on 25 October 1979. The first series was directed by John Howard Davies, the second by Bob Spiers. Both had their premieres on BBC2. When originally transmitted, the individual episodes had no on-screen titles. The ones in common currency were first used for the VHS release of the series in the 1980s. There were working titles, such as "USA" for "Waldorf Salad", "Death" for "The Kipper and the Corpse" and "Rat" for
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As Stubbs goes to telephone his company to commence emergency repair work, Sybil finds Basil marching down the driveway with the garden gnome in his arms. Basil calls back to Sybil that he is "going to see Mr. O'Reilly" before adding that he thinks he "might go to Canada" under his breath. Episode-credited cast: With: John Cleese named "The Builders" as "the least good" of the "Fawlty Towers" episodes that were filmed, owing to a general lack of laughter in the studio on recording day. He recalls that members of the Icelandic Broadcasting Corporation were visiting the studio that day
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he moved to London and continued working in theatre in between television roles, which by the early 1970s were becoming plentiful. Among these were small parts in the "Doctor Who" serials "Inferno" (1970) and "The Dæmons" (1971), which Simeon now says despite his vast experience, "I’m now known as being in "Doctor Who"". During the 1970s he secured guest roles in television series such as "Paul Temple", "Z-Cars", "Fawlty Towers", "The Pathfinders" and "The Liver Birds". In 1973 he starred in his first major regular role as Detective Constable Mickey Finn in "Hunter's Walk", appearing in 38 episodes until 1976.
David Simeon
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they were creating. Later, when Sachs's clothes were treated to give off smoke after he escapes the burning kitchen in "The Germans", the corrosive chemicals ate through them and gave Sachs severe burns. Manuel's exaggerated Spanish accent is part of the humour of the show. In fact, Sachs's original language was German; he emigrated to Britain as a child. The character's nationality was switched to Italian (and the name to Paolo) for the Spanish dub of the show, while in Catalonia and France, Manuel is a Mexican. The first episode of "Fawlty Towers" was recorded as a pilot on 24
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sexual behaviour. Thus when Basil, not privy to the entire context of a conversation between the Abbots and Sybil about how often middle-aged hotel owners can get away on holiday, is asked the question of how often Basil and Sybil "manage it", he indignantly claims "... average... two or three times a week" and is stunned, both by the question and the Abbots' subsequent wondering "how you could manage it at all", until Sybil tells him they were in fact referring to holidays, and the difficulty in taking them while running a hotel. Basil returns to the dining room and
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in 1978, but the transfer from coastal hotel to highway motel proved too much and the series was never produced. John Cleese, creator of the original British sitcom, was critical of this first adaptation, in particular Korman and White, saying they "played it too slow and were embarrassed by the edgy dialogue". "Amanda's" was created by Elliot Shoenman, who had previously written six episodes of Arthur's 1970s sitcom "Maude". Since "Maude" concluded in 1978, Arthur had been approached with numerous ideas, until Shoenman showed her some tapes of "Fawlty Towers". Loving the original, Arthur agreed to take part in a
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2013, Hall wrote, produced and performed in the one man stage show "Raiders of the Temple of Doom's Last Crusade; One Man Performs Three Indiana Jones Movies in One Hour", for the Melbourne Fringe Festival. The show was then revived for a successful season in the 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In March 2016, John Cleese cast Hall as Basil Fawlty in Cleese's own stage adaptation of his TV series 'Fawlty Towers'. 'Fawlty Towers Live' opened in Sydney at the Roslyn Packer Theatre in August 2016, and toured Australia, running for 157 performances before finishing in Brisbane on January 22,
Stephen Hall (actor)
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initially muted response may have been caused by Cleese seemingly ditching his label as a comic revolutionary – earned through his years with Monty Python – to do something more traditional. In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, "Fawlty Towers" was placed first. It was also voted fifth in the "Britain's Best Sitcom" poll in 2004, and second only to "Frasier" in The Ultimate Sitcom poll of comedy writers in January 2006. Basil Fawlty came top of the "Britain's Funniest Comedy Character" poll,
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seriously?' You couldn't claim it is the most flattering series, but, there again, people continued to stay at hotels after "Fawlty Towers"." As with "Joking Apart", Ptaszynski produced "Chalk" for independent production company Pola Jones. The positive reaction of the studio audience during recording of the first series in 1996 propelled executives to commission a second set of six episodes before the first batch had aired. All of the location shots for "Chalk" were filmed at the beginning of the production block. Acland Burghley School, in the Tufnell Park area of Camden, London, provided the exterior of the fictional Galfast
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1100 Countryman appeared in the "Fawlty Towers" episode "Gourmet Night", in which the short-tempered owner of Fawlty Towers Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) gave it a "damn good thrashing". This episode was first shown in October 1975. In 1964 the 1100 was "Wheels" magazine's Car of the Year. For most of its production life, the ADO16 was Britain's best selling car. The ADO16 (Amalgamated Drawing Office project number 16) was designed by Alec Issigonis. Following his success with the Mini, Issigonis set out to design a larger and more sophisticated car which incorporated more advanced features and innovations. In common with
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became known as Basil Fawlty was developed in an episode ("No Ill Feeling") of the third "Doctor" series (titled "Doctor at Large"). In this edition, the main character checks into a small-town hotel, his very presence seemingly winding up the aggressive and incompetent manager (played by Timothy Bateson) with a domineering wife. The show was broadcast on 30 May 1971. Cleese said in 2008 that the first "Fawlty Towers" script he and Booth wrote was rejected by the BBC. At a 30th anniversary event honouring the show, Cleese said, Cleese was paid £6,000 for 43 weeks' work and supplemented his
Fawlty Towers
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Gourmet Night "Gourmet Night" is the fifth episode in the first series of the BBC TV sitcom "Fawlty Towers". Basil Fawlty is having trouble with his Austin 1100 car. Despite Sybil's insistence that he take the car to a garage for repairs, miserly Basil tries to fix the car himself. Meanwhile, Fawlty Towers has a new Greek chef named Kurt who has been found for them by André, Kurt's culinary trainer and a friend of the Fawltys. Basil and Sybil are intending to host a gourmet night at the hotel. After a rude, pampered boy calls the hotel a "dump"
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appeared in two other "Are You Being Served?" episodes, "Take-over" and "The Club", both as different characters. In 1979, Pugh played Mrs Chase in the "Fawlty Towers" episode "The Kipper and the Corpse". Pugh had small parts in two films, "The Class of Miss MacMichael" in 1978 and "Brothers and Sisters" in 1980. Pugh appeared in two episodes of "Hi-de-Hi!" as The Hon. Winifred Dempster, the aunt of camp entertainments manager Clive Dempster - the 1986 episode "God Bless Our Family" (Series 8) and the 1988 episode "Wedding Bells" (Series 9). From 1987 to 1988, she played Mrs Barrable in
Mavis Pugh
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Beefeater is similar to the rude and pompous Basil Fawlty, a character in the British television sitcom "Fawlty Towers". He is Britain's hero using a power-rod used by his father (The Beefeater of the Second World War), to try to protect Britain, but instead causes havoc as he goes. Michael Morice is a staff member at the Justice League London embassy. Supporting him is his wife and Esteban, the latter of whom has a poor grasp of English (both resembling characters from "Fawlty Towers"). Michael finds the original Beefeater's costume and power-rod in the attic. After accidentally blowing a hole
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in horror after stumbling across the body in the hotel office. In that episode it is revealed that Tibbs is 79. Miss Tibbs and Miss Gatsby Miss Abitha Tibbs and Miss Ursula Gatsby are fictional characters, played by Gilly Flower and Renee Roberts respectively, in the BBC television sitcom "Fawlty Towers". Miss Tibbs and Miss Gatsby are two mostly inseparable and slightly scatty elderly spinsters who are permanent residents of Fawlty Towers (the only other long-term guest being Major Gowen). Basil Fawlty switches from being overly kind to being utterly rude during his various conversations with them, although they rarely
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Miss Tibbs and Miss Gatsby Miss Abitha Tibbs and Miss Ursula Gatsby are fictional characters, played by Gilly Flower and Renee Roberts respectively, in the BBC television sitcom "Fawlty Towers". Miss Tibbs and Miss Gatsby are two mostly inseparable and slightly scatty elderly spinsters who are permanent residents of Fawlty Towers (the only other long-term guest being Major Gowen). Basil Fawlty switches from being overly kind to being utterly rude during his various conversations with them, although they rarely understand his sarcasm. They are depicted as being "on the edge of their eighties". The two ladies appear in every episode
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won several international awards. Her comic skills were displayed earlier in Alan Bennett's comedy series "On the Margin" (1966). Gilan's acting career has also included roles in "Z-Cars" (1967) as Vera Cowley, "Dixon of Dock Green" (1969), "Crossroads" (1976) as Eileen Blythe, a few episodes of "Dr. Finlay's Casebook" (1963–69) in several roles and "The House of Elliot" as Ruth Bannister. Her film credits include "Agatha" (1979) as Mrs Braithwaite, "Chariots of Fire" (1981) as Mrs Liddell, and "Empire of the Sun" (1987) as Mrs Lockwood. Gilan's "Fawlty Towers" appearance in "The Wedding Party", first transmitted on BBC television on
Yvonne Gilan
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suggestion for alternative dinner arrangements for the guests while "Fawlty Towers" was undergoing renovations. Gleneagles Hotel, Torquay The Gleneagles Hotel was a hotel in Torquay, Devon, England. The 41-bed establishment, which opened in the 1960s, was the inspiration for "Fawlty Towers", a British situation comedy first broadcast in the mid-1970s. John Cleese, and his then wife Connie Booth, were inspired to write the series after they had stayed at the hotel and witnessed the eccentric behaviour of its owner, Donald Sinclair (who sold the hotel in 1973). Later the hotel was managed by Best Western. In February 2015 the hotel
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"that golfing puff-adder", "the dragon", "toxic midget", "the sabre-toothed tart", "my little kommandant", "my little piranha fish", "my little nest of vipers" and "you rancorous, coiffured old sow". Despite these nasty nicknames, Basil is terrified of her. There is only one time he loses patience and snaps at her (Basil: "Shut up, I'm fed up." Sybil: "Oh, you've done it now."). Prunella Scales speculated in an interview for "The Complete Fawlty Towers" DVD box set that Sybil married Basil because his origins were of a higher social class than hers. Polly Sherman, played by Connie Booth, is a waitress and
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the revised "Love Never Dies" and the new "King Kong" were also premiered. Cleese also noted he did not believe the London press would give the adaptation fair, unbiased reviews, so he deliberately choose to premier it elsewhere. In 2009, Tiger Aspect Productions produced a two-part documentary for the digital comedy channel Gold, called "Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened." The documentary features interviews with all four main cast members, including Connie Booth, who had refused to talk about the series for 30 years. John Cleese confirmed at the 30-year reunion in May 2009 that they will never make another episode of the
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have a laughter track. Nobbs only started work on the show when he turned down an offer to write a spin-off sitcom for Manuel of "Fawlty Towers". Fairly Secret Army Fairly Secret Army is a British sitcom which ran to thirteen episodes over two series between 1984 and 1986. Though not a direct spin-off from "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin", the lead character, Major Harry Truscott, was very similar to Geoffrey Palmer's character of Jimmy in that series, and the scripts were written by Reginald Perrin's creator and writer David Nobbs. Harry Kitchener Wellington Truscott (ex "Queen's Own
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venture. The show interspersed comedic elements with the dramatic. As well as addressing interpersonal relationships (particularly in the Lynda-Spike story arc), the show tackled issues such as solvent abuse, child abuse and firearms control. Written by ex-teacher Steven Moffat, more than half the episodes were directed by Bob Spiers, a noted British comedy director who had previously worked on classics such as "Fawlty Towers". Critical reception was very positive, particularly for the quality of the writing, and the series has attracted a cult following with a wide age range. Famous journalist Matt Kerr (Clive Wood) arrives from Fleet Street to
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End productions including "See How They Run" and "Anyone for Denis". She played Doris Ewell in the television comedy series "Please Sir!" (1968–72) and Mrs Pugh Critchley, in the series "All Gas and Gaiters" (1970–71), as well as a role in the short-lived sitcom "Wild, Wild Women" (1969). However, she is probably best known to many for a single guest role: that of the abrasive and selectively deaf Mrs. Richards in "Fawlty Towers" (episode: "Communication Problems"). She was also in "After Henry", a gently comic series on both radio (1985–88) and television (1988–92), in which she played the domineering Eleanor,
Joan Sanderson
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The Swedish pop group "I'm from Barcelona" chose its name in reference to this character. The movie-mocking television program "Mystery Science Theater 3000" has referred to Manuel on several occasions. When a character on screen speaks with a Spanish accent, the riffers would often respond with "I'm so sorry, he's from Barcelona". Sachs also appeared in a few adverts on British TV in the Manuel persona. Sachs made a cameo appearance in "We Are Most Amused", as an aged Manuel. A young girl once wrote into "Jim'll Fix It", wanting to teach Manuel how to speak English. Sachs appeared in
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poet, novelist, and painter P K Page was born in Swanage, Dorset on 23 November 1916. In 1919, she left with her family for Canada. In 1954, Page won the Canadian Governor General's Award for poetry and in 1977 was made an Officer to the Order of Canada, and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Companion of the Order of Canada. Swanage is stated as the hometown of John Cleese's character Basil Fawlty in the sitcom "Fawlty Towers". Some of James Blunt's video "Carry You Home" was filmed in Swanage and Worth Matravers. The first episode of the second
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the windows, he falls backwards, frozen in shock, on the hastily placed and precarious ladder (in a possible tribute to a very similarly acted and shot ladder fall by John Belushi while trying to peep in "National Lampoon's Animal House)". Manuel unwisely fetches Sybil and his poor grasp of English lands Basil in further trouble - he says that "Mr. Fawlty - he crazy about the girl" (he means that Mr. Johnson's having an illicit companion has made Basil cross), but Sybil, for once, takes Manuel seriously and believes he is referring to Basil's supposed crush on Raylene. Her jealousy
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of the book, "The Pocket Essential Tintin", described Hergé's depiction of Castafiore in the story as "a force of nature", praising the way that he depicted her many outfit changes. They described Mr Bolt as being both a "Godot-like character" and as being akin to Basil Fawlty from the British sitcom "Fawlty Towers", while adding that the broken step acts "like a Greek God's curse" in the story that affects everyone except Castafiore. They interpreted "The Castafiore Emerald" as Hergé's "Nouveau Roman", in which he realises that he cannot improve upon the standard set in "Tintin in Tibet" and thus
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on BBC Radio 1 where he would explain made up folk traditions. Cribbins also provided the voiceover work for, A Passion For Angling, starring Chris Yates and Bob James. In 2015 Cribbins was among an ensemble cast in an audio production of "The Jungle Book", in which he played the White Cobra. Cribbins was the star of the ITV series "Cribbins" (1969–70). Other TV appearances include "The Avengers" (1968), "Fawlty Towers" (1975, as the spoon salesman Mr Hutchinson who is mistaken by the character Basil Fawlty for a hotel inspector), "Worzel Gummidge" (1980), "Shillingbury Tales" (1980) and its spin-off "Cuffy"
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Basil Fawlty [and] its supporters praising its non-PC, off-the-wall approach and the breathlessly paced plots that delivered moments of high farce." Lewisohn also comments that while some elements of the show resemble "Please Sir!", ""Chalk" more closely resembled the ill-fated "Hardwicke House" with its concentration on the teachers rather than the pupils, dark themes and overall depiction of the teachers as ... nuts." Tom Lappin for "Scotland on Sunday" derided the combination of Chris Barrie's Gordon Brittas and Cleese's Basil Fawlty. The first four episodes were transmitted at 21:30, but the final two episodes of the second series were moved
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income by appearing in television advertisements. Although the series is set in Torquay, no part of it was shot in Southwest England. For the exterior filming, the Wooburn Grange Country Club in Buckinghamshire was used instead of a hotel. In several episodes of the series (notably "The Kipper and the Corpse," "The Anniversary" and "Basil the Rat"), the entrance gate at the bottom of the drive states the real name of the location. This listed building later served for a short time as a nightclub named "Basil's" after the series ended, before being destroyed by a fire in March 1991.
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"Fawlty Towers" as Irish cowboy builder Lurphy (whom Manuel memorably called a "hideous orangutan"), and as Eliphaz in the 1977 television miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth". He has appeared in episodes of "Foyle's War", "Midsomer Murders", "The Gentle Touch", "The Sweeney" and "Bergerac", and played Vyacheslav Molotov in the 1989 TV movie "Countdown to War". In 1990 he played Alfred Inglethorp in the "Agatha Christie's Poirot" film "The Mysterious Affair at Styles", and played Sergei in the 2000 television adaptation of "Anna Karenina". He also occasionally appeared in the BBC television programme "Merlin" (2008), as the character "Geoffrey of Monmouth" He
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November 2009, she played the role of Eve Wilson in "Coronation Street". Sabina Franklyn Elizabeth Sabina Franklyn (born 15 September 1954) is an English actress, and the daughter of William Franklyn and Margo Johns. Franklyn attended the independent Queen's Gate School and acted on stage with repertory theatres before her television appearances. She appeared in the ITV sitcoms "Keep It in the Family" and "Full House" and was also in the final episode of "Fawlty Towers", as well as various episodes of "When the Boat Comes In", "All Creatures Great and Small", "Terry and June" and "Boon". She has also
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both his own and those of others, which prevent him from doing so. Much of the humour comes from Basil's overly aggressive manner, engaging in angry but witty arguments with guests, staff and, in particular, Sybil, whom he addresses (in a faux-romantic way) with insults such as "that golfing puff adder", "my little piranha fish" and "my little nest of vipers". Despite this, Basil frequently feels intimidated, Sybil being able to cow him at any time, usually with a short, sharp cry of "Basil!" At the end of some episodes, Basil succeeds in annoying (or at least bemusing) the guests
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Pat Gorman Pat Gorman is a British actor who, despite never appearing in a starring role, appeared in minor roles in a large number of films and television productions, including "The Elephant Man", "Z Cars", "Fawlty Towers", "I, Claudius" and "Blakes 7". He also played the killer in the television series "The Nightmare Man". He appeared in minor roles in 83 episodes of the science fiction series "Doctor Who" between 1964 and 1985: only six other actors appeared in more in the show's original run. These roles include: a Silurian in "The Silurians" (1970); a Primitive in "Colony in Space"
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(1971); a Sea Devil in "The Sea Devils" (1972). and a pilot in "The Armageddon Factor" (1979). Pat Gorman Pat Gorman is a British actor who, despite never appearing in a starring role, appeared in minor roles in a large number of films and television productions, including "The Elephant Man", "Z Cars", "Fawlty Towers", "I, Claudius" and "Blakes 7". He also played the killer in the television series "The Nightmare Man". He appeared in minor roles in 83 episodes of the science fiction series "Doctor Who" between 1964 and 1985: only six other actors appeared in more in the show's
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the structure of British sitcoms (such as in the New Zealand sitcom "Gliding On"). In the 1980s, India's national stations Doordarshan showed "Fawlty Towers", "Yes, Minister" and "Mind Your Language". British sitcom A British sitcom or a Britcom is a situation comedy programme produced for British television. Although styles of sitcom have changed over the years they tend to be based on a family, workplace or other institution, where the same group of contrasting characters is brought together in each episode. British sitcoms are typically produced in one or more series of six episodes. Most such series are conceived and
British sitcom
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Robin Ellis Anthony Robin Ellis (born 8 January 1942) is an English actor best known for his role as Captain Ross Poldark in 29 episodes of the BBC classic series "Poldark", adapted from a series of books by the late British author Winston Graham. He also appeared in "Fawlty Towers", "Cluedo", "The Good Soldier" (an adaptation of the Ford Madox Ford novel), "Elizabeth R" (playing Essex), "The Moonstone", "Bel Ami", "Sense and Sensibility" (which also featured Clive Francis), "The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes", "She Loves Me" (in which he sings) and "Blue Remembered Hills" (written by Dennis Potter). In 2015,
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Delicious Dishes to Control or Avoid Diabetes" was published in 2016 by Little, Brown UK. Ellis lives with his wife Meredith in southwest France. His younger brothers are the actor Jack Ellis and the late director Peter Ellis. Robin Ellis Anthony Robin Ellis (born 8 January 1942) is an English actor best known for his role as Captain Ross Poldark in 29 episodes of the BBC classic series "Poldark", adapted from a series of books by the late British author Winston Graham. He also appeared in "Fawlty Towers", "Cluedo", "The Good Soldier" (an adaptation of the Ford Madox Ford novel),
Robin Ellis
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January 19, 1980, which paired the star in a musical comedy revue with Rock Hudson, Melba Moore and Wayland Flowers and Madame. Arthur returned to television in the short-lived 1983 sitcom "Amanda's" (an adaptation of the British series "Fawlty Towers"). Unfortunately, the show was a not a hit with audiences and only 10 of the 13 filmed episodes actually aired. In 1985, Arthur was cast in "The Golden Girls", in which she played Dorothy Zbornak, a divorced substitute teacher living in a Miami house owned by widow Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan). Her other roommates included widow Rose Nylund (Betty White)
Bea Arthur
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the Gleneagles Hotel with the Python team in 1971 that John Cleese found inspiration (and the setting, although not the actual film location) for the popular sitcom "Fawlty Towers" (1975, 1979). Incidents during the Pythons' stay are said to include the owner, Donald Sinclair, having thrown Eric Idle's suitcase out of a window in case it contained a bomb. Cleese later described the eccentric owner as, "the most wonderfully rude man I have ever met", although Mr. Sinclair's widow has since said her husband was totally misrepresented in the comedy. In the 1970s several episodes of the comedy series "The
Torquay
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to limit "Dinnerladies" to 16 episodes over two series. The origins, background and eventual cancellation of the series would later be humorously referenced in 1987's "The Secret Policeman's Third Ball" in a sketch in which Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry present Cleese — who they comically misname "Jim Cleese" — with a Dick Emery Lifetime Achievement Award ("Silver Dick") for his contributions to comedy, then launch into a comical series of questions regarding the show, including Cleese's marriage and divorce from Booth, innocently ridiculing Cleese and reducing him to tears, to a point at which he gets on his knees
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Lawday played the title role for Oxford University Press. The Leeds-born actress Wendy van der Plank took over when the series was picked up by ITV between 1993 and 1996. From 1997, Lizzie McPhee took over the role, as Wendy was away on maternity leave. Wendy came back for the last set of episodes from 18 December 1997 up to the end of the show's run. A pilot show starred "Fawlty Towers" writer and actress Connie Booth, who had been alerted to the character by John Cleese who had taken an interest in the production. The pilot was never broadcast.
Wizadora
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The Builders "The Builders" is the second episode in the first series of the BBC TV sitcom "Fawlty Towers". As Fawlty Towers is undergoing renovations over the weekend, Basil informs Major Gowen, Miss Tibbs, and Miss Gatsby that they will have to have dinner at the Gleneagles Hotel. Basil and Sybil themselves are going on a golfing holiday in Paignton with friends, leaving Polly and Manuel in charge of the hotel. Before they leave, Basil reminds Polly that the workmen are to block off the drawing room door and build a door leading into the kitchen at the bottom of
The Builders
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Basil the Rat "Basil the Rat" is the sixth and final episode of the second series of the BBC sitcom "Fawlty Towers" and the final episode of the programme as a whole. After a routine health inspection, the inspector, Mr. Carnegie, after an exhaustive listing of problems in the kitchen, informs Basil and Sybil that Fawlty Towers is below standard, with the flaws including the presence of two dead pigeons in the water tank. He will, therefore, recommend closure to the Council if they do not rectify the problems within 24 hours. The staff all get to work straight away.
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comedy because they are "too old and tired" and expectations would be too high. In a television interview (shown in Australia on Seven Network and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation) on 7 May 2009, Cleese also commented that he and Booth took six weeks to write each episode. In 1977 and 1978 alone, the original TV show was sold to 45 stations in 17 countries and was the BBC's best-selling overseas program for that year. "Fawlty Towers" became a huge success in almost all countries in which it aired. Although it initially was a flop in Spain, largely because of the
Fawlty Towers