This week it was announced that BBC's Fawlty Towers is to be revived, with John Cleese returning to write and star.
Originally co-written by Connie Booth, the series followed the chaotic work of Torquay hotelier Basil Fawlty and his wife Sybil, as they tried to keep their hotel and marriage afloat. Running on BBC2 for two series in 1975 and 1979, on February 8, Castle Rock Entertainment announced a deal with Cleese to bring back the series.
The ECHO recently reported how the revival will explore how the dramatic and cynical Basil navigates the modern world and teams up with the daughter he's just discovered he has. It's now been decades since the British sitcom, which only ran for 12-episodes, first hit our screens and the lives of its stars changed forever.
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Some cast members went on to star in hit franchises like Doctor Who and Harry Potter, whereas other left the business for a completely different career. As the show is set to make a comeback, we take a look back at some of the original cast members of Fawlty Towers and what they did next.
This list isn't intended to be comprehensive, we've included a number of cast from the popular BBC show. But if you feel there are others you would like to see included, let us know in the comments section.
John Cleese - Basil Fawlty
John Cleese played frustrated hotel owner Basil Fawlty, known for his rants, being rude to guests and wanting to climb the social ladder. The role saw Cleese win the Best Entertainment Performance BAFTA in 1980.
Cleese was married to co-star and co-writer Connie Booth, who played Polly, but the couple split before the second series aired. The actor and comedian, now 83, went on to have two more marriages before marrying wife Jennifer.
When the series finished, the dad-of-two made more Monty Python films and starred in Bond films as Q’s assistant and Q, as well as A Fish Called Wanda and Clockwise. Other notable projects include the Harry Potter franchise, Shrek, Will and Grace and BBC sitcom Hold The Sunset.
In 2016, he revived Basil for a Specsavers advert and has been known to speak out in defence of the show when its controversial language has come into question. Last year, Cleese fronted Channel 4 documentary Cancel Me and GB News announced he would also host his own series on the channel in 2023.
Prunella Scales - Sybil Fawlty
Sarcastic Sybil was known for dominating her husband, Basil, and running the hotel far better than her other half. Played by Prunella Scales, the actress went on to star in a number of films when the series ended, such as Howard's End and The Boys from Brazil.
Scales also appeared in films Escape from the Dark, The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Hound of the Baskervilles. For her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in A Question of Attribution by Alan Bennett, she was also nominated for a BAFTA.
Many fans will remember Scales reprised her role as Sybil for a 2007 Children In Need special, which saw the character become manager of Hotel Babylon. The mum-of-two is married to actor Timothy West and the couple both appeared in Channel 4 series Great Canal Journeys.
Scales was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014. As her Alzheimer’s got worse, the couple decided to quit the show and retire from TV.
Andrew Sachs - Manuel
Andrew Sachs played loveable Spanish waiter Manuel, who often took the brunt of Basil's temper. In the role, he recorded three singles.
The German-born British star went on to become the hotel manager in Are You being Served? and appeared soaps EastEnders and Coronation Street. Alongside voice over and radio work, Sachs also appeared in Doctor Who: Shada and That Peter Kay Thing.
Back in 2008, Sachs was the victim of a prank call, where Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross left inappropriate messages about Brand having sex with his granddaughter Georgina Baillie. The media storm sparked a huge scandal and this led to an apology from the BBC, Brand resigning and Ross being suspended.
The dad-of-three was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012. He sadly died four years later
Connie Booth - Polly Sherman
Connie Booth co-wrote and co-starred in Fawlty Towers with her then-husband Cleese. Playing waitress and maid Polly Sherman, the character was perhaps the most sensible out of all those worked at the hotel.
Together with Cleese, the couple have a daughter named Cynthia and remained on good times whilst filming the show. Since 2000, the actress has been married to author John Lahr.
Booth went on to appear in show such as The Tomorrow People and The Buccaneers, as well as TV film The Return of Sherlock Holmes. In 1995, Booth quit acting and went on to have to study to become a psychotherapist.
Who was your favourite Fawlty Towers character? Let us know in the comments section below.
Brian Hall - Terry Hughes
Brian Hall only appeared in the second series of the show, but is still remember for playing cockney chef Terry Hughes. After leaving the Fawlty Towers kitchen, Hall went on to star in Break in the, Sun, Sweeney 2 and McVicar.
And he remained good friends with cast members such as John Cleese. Hall died in September 1997 at the age of 59, after a three-year long battle with cancer.
When he was diagnosed with cancer, he 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."
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Ballard Berkeley - Major Gowen
A senile former soldier, Major Gowen was a a permanent resident at the hotel and played by actor Ballard Berkeley. Major Gowen was known for his racist and bigoted views, seeing many of the character's offensive lines edited out in repeats.
In real life, Berkeley starred in well-known TV shows such as Hi-de-Hi! and To The Manor Born. He also had a small role in Are You Being Served?
His last role was a voiceover in the animated film The BFG. The actor did not get to see the completed project hit our screen as he died in 1988.
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Bernard Cribbins - Mr Hutchinson
Children's TV star and entertainer Bernard Cribbins OBE appeared in the show as spoons salesman Mr Hutchinson. However, Basil soon became convinced he was a hotel inspector.
The actor’s career spanned more than 70 years, with notable roles including starring in three Carry On films and appearing alongside David Tennant and Catherine Tate in Doctor Who. Many will also remember Cribbins narrated The Wombles.
He married wife Gillian in 1955. In July 2022, it was announced that the veteran actor had died at the age of 93.
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