How many episodes of Basil are there in all?
Possessing a dry, sarcastic wit, Basil has become an iconic British comedy character who remains widely known to the public despite only 12 half-hour episodes ever having been made. In a 2001 poll conducted by Channel 4 Basil was ranked second on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.
What happens at Basil and Sybil's wedding anniversary party?
Basil invites some friends for a surprise wedding anniversary party, but Sybil assumes he has forgotten their anniversary and storms off, leaving her husband and Polly, in disguise, desperately telling the others she is 'ill'... Featuring: Ken Campbell as Roger and Una Stubbs as Alice.
Who is Basil Fawlty's wife Sybil?
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 working wardrobe of tight skirt-suits in shiny fabrics and sports a tower of permed hair augmented with hairpieces and wigs and necessitating the use of overnight curlers.
Who is Sybil in the movie Sybil?
The real "Sybil" was recently identified as Shirley Ardell Mason, an art teacher who died in 1998 at the age of 75 in Lexington, Kentucky. Flora Rheta Schreiber, who wrote the book on which "Sybil" was based, gave her the name based on the women prophets of Greek mythology, the Sibyls, who spoke with multiple voices.
What did Sybil call Basil?
Sybil starts on Basil by calling him a "Benzedrine puff adder", and "an aging, brilliantined stick insect"! Basil really gets annoyed later and calls his lovely wife a "rancorous, coiffeured old sow".
Why did they stop making Fawlty Towers?
Only 12 half hour episodes were ever made. The decision to stop making Fawlty Towers when it was at its creative height, leaving a distinct legacy, inspired later comedians such as Ricky Gervais.
What happened to Sybil on Fawlty Towers?
The real-life inspiration for Sybil Fawlty, Basil's redoubtable wife in the sitcom Fawlty Towers, has died aged 95. Beatrice Sinclair ran the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay with her husband, Donald – who became the template for Basil.
Is Manuel still alive?
Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs, who played hapless Spanish waiter Manuel in the BBC sitcom, has died aged 86, his family has confirmed. Sachs, who had been suffering from dementia for four years, died on 23 November and was buried on Thursday.
Which episode of Fawlty Towers is banned?
Last year the 1975 episode, titled The Germans, was slapped with a content warning after being removed from BBC-owned UKTV and reviewed amid the Black Lives Matter protests, after racist slurs used by Major Gowen were previously taken out in 2013.
How old was John Cleese in Fawlty Towers?
82 years (October 27, 1939)John Cleese / Age
Who is John Cleese's wife?
Jennifer Wadem. 2012Alyce Cleesem. 1992–2008Barbara Trenthamm. 1981–1990Connie Boothm. 1968–1978John Cleese/Wife
Who is Prunella's husband?
Timothy WestPrunella Scales / Husband (m. 1963)Timothy Lancaster West, CBE is an English actor and presenter. He has appeared frequently on both stage and television, including stints in both Coronation Street and EastEnders, and also in Not Going Out, as the original Geoffrey Adams. Wikipedia
How rich is John Cleese?
John Cleese Net Worth: John Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and producer who has a net worth of $20 million dollars....John Cleese Net Worth.Net Worth:$20 MillionDate of Birth:Oct 27, 1939 (82 years old)Gender:MaleHeight:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)2 more rows
How did Manuel get caught?
Mr. Smart's car had also been stolen and it was later established that Manuel, whilst driving the car, had offered a lift to a policeman. Detective Chief Inspector Muncie was intrigued by these circumstances and remembered his arrest of Manuel in 1946 when he had slept in the loft of a house after breaking into it.
Are Leonard Sachs and Andrew Sachs related?
They are not related. Andrew Sachs (real name Andreas Seigfried Sachs) was born in Germany in 1930. His family fled the Nazi regime in 1938, settling in north London. Leonard Sachs was born in South Africa in 1909 and died in London in 1990.
Is Andrew Sachs alive?
November 23, 2016Andrew Sachs / Date of death
Storyline
The story tells of a young woman admitting to having blackouts, fearing they are getting worse. She is diagnosed as suffering from multiple personalities, as a result of severe abuse at the hands of her mother, whom her psychiatrist, Cornelia Wilbur, believes was schizophrenic.
Did you know
The real "Sybil" was recently identified as Shirley Ardell Mason, an art teacher who died in 1998 at the age of 75 in Lexington, Kentucky. Flora Rheta Schreiber, who wrote the book on which "Sybil" was based, gave her the name based on the women prophets of Greek mythology, the Sibyls, who spoke with multiple voices.
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By what name was Sybil (1976) officially released in Canada in English?
How many episodes of Basil are there?
Possessing a dry, sarcastic wit, Basil has become an iconic British comedy character who remains widely known to the public despite only 12 half-hour episodes ever having been made. In a 2001 poll conducted by Channel 4 Basil was ranked second on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.
Who said Basil couldn't be Basil if he didn't have Sybil?
John Cleese himself described Basil as being a man who could run a top-notch hotel if he didn't have all the guests getting in the way. He has also made the point that on account of Basil's inner need to conflict with his wife's wishes, "Basil couldn't be Basil if he didn't have Sybil".
What episode does Cleese refer to the hotel in Rat Race?
Cleese used the name "Donald Sinclair" for his character in the 2001 film Rat Race. In the episode " The Builders ", Fawlty refers to a local hotel or restaurant called "Gleneagles" while talking to Miss Gatsby and Miss Tibbs. The name 'Basil' comes from Basil Street, where Cleese lived for some time.
What nationality is Basil Fawlty?
Nationality. British . Basil Fawlty is the main character of the 1970s British sitcom Fawlty Towers, played by John Cleese. The proprietor of the hotel Fawlty Towers, he is a cynical and misanthropic snob, desperate to belong to a higher social class. His attempts to run the hotel often end in farce.
What ties does Basil wear?
Basil is often seen wearing regimental ties , most frequently that of the East Lancashire Regiment, and sometimes that of the Gordon Highlanders. He is also seen wearing a Winchester College tie (in "The Kipper and the Corpse"), and a Balliol College, Oxford tie (in "The Germans").
Where did Fawlty Towers take place?
Fawlty Towers was inspired by the Monty Python team's stay in the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay. Cleese and Booth stayed on at the hotel after filming for the Python show had finished. The owner, Mr Donald Sinclair, was very rude, throwing a bus timetable at a guest who asked when the next bus to town would arrive and placing Eric Idle 's suitcase behind a wall in the garden in case it contained a bomb (actually it contained a ticking alarm clock). He also criticised the American-born Terry Gilliam 's table manners for being too American (he had the fork in what Sinclair considered to be the wrong hand while eating). Cleese used the name "Donald Sinclair" for his character in the 2001 film Rat Race. In the episode " The Builders ", Fawlty refers to a local hotel or restaurant called "Gleneagles" while talking to Miss Gatsby and Miss Tibbs. The name 'Basil' comes from Basil Street, where Cleese lived for some time.
What episode does Manuel say Basil is from Swanage?
In the episode " Communication Problems ," Manuel said Basil is from Swanage, although Manuel is prone to making mistakes. Basil has staunch right-wing and traditionalist views about most things, for example in " The Wedding Party ", he shows open disgust towards a young unmarried couple having an active sex life.
How many Downton Abbey series are there?
British costume drama Downton Abbey, created by Julian Fellowes and co-produced by Carnival Films and Masterpiece, has been running since 2010. Four series have been aired since, with the fifth to be released at the end of the month.
When did Doctor Who start?
British sci-fi television programme Doctor Who began production in 1963 by the BBC and was revived to audience delight in 2005. The series follows the adventures of Time Lord Doctor Who, a time-travelling humanoid alien that explores the universe in his time-travelling space ship TARDIS.
What year did Blackadder go forth?
Blackadder Goes Forth aired in autumn/winter of 1989 on BBC One. It is the final Blackadder series and the one that has received the most acclaim. Written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton and starring Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry and Tim McInnerny, the series places Blackadder characters Baldrick and George in a trench in Flanders during the First World War and follows their doomed attempts to escape death under the command of the misguided General Melchett. Critical of British Army leadership, the series refers to real-life prominent war figures. At first, it was feared that the series might be perceived as trivialising the horrors of the war. Indeed, historians have criticised it for presenting an oversimplified view of the conflict, reinforcing the popular notion that ‘lions were led by donkeys’ on the battlefield. However, the series was extremely well received upon its release, taking home the 1989 British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy Series.
How many episodes of Sherlock are there?
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman star in the lead roles of Sherlock and Dr Watson in this modern remake. Creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have released 9 episodes across 3 series since 2010, and the third series is the UK's most watched drama series since 2001.
When was the House of Cards set?
10 House of Cards (1990) Set after the end of Margaret Thatcher's tenure as British Prime Minister, House of Cards is a British political thriller series created by the BBC in 1990. Former Chief of Staff at Conservative Party headquarters Michael Dobbs wrote a novel that Andrew Davies adapted for the screen.
Who wrote House of Cards?
Former Chief of Staff at Conservative Party headquarters Michael Dobbs wrote a novel that Andrew Davies adapted for the screen. House of Cards centres around antihero Francis Urquhart (played by Ian Richardson), a fictional Chief Whip of the Conservative Party.
Where is Fools and Horses set?
British situational comedy Only Fools and Horses was written by John Sullivan and broadcast over seven series on BBC One between 1981 and 1991. Set in Peckham in south London, the show stars David Jason as an ambitious market trader, Nicholas Lyndhurst as his younger brother Rodney, and Lennard Pearce as their elderly Grandad. The series tells the story of Trotters' lives, in particular their ill-advised and generally dodgy attempts at getting rich.
Storyline
Basil panics, yet again, when the food and health inspector pays his semi-annual visit. He has a a long list of complaints about the level of cleanliness in the kitchen and gives them 24 hours to clean up or he will shut them down.
Did you know
This, the final episode, was recorded six months after the previous episode because of a BBC strike.
Who plays Malcolm Tucker?
The show’s primary character Malcolm Tucker is a powerful and rather scary director of communications who loves to curse. He is portrayed by Peter Capaldi, who later went on to star in “Doctor Who” as The Doctor. (British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)) #15. Line of Duty.
Who is Fleabag on IMDb?
#11 FLEABAG | IMDb user rating: 8.7 | Years on the air: 2016–2019 Phoebe Waller-Bridge anchors this dark series as Fleabag, a woman with no filter who is much deeper than her surface-level wit. She’s dealing with her share of grief and emotional turmoil as she pushes others away and tries to improve her life. Fleabag often breaks the fourth wall, speaking directly to the viewer to make commentary and provide context. (Two Brothers Pictures)
Who plays Kate Fleming in The Police?
His new partner Kate Fleming, played by Vicky McClure, helps him uncover corrupt inner workings within the police force. The long-running series continues to peel back the layers on aspects of the organization. (British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)) #14.
Origins
Production
- Although the series is set in Torquay, no part of it was shot in South West 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 locat…
Plot Directions and Examples
- The series focuses on the exploits and misadventures of short-fused hotelier Basil Fawlty and his acerbic wife Sybil, as well as their employees: waiter Manuel, 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, both his own and t…
Characters
- Basil Fawlty
Basil Fawlty, played by John Cleese, is a cynical and snobbish misanthrope who is desperate to belong to a higher social class. He sees a successful hotel as a means of achieving this, yet his job forces him to be polite to people he despises. He is intimidated by his wife Sybil Fawlty. He y… - Sybil Fawlty
Sybil Fawlty, played by Prunella Scales, is Basil's wife. Energetic and petite, she prefers a working wardrobe of tight skirt-suits in shiny fabrics and sports a tower of permed hair augmented with hairpieces and wigs and necessitating the use of overnight curlers. She often is a more effectiv…
Episodes
- The first episode of Fawlty Towers was recorded as a pilot on 24 December 1974, the rest of the series being 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 tra…
Reception
- Critical reaction
At first, the series was not held in particularly high esteem. The Daily Mirror's review of the show in 1975 had the headline "Long John Short On Jokes". Eventually though, as the series began to gain popularity, critical acclaim followed. Clive James writing in The Observersaid the second episod… - Awards and accolades
Three British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs) were awarded to people for their involvement with the series. Both of the series were awarded the BAFTA in the category Best Scripted Comedy, the first being won by John Howard Davies in 1976, and the second by Douglas Argent and Bob …
Remakes, Adaptations and Reunions
- Three attempted remakes of Fawlty Towers were started for the American market, with two 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, starring …
Fawlty Towers: re-opened
- 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 anot…
Overseas
- 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 programme 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 portrayal of the Spanish waiter Manuel, it was successfully resold with the Manuel character's n…
Home Media and Merchandise
- Audio releases
Four albums were released by BBC Recordson vinyl LP and cassette. These consisted of the original television soundtracks with additional voice-over from Andrew Sachs (in character as Manuel) describing scenes which relied on visual humour. The first album, simply titled Fawlty T… - Home media
Fawlty Towers was originally 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 end of the tape. A LaserDisc containing all episodes spliced together as a continuous episode was released in the …