Fawlty Towers

 

Without a visit to the Gleneagles Hotel in May 1970 by the Monty Python team one of the popular television programmes would never have been created. It was during this visit that Python star John Cleese witnessed Hotel owner Donald Sinclair's erratic behaviour which would eventually inspire him to create Basil Fawlty.

Towards the end of Monty Python's television run Cleese began to concentrate on writing and contributed to several episodes of ITV's “Doctor at Large” series with one episode called “No Ill Feeling” featuring a hotel that was run by an over agressive owner.

With Python's television run now over the BBC were keen for Cleese to create a new series for the network. Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth then wrote the first script of Fawlty Towers and submitted to the BBC. It was initially rejected by BBC executive Jimmy Gilbert but the BBC's Head of Light Entertainment Bill Cotton who trusted Cleese gave the go ahead for the series even though he later admitted that he did not find the script funny.

With the go ahead given for the series was created and on the 19 September 1975 Fawlty Towers opened its doors for the first time and we were introduced to owner Basil Fawlty (played by John Cleese) and his wife (Prunella Scales) along with waitress Polly Sherman (Connie Booth) and well meaning Spanish waiter Manuel from Barcelona (Andrew Sachs). Along with regular contributions from hotel residents Major Gowen (Ballard Berkely), Miss Tibbs (Gilly Flower) & Miss Gatsby (Renee Roberts)

Upon first transmission initial response was not that encouraging as the programme gained a number of mixed reviews with the Daily Mirror commenting that the show was “Long John Short on Jokes”. However as the series progressed popularity increased and by the time the final episode of the first series was transmitted on 24 October the series was proving very popular. Initially it had been transmitted on BBC2 but when it was reun on BBC1 the series gained even more momentum.

The final episode would become one of the most famous episodes in television history as “Fawlty Towers” was visited by a group of Germans and whilst Basil tried to “Not Mention the War” he found it difficult to keep his promise.

Aided by the success of this final episode there was huge demand for another series but the initial outlook looked bleak as Cleese reformed with his Python colleagues to film “The Life of Brian” and also he split from his wife and co-writer Connie Booth in 1976, they later divorced in 1978.

However the break up was amicable and with huge public demand the second series was written and hit the screens in February 1979. However the series came to a premature end with one episode still remaining when there was an Industrial Dispute at the BBC. Eventually the final “Basil the Rat” episode was broadcast in October.

Even though there was great demand for another series Cleese and Booth resisted the pressure feeling that they would struggle to match the earlier success. For a while there was a strong rumour that a thirteenth episode existed but this was later dismissed as a hoax and although Cleese later toyed with the possibility of a film version the lack of Connie Booth's (who had left the industry) involvement probably contributed to him shelving the idea and no more episodes were ever made.

What made Fawlty Towers unique at the time was that there was only 12 episodes ever made meaning it finished when it was at the top rather than getting cancelled after it had been peaked.

TV FACTS

Broadcast Channel : BBC

First Episode Broadcast : 19 September 1975

Last Episode Broadcast : 25 October 1979

Episodes : 12

Written by : John Cleese & Connie Booth

EPISODE GUIDE

SERIES 1

1   A Touch of Class (19 September 1975)

2   The Builders (26 September 1975)

3   The Wedding Party (3 October 1975)

4   The Hotel Inspectors (10 October 1975)

5   Gourmet Night (17 October 1975)

6   The Germans (24 October 1975)

SERIES 2

1   Communication Problems (19 February 1979)

2   The Psychiatrist (26 February 1979)

3   Waldorf Salad (5 March 1979)

4   The Kipper and the Corpse (12 March 1979)

5   The Anniversary (26 March 1979)

6   Basil the Rat (25 October 1979)

MAIN CAST LIST

Basil Fawlty         John Cleese

Cybil Fawlty         Prunella Scales

Polly Sherman        Connie Booth

Manuel               Andrew Sachs

Other Regular Characters

Terry the Chef       Brian Hall

Major Gowen          Ballard Berkeley

Miss Tibbs           Gilly Flower

Miss Gatsby          Renee Roberts

The Prisoner

Patrick McGoohan had first sprung to prominence playing John Drake in Danger Man which had elevated McGoohan to be hot property during the mid 1960's that he was considered for the roles of James Bond and Simon Templar (The Saint).

After three series of Danger Man McGoohan was keen to try other roles and after filming two episodes of the fourth series he approached Lew Grade (Head of ITC) to inform him of his decision to leave the role of Drake. Grade eager to keep one of his prized assets on the payroll asked McGoohan what his future plans were. It was this time that McGoohan revealed plans of a new series he had been working on. Grade, whilst not completely understanding the concept commissioned a series. McGoohan believed he could easily create a 7 episode series but Grade, keen to sell to the American market wanted 26. Eventually after a weekend of negotiations with fellow writers a series containing 17 episodes was agreed.

During the filming of “Danger Man” some episodes were filmed at the Welsh resort Hotel Portmeirion. This location designed by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis had impressed McGoohan with its unique architecture and atmosphere and he believed that this location could be greater utilised for another series at a later date. Portmeirion remained in McGoohan's mind and when he was developing “The Prisoner” he knew exactly the perfect base to locate the series.

The character played by McGoohan who we ever know as “Number Six” even though he regularly states that he is “not a number”. Over the series we get the assumption that “Number Six” is a former British Secret Agent who has resigned from his position. Upon resignation he is kidnapped and wakes up as prisoner in a small isolated place only known as “The Village”. Even though the character has similarities to be his previous incarnation John Drake from “Danger Man” McGoohan has always insisted that they were different characters.

The Village's authorities then attempt to discover the reason for “Number Six” resigning. All these attempts are masterminded by “Number Two” who is played by a variety of actors including Leo McKern (who appeared in three episodes), George Baker, Anton Rodger and Patrick Cargill.

“Number Six” initially makes every possible attempt to escape the village but whilst being held captive he tries to find the reason for his capture as well as the identity of the mysterious “Number One”.

All of The Village is vigorously policed by closed-circuit television cameras and anyone that steps out of line and tries to escape is prevented to do so by “Rover” which is a large white balloon that can pacify or suffocate any victim.

One of The Prisoner's features that have made it so popular is that the series raises many questions that remain unanswered allowing the viewer to develop its own conclusion. This was no more evident that in the final episode which raised more questions and answers leaving many viewers confused as to what the final outcome meant.

It is unknown as to the reason as to the whether ended by mutual agreement or cancellation as there have been various reports that support both arguments. There are scripts for at least four further episodes that were never made for some unknown reason.

The series popularity is still strong today which is proved by the number of visitors to the “The Village” Portmeirion each year.

There was a remake in 2009 with Jamie Caviezel in the “Number Six” role this time the village was filmed in Namibia rather than Portmeirion and this new version failed to capture the imagination like the initial version had done.

TV FACTS

Broadcast Channel : ITV

First Episode Broadcast Date : 29 September 1967

Last Episode Broadcast Date : 01 February 1968

Episodes : 17

Created by : Patrick McGoohan & George Markstein

Written by : Patrick McGoohan, Pat Jackson, Don Chaffey & David Tomblin

EPISODE GUIDE (Broadcast Date Order)

1  Arrival (29 September 1967)

2  The Chimes of Big Ben (6 October 1967)

3  A, B and C (13 October 1967)

4  Free For All (20 October 1967)

5  The Schizoid Man (27 October 1967)

6  The General (3 November 1967)

7  Many Happy Returns (10 November 1967)

8  Dance of the Dead (17 November 1967)

9  Checkmate (24 November 1967)

10 Hammer into Anvil (1 December 1967)

11 It's Your Funeral (8 December 1967)

12 A Change of Mind (15 December 1967)

13 Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling (22 December 1967)

14 Living in Harmony (29 December 1967)

15 The Girl Who Was Death (18 January 1968)

16 Once Upon a Time (25 January 1968)

17 Fall Out (1 February 1968)

Main Cast List

Patrick McGoohan - Number Six

Angelo Muscat - The Butler

Peter Swanwick - The Supervisor/Controller

Fenella Fielding - The Announcer (Audio Only)

Guy Doleman (Ep 1) - Number Two

George Baker (Ep 1)

Leo McKern (Eps 2,16,17)

Colin Gordon (Eps 3,6)

Eric Portman (Ep 4)

Rachel Herbert (Ep 4)

Anton Rodgers (Ep 5)

Georgina Cookson (Ep 7)

Mary Morris (Ep 8)

Peter Wyngarde (Ep 9)

Patrick Cargill (Ep 10)

Derren Nesbitt (Ep 11)

Andre Van Gyseghem (Ep 11)

John Sharp (Ep 12)

Clifford Evans (Ep 13)

David Bauer (Ep 14)

Kenneth Griffin (Ep 15)