Where the stars of Fawlty Towers are now as Prunella Scales dies at 93

Fawlty Towers, created by John Cleese and Connie Booth, aired on BBC Two between 1975 and 1979. 

The British sitcom became a huge fan favourite and is still a popular show to this day, with many lauding it for representing a golden age of comedy. 

There's even a stage show touring the country based on some of the show's most popular episodes. 

Fawlty Towers followed the lives of two hotel owners called Basil and Sybil Fawlty in Torquay. 

Fans were heartbroken to hear that beloved actress Prunella Scales, who played Sybil Fawlty in the show, died aged 93 on Monday (27 October 2025). 

46 years on from when it last aired the cast of Fawlty Towers have lived hugely varied lives since being shot to TV fame.

Prunella Scales 

On Tuesday it was revealed that actress Prunella had died aged 93 after a years-long battle with dementia.

Her death comes just under a year after her husband, the legendary actor Timothy West passed away aged 90. 

Prunella died 'peacefully at home in London yesterday', her sons Samuel and Joseph said in a moving statement.

Their 'darling mother' was watching Fawlty Towers the day before she died, they added.

But Fawlty Towers wasn't the only show she starred in.

Some other roles that she is known for include Howards End, Wolf, Question of Attribution and The Boys From Brazil. 

More recently she appeared in Great Canal Journeys alongside her husband Timothy West between 2014 and 2021.

The More4 and Channel 4 series followed the pair on boat rides across the world.

The show was also presented by Gyles Brandreth and Sheila Hancock. 

In her personal life she was married to actor Timothy between 1963 and 2024 and the pair share two sons. 

John Cleese 

John, 86, co-wrote the sitcom with his first wife Connie, 84, and starred as protagonist Basil.

He starred in all 12 episodes across the two series. 

Earlier this year on Lorraine, step-in host Kate Garraway pointed out how she was shocked that there were only a dozen instalments. 

John said: 'The whole key was that we took so much time over it, Connie and I used to take six weeks to write every episode. Nobody does that!

'People won't do more than 10 days. But having good ideas you can do like that, you have to wait and see what comes along. 

'The more good ideas you have, the finnier the script, but you've got to wait. You got paid so little, we got paid £500 each for the script.'  

Before Fawlty Towers, he co-founded comedy troupe Monty Python alongside Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones.

They wrote and starred in comedy sketch show Monty Python's Flying Circus, between 1969 and 1974, and later many other projects connected to the group. 

Later on he appeared in A Fish Called Wanda, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the Harry Potter franchise, Will & Grace, the Shrek franchise and 3rd Rock from the Sun.

John has been married to Connie (1969 to 1979), Barbara Trentham (1981 to 1990) and Alyce Eichelberger (1992 to 2008). 

He is currently married to Jennifer Wade, who he tied the knot with in 2012.

The star has two daughters from his first two marriages. 

John is also an outspoken defender of free speech and is often booked on news and panel shows waging war on wokeness, which he believe has hampered comedy. 

Connie Booth

Connie played Polly Sherman in the popular show for all 12 episodes between 1975 and 1979. 

Although the show is known to be written by John and Connie, back in August, Connie revealed that it was John.  

Speaking to RadioTimes, Connie said: 'In the year and a half it took to write Fawlty Towers, John and I never imagined the impact the show would have. On its 50th anniversary, I’d like to take the opportunity to get something straight. John wrote the dialogue.

'Before that dialogue was written, he and I developed the plots. Each episode took about a month to contrive. Out of the ridiculous complications of farce, his brilliant lines emerged. 

'When the issue of billing arose, I thought "Written by John Cleese, storyline by us both" would’ve been fine for me. John said they didn’t do that in TV comedy and insisted on co-authorship.'

Before Fawlty Towers, she appeared in Dickens of London, Monty Python's Flying Circus and How To Irritate People.

After she appeared in various TV shows and films, including Off to Philadelphia in the Morning, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Buccaneers, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Hawks and Leon the Pig Farmer.

In 1995 she decided to quit acting and pursued a career in psychotherapy.

The star studied at University of London and is registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council.

Connie has been married to John Lahr since 2000. 

Andrew Sachs

German-British born actor Andrew is best known for playing Spanish waiter Manuel in the hit show. 

The star died at the age of 86 in 2016, following a secret four-year battle with dementia that left him wheelchair-bound and unable to speak. 

His wife Melody, who cared for him tirelessly, said at the time: ‘My heart has been broken every day for a long time.’ 

Apart from Fawlty Towers, Andrew is known for roles in The Six Pound Walkers, History of The World: Part I and Are You Being Served?

But after the sitcom, he landed various incredible roles on our screens.

Some include Sidney in Minder, Josef Horowitz in Silent Witness and the voice Skagra in Doctor Who. 

Not only that, he appeared in Britain's beloved soaps, including Coronation Street, Doctors, Holby City, Casualty. 

One of his last roles was Cyril Bishop in EastEnders in 2015.

Andrew tied the knot with his wife Melody in 1960.

The pair share one daughter together, but he was also step-father to two of her sons from a previous marriage.