A bed and breakfast owner in Torquay who has been labelled the “real life Basil Fawlty” hopes the iconic show’s reboot will lead to an influx of fresh bookings. Peter Bland, 55, said it would be “wonderful” if the revival of the classic sitcom led to a rise in demand.
The hospitality boss manages The Somerville with his wife Helen, also 55, in the same Devon coastal town where Fawlty Towers, which first hit screens in 1975, is set. And he says his “anti-woke” views and gracious manner as a host make him a dead ringer for Basil. Peter says he’s also happy to act as “a private concierge” to his patrons, who equally seem to suit the roles of guests in the BBC series thanks to their quirky personalities.
He said: “I think I do see myself as a Basil Fawlty character, not to the extent where Basil was rude to guests. But I like to think of myself as a bit of a character, anti-woke and all that sort of stuff.
