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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Jamie Grierson

Torquay hoteliers on 50 years of Fawlty Towers, and why Basil wouldn’t survive in world of online reviews

Basil Fawlty Fawlty Towers Torquay John Cleese Sybil Fawlty BB Agatha Christie
The cast of Fawlty Towers
The cast of Fawlty Towers. Torquay was chosen for the setting of the show after John Cleese (top, centre) had an encounter with an eccentric hotelier in the town. Photograph: PA

With his abusive and impatient service, ill temper and overt snobbery, Basil Fawlty might not have expected to be a point of reference for bed-and-breakfast owners.

But 50 years after Fawlty Towers first aired on the BBC, B&Bs in Torquay are still fond of the town’s association with the sitcom and its eponymous proprietor.

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