It’s been quick, painless and a lot of fun but after just twelve episodes we’ve reached the end. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at some of the best moments from the series, along with a look at how well the show stands up in 2018.

Fawlty Towers can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post Podcast Finale first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

The Hotel Inspectors was the fourth episode of Fawlty Towers and sees Basil pushed to the limit by a demanding guest who just might be here to assess the premises. In this podcast Gerry and Iain suspect one another of not being the spoons salesmen they claim to be.

This episode featured an appearance from national treasure Bernard Cribbins as TV-reserving spoons salesman Mr Hutchinson and noted film actor James Cossins as wine aficionado Mr Walt.

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. It was directed and produced by John Howard Davies.

The Hotel Inspectors was released in 1975. It is 29 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post The Hotel Inspectors – Episode 4 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

The Wedding Party was the third episode of Fawlty Towers and sees Basil’s moral code put to the test as two couples – and Polly – start to spend a lot of time in each other’s company. In this podcast Gerry and Iain have decided to record in separate studios.

This episode featured a few memorable guest appearances including Yvonne Gilan as Mrs. Peignoir; Conrad Phillips and Diana King as Mr & Mrs Lloyd; and Trevor Adams and April Walker as Alan and Jean, the initial subjects of Basil’s ire.

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. It was directed and produced by John Howard Davies.

The Wedding Party was released in 1975. It is 33 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post The Wedding Party – Episode 3 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

The Builders was the second episode of Fawlty Towers and featured a calamitous attempt by Basil to save a few quid on some structural alterations to the hotel. In this podcast Gerry and Iain have blocked off the door to the studio and are recording in the kitchen instead.

This episode featured a handful of recognisable guest stars, including David Kelly as the builder O’Reilly, James Appleby as his more professional contemporary Stubbs and Michael Halsey as one of O’Reilly’s men.

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. It was directed and produced by John Howard Davies.

The Builders was released in 1975. It is 28 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post The Builders – Episode 2 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

A Touch of Class was the first episode of Fawlty Towers and introduced viewers to John Cleese and Prunella Scales as Basil and Sybil Fawlty, Torquay hoteliers. In this podcast Gerry and Iain try to attract a better calibre of podcast listeners.

Alongside the ubiquitous Cleese and the striking Scales the principal cast was rounded out by series co-creator Connie Booth as Polly, a hotel employee; and Andrew Sachs as Manuel, television’s most enduring image of a Spanish waiter. This episode also introduces Ballard Berkeley as the recurring Major Gowen as well as Gilly Flower and Renee Roberts who play the ever-present duo of Miss Tibbs and Miss Gatsby.

In Episode 1 we find Basil working hard to market Fawlty Towers as a destination for the kind of classy guests he believes he’d enjoy working around. Undercover cop Danny Brown (Robin Ellis) and family man Mr Wareing (Terence Conoley) are of far less interest to him than Lord Melbury (Michael Gwynn), whose arrival causes quite a stir.

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. It was directed and produced by John Howard Davies.

A Touch of Class was released in 1975. It is 30 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post A Touch of Class – Episode 1 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

Welcome to the Fawlty Towers Podcast, hosted by Gerry and Iain. This show is an informal and affectionate retrospective of the classic BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers by John Cleese and Connie Booth. 

Scroll down for the latest episode!

Episode 0: Introduction

Hosted by the team behind The Columbo Podcast and The Blackadder Podcast (amongst others), the Fawlty Towers podcast looks back at each episode of the series to relive and enjoy them, but also to see how well they stand up for a twenty-first century audience.

We hope you enjoy the podcast and look forward to sharing our love for Fawlty Towers with you and receiving your feedback. There will be a post available for discussion of each episode here on the website and you can find us on both Twitter and Facebook too.

The post Introducing The Fawlty Towers Podcast first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

Basil the Rat was the final episode of Fawlty Towers‘ second season and featured an extended escapade as Manuel’s pet rat roams the hotel in the middle of a hygiene inspection. In this podcast Gerry and Iain leave the studio door open so they can get some exercise.

Guests in this episode included John Quarmby as Mr Carnegie the health inspector; Sabina Franklyn as Quentina; and Andrew Sachs’ wife, Melody Lang, as Mrs Taylor.

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. Each of Season 2’s six shows were produced by Douglas Argent and directed by Bob Spiers.

Basil the Rat was released in 1979, albeit some time after The Anniversary. It is 34 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post Basil the Rat – Episode 12 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

The Anniversary was the penultimate episode of Fawlty Towers‘ second season and featured Polly dressed as Sybil trying to persuade Sybil’s friends that Sybil wasn’t out. In this podcast Gerry and Iain share a choc ice.

Guests in this episode included the inspired Ken Campbell as Roger (a late replacement for the strike-inconvenienced Julian Holloway); Una Stubbs as Alice; Denyse Alexander as Kitty and Pat Keen as Virginia.

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. Each of Season 2’s six shows were produced by Douglas Argent and directed by Bob Spiers.

The Anniversary was released in 1979. It is 29 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post The Anniversary – Episode 11 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

The Kipper and the Corpse was the fourth episode of Fawlty Towers‘ second season and the show that finally pushed Manuel to breaking point. In this podcast Gerry and Iain check the use-by dates on various breakfast foods.

Guests in this episode included the instantly-recognisable Geoffrey Palmer as Dr Price; Derek Royle as the corpse of Mr Leeman (and briefly as his living predecessor); Richard Davies and Elizabeth Benson as the Whites; Robert McBain as Mr Xerxes; Pamela Buchner as Miss Young; and Raymond Mason rounding off the alphabet as  Mr Zebedee. Gilly Flower and Renee Roberts saw their roles as Tibbs and Gatsby expanded for this story.

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. Each of Season 2’s six shows were produced by Douglas Argent and directed by Bob Spiers.

The Kipper and the Corpse was released in 1979. It is 32 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post The Kipper and the Corpse – Episode 10 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

Waldorf Salad was the third episode of Fawlty Towers‘ second season and highlights Basil’s dedicated efforts to improve transatlantic relations. In this show Gerry and Iain take £20 to keep the podcast running for an extra hour.

Guests in this episode included Bruce Boa and Claire Nielson as the Hamiltons; Norman Bird and Stella Tanner as the Arrads; Terence Conoley and June Ellis as the Johnstons; and Anthony Dawes as Mr Libson.

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. Each of Season 2’s six shows were produced by Douglas Argent and directed by Bob Spiers.

Waldorf Salad was released in 1979. It is 32 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post Waldorf Salad – Episode 9 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

The Psychiatrist was the second episode of Fawlty Towers‘ second season and features a desperate attempt by Basil to expose shenanigans in the hotel without raising Sybil’s ire. In this podcast Gerry and Iain are very careful about where they put their hands.

Guests in this episode included Nicky Henson as covert romancer Mr Johnson; Aimée Delamain as his mother; Luan Peters as Australian traveller Raylene Miles; Basil Henson (no relation to Nicky) as the eponymous psychiatrist, Dr Abbott; and Blackadder alum (though not by this point!) Elspet Gray as his wife, also Dr. Abbott.

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. Each of Season 2’s six shows were produced by Douglas Argent and directed by Bob Spiers.

The Psychiatrist was released in 1979. It is a mammoth 36 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post The Psychiatrist – Episode 8 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

Communication Problems was the first episode of Fawlty Towers‘ long-awaited second season and sees Basil struggle to cope with a very particular visitor. In this podcast Gerry and Iain blame each other for a big win at the bookies.

Joan Sanderson was the principal guest in this episode as her iconic take on Mrs Richards stole every scene. Brian Hall was introduced as hotel chef Terry and the other principals remained in place from season 1.

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. Each of Season 2’s six shows were produced by Douglas Argent and directed by Bob Spiers.

Communication Problems was released in 1979. It is 31 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post Communication Problems – Episode 7 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

The Germans was the final episode of Fawlty Towers‘ first season and sees both Basil and Sybil hospitalised before a group of European visitors arrive at the hotel. In this podcast Gerry and Iain exchange pleasantries with various taxidermied animals.

Guest appearances in this episode included Louis Mahoney as the Fawltys’ doctor; Brenda Cowling as a ward sister; Claire Davenport, John Lawrence and Iris Fry as guests confused by Basil’s bizarre fire drill; and Willy Bowman, Nick Kane, Dan Gillan and Lisa Bergmayr as visiting German guests

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. It was directed and produced by John Howard Davies.

The Germans was released in 1975. It is 31 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post The Germans – Episode 6 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.

Gourmet Night was the fifth episode of Fawlty Towers and tests Basil and Sybil’s capacity for improvisation as their new chef struggles to handle Manuel’s rejection. In this podcast Gerry and Iain beat their microphones with branches.

This episode featured Pink Panther star André Maranne as local restaurateur André; Steve Plytas as chef Kurt; and Allan Cuthbertson & Ann Way as Colonel and Mrs Hall, guests at the titular Gourmet evening.

The episode was, like the rest of the series, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. It was directed and produced by John Howard Davies.

Gourmet Night was released in 1975. It is 29 minutes long and originally aired on BBC 2. The show can be viewed on Netflix in the UK and Ireland and is available on DVD around the world.

The post Gourmet Night – Episode 5 first appeared on The Fawlty Towers Podcast.