Fawlty Towers cast members now 45 years after BBC series aired final episode (2025)

As Fawlty Towers fans gear up for the return of the iconic sitcom, we're taking a look at what the original cast are up to now, 45 years after the show ended.

On October 25, 1979, the final episode of Fawlty Towers was broadcast, signalling the end of a much-loved sitcom. Despite only running for two seasons and consisting of 12 episodes, Fawlty Towers remains a cornerstone of British television.

From 1976 to 1979, BBC viewers were treated to the comedic exploits of stern hotel owner Basil Fawlty, played by John Cleese. Audiences quickly became engrossed in Basil's misadventures, with regular characters such as his wife Sybil, waiter Manuel and chambermaid Polly also taking centre stage.

Last year, comedy enthusiasts were delighted when it was announced that the show would be revived by John Cleese and his real-life daughter Camilla, who will also appear in the series.

As the show prepares to make its comeback, we're exploring what the original cast has been up to, 45 years after the series concluded.

John Cleese was the leading star in the show as the no-nonsense talking Basil Fawlty. While John was the lead character in Fawlty Towers, he had already enjoyed a successful career, having starred in Monty Python.

After the series ended, the now 84 year old continued to have a prosperous acting career, featuring in A Fish Called Wanda, James Bond, Charlies Angles and Harry Potter.

In his personal life, John married his first wife Connie Booth, who also appeared in Fawlty Towers, in 1968. They welcomed their daughter Cynthia Cleese three years later.

John Cleese has undoubtedly had a vibrant journey through the corridors of love and fame. After parting with his first wife, he married Barbara Trentham in 1981, and they welcomed their daughter Camilla into the world in 1984.

However, that union also didn't last, leading John to marry American psychotherapist Alyce Faye Eichelberger; they were together for 16 years before their divorce. Currently, his heart belongs to Jennifer Wade, who he married in 2012.

Throughout the years, John has remained a fixture in the public eye, unafraid to share his musings on "woke" culture. Just last year, he brought his distinctive wit to GB News as the host of The Dinosaur Hour.

His Instagram isn't shy of personal revelations or nostalgic peeks into his past performances, much to the delight of fans.

Prunella Scales played Sybil Fawlty on the BBC sitcom. While she revisited her iconic role during a Children in Need sketch in 2007, her acting curtain call came with the short film Sub Rosa in 2014.

Tragically, that same year, her husband Timothy West made known her Alzheimer's diagnosis, necessitating her retreat from acting.

As for the buzzed-about Fawlty Towers reboot, it seems Prunella's character will not be partaking in the new misadventures.

John Cleese divulged to The Sun about an episode commencing with Sybil's funeral, with Basil poised to deliver her eulogy.

Prunella and her husband Timothy, who tied the knot in 1963, are parents to two sons, Samuel West and Joseph. Samuel has followed his mother's acting career, featuring in shows like Slow Horses and All Creatures Great and Small.

During a recent appearance on Lorraine, he revealed that his parents were doing well, adding: "My mother went on a cruise the other day, I'm not sure if she knew where she was."

Andrew Sachs, beloved for his role as the comical Spanish waiter Manuel on Fawlty Towers, continued his acting career after the show, known for his voice-over work.

A Coronation Street fan, Andrew landed a role in the ITV soap in 2009 as Ramsay Clegg. He appeared in 27 episodes and also featured in Casualty and EastEnders.

Sadly, Andrew was diagnosed with vascular dementia, which led to him losing his ability to speak and needing a wheelchair. The actor passed away at the age of 86 in a care home.

His wife, Melody Lang, shared a heartfelt tribute in 2016, commenting: "My heart has been broken every day for a long time. It wasn't all doom and gloom, he still worked for two years. We were happy, we were always laughing, we never had a dull moment. He had dementia for four years and we didn't really notice it at first until the memory started going.

"It didn't get really bad until quite near the end. I nursed Andrew, I was there for every moment of it. Dementia is the most awful illness that sneaks in in the night when you least expect it".

Connie Booth, who played Polly Sherman, was married to John Cleese for a decade before their divorce in 1978. Despite their split, they continued to work together on the final season of Fawlty Towers.

Following the show's conclusion, Booth continued to act, appearing in projects such as The Deadly Game, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, and Wizadora.

However, she eventually decided to leave the acting world behind and pursue a new career path.

Connie went on to study at the University of London for five years, ultimately becoming a psychotherapist.

She is now believed to reside in London with her husband, John Lahr.