Basil Fawlty is set to make his comeback - as a statue on the seafront in Torbay, near Torquay. The bumbling, bad-tempered hotelier star of Fawlty Towers became a national treasure during the 1970s and is now returning to his spiritual home - the coastal resort near Torquay where John Cleese was inspired to create the character.
The 67-year-old actor, who created the TV show after staying in a Devon hotel run by "the most wonderfully rude man", has given his seal of approval to the project. "I think it sounds like a splendid idea," says the comedian.
The comic's agent, Gary Scott-Irvine, adds: "John thinks erecting a statue of Basil is the best idea that any human being has had since the big bang!"
A £20,000, life-size bronze statue will no doubt attract fans of the hit show, which also featured Prunella Scales as Basil's long suffering wife Sybil and Andrew Sachs as hapless waiter Manuel, to the area. "The programme is shown somewhere in the world every hour," said one councillor. "It's about time we took advantage."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
