How Well Do You Remember Fawlty Towers?
- by Ben Sherlock
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Fawlty Towers is without a doubt one of the greatest sitcoms ever made. In just 12 episodes, John Cleese gave us a snobbish, short-tempered, socially inept cynic who stands among the most significant and iconic characters in British comedy. Basil Fawlty ranks alongside the likes of David Brent and Alan Partridge. And the show as a whole is jam-packed with hysterical jokes, brilliant performances, and fine storytelling. The hotel is like a pressure cooker, with tension building masterfully throughout each episode. It’s quite amazing what the creative team behind the show did with such limited resources.
Fawlty Towers lasted for just 12 half-hour episodes and it’s been off the air for decades, but its legacy still lives on. The BFI named Fawlty Towers number one on their list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes. Also, Basil Fawlty was given the top spot on Five’s Britain’s Funniest Comedy Character poll. It’s a show with legions of fans across the globe and it picks up new viewers every day and old viewers never get tired of it, because it’s a timeless classic. But how well do you know Fawlty Towers? Take this quiz to found out if you’re a true fan of the show!
What salad does the American guest request?
In one episode of series 2 of Fawlty Towers, a rude American man comes to stay at the hotel. He doesn’t take too kindly to Basil, to say the least, and vice versa. He pays Basil an extra £20 to keep the kitchen open for his dinner, but the chef is gone. So, it is then up to Basil to prepare the dinner himself. The American guest requests a particular salad that Basil has never heard of. What is it?
What is the Major’s full name?
The Major is a senile old man who makes outrageous claims and says offensive things (one such incident involving the use of a racial slur, for which there has been some controversy in recent years). Every morning, Basil says, “Ah, morning, Major,” and the Major asks him, “Papers arrived yet, Fawlty?” but other than that, the Major seems to have no idea what’s going on. He fought in one of the two World Wars (never revealed, but suggested to be the first) and he’s a very confused guy. Usually just referred to as “the Major,” what’s his full name?
Where is the show set?
Fawlty Towers is set mostly in the eponymous hotel in a seaside town in Britain on what Basil Fawlty refers to as “the English Riviera.” While the town where the hotel is located is in the south west region of England, in the Devon area, none of the show’s scenes were ever shot there. Instead, the Wooburn Grange Country Club in Buckinghamshire was used as the exterior of the hotel. Still, the town setting makes up an important part of the dialogue. Where is it?
What does Sybil use to beat O’Reilly?
In the early episode “The Builders,” Basil and Sybil disagree over which builder to hire to put a new door into the kitchen from the lobby. Sybil wants a guy who’s more expensive but does a good job of it, whereas Basil wants to hire an Irish guy who charges less but does a shoddy job. When Basil ignores Sybil’s wishes, she finally reaches the end of her tether with Basil and the cheap laborer he hires, O’Reilly, and beats them with a household item. What is it?
Why were there only two seasons?
Ever since Fawlty Towers ended after just two seasons, it’s become a trend for every British sitcom to end after two seasons. So, you had The Office, Spaced, I’m Alan Partridge, Extras, the list goes on – all these brilliant shows struck down in the prime of their life. But Fawlty Towers didn’t end after two seasons to be cool and start a trend for all shows to come. What’s the real reason it ended after two seasons all those years ago?
What city is Manuel from?
Manuel is the confused Spanish bellboy who responds to pretty much anything anyone tells him with a bewildered, “Que?” Well, except for the word “Generalissimo,” which he understands all too well. The character has received some backlash for his portrayal by Andrew Sachs as a clueless foreigner, but this has been defended as a comment about Fawlty’s lack of training for his staff rather than an insult to the Spanish people. Manuel frequently mentions the city that he’s originally from in Spain. Which one is it?
What does Sybil’s laugh sound like, according to Basil?
One of the hallmarks of Fawlty Towers is Basil’s regular insults directed toward his wife Sybil. They’re all in good fun, of course. Well, mostly they are, but sometimes she has rubbed him the wrong way and he really wants to offend her. But as shown by the episode “The Anniversary,” Basil does care about his wife. Anyway, one of his insults toward her was his description of the sound of her laugh. What does he say it sounds like?
Complete the quote: “Don’t mention...”
This quote comes from the classic episode “The Germans,” which was the finale of season 1. It is known for a certain silly walk that Basil does when talking to a group of German guests. This is quite possibly the most iconic Fawlty Towers quote of them all. Basil tells Polly not to mention something and then tells her, “I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it.” So, complete this classic Fawlty Towers quote: “Don’t mention...” what?
Where is the sea?
In the second series premiere of Fawlty Towers, Basil encounters a guest named Alice Richards who is almost as rude and obnoxious as he is. When he first takes her up to her room, she complains about the view, which he responds to sarcastically, of course. One of the many complains that she has about the view from her window is that she can’t see the sea. Basil tells her, “You CAN see the sea. It’s over there...” but where is it?
What is the name of Manuel’s rat?
In the last ever episode of Fawlty Towers, there’s a rat on the loose in the hotel. That rat is Manuel’s pet. Basil isn’t happy with the idea of a rat as a pet, telling Manuel that pets are for cuddling and that if he cuddled his rat, he would “never play the guitar again.” The rat runs rampant about Fawlty Towers for the entirety of the episode and causes all kinds of problems for the staff and the guests. So, what is the name of the rat?
What does Polly do in her spare time?
When Polly Sherman (Connie Booth) has a little down time behind the front desk, she does a hobby, or a vocation of sorts, and it’s one that Basil doesn’t agree with. In his own words, “What is the point of something like that?” It’s something that doesn’t necessarily need to be done, but Polly enjoys and she has a talent for it. So, when she gets some spare time behind the front desk, what does Polly do to pass the time?
According to Basil, from what distance can Sybil kill a man?
When Basil hires a cheap Irish laborer, he worries that his wife Sybil will find out and murder him, because the hotel has no door thanks to the incompetent Irishman. The Irish guy isn’t worried at all. He says, “The good Lord made the world so we could all enjoy ourselves.” Basil says, “My wife enjoys herself, I worry.” The Irishman says, “If the good Lord meant us to worry, he would have given us things to worry about.” Annoyed, Basil says, “He has! My wife! She will be back here in four hours, and she can kill a man at __ paces with one blow of her tongue.” From what distance does he say she is able to kill a man?
What is the address of Fawlty Towers?
In the episode “The Builders,” which John Cleese himself has admitted is what he believes to be the “least good” episode of Fawlty Towers, Polly reveals what the address of the hotel is over the phone to an arriving guest. She says, “Hello, Fawlty Towers. Yes. Yes. No, this afternoon, that would be fine. No, it’s...” and then she tells us the address of the hotel. She also repeats it, so it really sticks in your mind. What is it?
What does Basil call Sybil’s hair?
Basil has used many insults against Sybil. He’s insulted her intelligence, her looks, her attitude, her irritability, and just about everything else about her. But one tedious remark he made was about her hair. He said, “I'm fed up with you, you rancorous, coiffeured old sow! Why don't you syringe the donuts out of your ear and get some sense into the dormant organ you keep hidden in that ____ of yours?” Fill in the blank. What did Basil call Sybil’s hair?
What year does Sybil jokingly refer to as the year she married Basil?
As shown in the series 2 episode “The Anniversary,” the only episode that shows any evidence that Basil actually cares about his wife Sybil, the couple got married on 17 April 1964. However, Sybil once made a joke that they got married in a different year, a long gone year in medieval history. It was the year that Leonardo da Vinci designed his flying machines and King Henry VII was crowned as the monarch of England. What year was it?
Who doesn’t realize Mr. Leeman is dead?
One of the four main characters who star in Fawlty Towers is bringing breakfast up to the guest Mr. Leeman in the episode “The Kipper and the Corpse” and is so distracted by the news of a car strike that they fail to notice that Mr. Leeman is dead. This episode is different from the rest of the series, as it features more elements of black comedy than any of the others. But who is it that brings Mr. Leeman and breakfast and doesn’t notice he’s dead?
Who plays Sybil Fawlty?
Sybil Fawlty is a stereotypical nagging wife, but she is elevated above that to be a powerful and hilarious figure by the actress who plays her. She once played Queen Elizabeth II, and it wasn’t as powerful as Sybil. This actress has been awarded the CBE and has also played Sybil outside of Fawlty Towers. John Cleese gave her special permission to use the character in a number of sketches for the Children in Need charity telethon on BBC. So, who plays Sybil Fawlty?
Which of these is not one of the word scrambles on the Fawlty Towers sign?
Throughout the second series of Fawlty Towers, there was a running gag in each episode where the exterior shot of the hotel featured a different anagram of “Fawlty Towers” each time. These variations on the sign, some of them very clever and inventive, were crafted by Ian McClane, series 2 director Bob Spier’s assistant floor manager. The letters were always being changed around, presumably by vandals, to say crude and offensive things. But which of these phrases is not one of those anagrams?
Who fondly remembers “Uncle Ted and his crate of brown ale?”
One of the four main characters at the center of the Fawlty Towers ensemble once got drunk and fondly reminisced about “Uncle Ted and his crate of brown ale” from their childhood. Class is a huge theme throughout the show, as the snobbish Basil only treats upper class guests with any respect or decency. If he feels you’re below him, he’ll treat you accordingly. But who suggested a working class background with the mention of “Uncle Ted and his crate of brown ale?”
Which of these is NOT a guest at Fawlty Towers?
There are two women who stay at the hotel seemingly permanently. They are always seen hanging out together and they're obsessed with Basil. They pity him for a number of reasons, namely because he's always working, he's always stressed, and his wife is Sybil Fawlty, and so they always feel the need to try and comfort him. But he can't be comforted, he's too high strung for that. So, he always responds to them with false politeness and sometimes passive aggressive remarks. There's another guest who is hard of hearing and causes problems for her entire stay. Which of these is NOT one of those three guests?
Who is Sybil's best friend?
Sybil has a best friend with whom she's really close. This friend is only actually seen on screen once in the series 2 episode "The Anniversary," but she makes frequent appearances on the show as she's always having problems with her husband George and then calls Sybil to ask her for advice and to be comforted by her. Much to the ire of Basil, this leads to Sybil repeating her catchphrase, "Oh, I know..." over and over down the phone. But what is Sybil's best friend's name?
Which composer's music does Sybil call "racket?"
Basil often yearns for some class in the hotel. He can be found in the office listening to classical music sometimes, although Sybil disapproves of this. Once, after telling him to do two things that he hasn't done yet, she says, "You could have them both done by now if you hadn't spend the whole morning skulking in there listening to that racket." This angers Basil, as he's been in there listening to one of the greatest musical composers who ever lived. He replies, "Racket?! That's ____! ____'s Third Racket!" Which composer is it?
Who co-wrote Fawlty Towers with John Cleese?
Comedy series work best when two elements are at play: they're written by a team, and that team writes the entire series. This is because comedy teams usually share a sensibility and they're not afraid to be honest with each other if a joke doesn't work or if it needs developing. And if they write the whole thing, then a strict tone and style carries through the whole show and that works in its favor. We've seen this work in The Office, I'm Alan Partridge, The Young Ones, Spaced, all kinds. Fawlty Towers was created and written entirely by John Cleese and a writing partner. Who was the writing partner?
Why is Sybil in hospital in “The Germans?”
In the series 1 finale “The Germans,” Basil is left in charge of the hotel when Sybil is hospitalized with a bad case of something that requires her to go, as Basil puts it, “under the knife.” Of course, with Sybil gone and Basil running things, the hotel very quickly descends into utter anarchy, with one moment in particular being Basil’s Nazi walk that offends the German guests, hence the title, but that’s another story. Why is Sybil in the hospital in the first place?
Which insect did Sybil compare Basil to?
While it’s one of the most famous hallmarks of Fawlty Towers for Basil to hurl insult after insult at Sybil, Sybil herself was partial to a couple of insults directed at her husband. He is an easy target, to be fair, what with his touchy temperament and all the embarrassing situations he often finds himself in and his social conservatism. However, Sybil doesn’t always take shots at the things he can control. She once insulted his appearance. What insect did she compare him to?
Which crappy author does Sybil like?
While Sybil disapproves of Basil’s musical choices, he disapproves of her literary choices. She can often be seen flicking through some chick lit, about which Basil has to say, “Who's this then, dear? Proust? EM Forster?” and then she tells him who it is and he sarcastically says, “Oh, yes, of course. My wife likes _____. After a hard day slaving under the hair dryer, she needs to unwind with a few aimless thrills. So, which author is she absolutely gaga for?
Basil Fawlty is “the British Tourist Board’s answer to” who?
When a rude American guest comes to stay at Fawlty Towers and kicks up a fuss about his salad, which Basil is not prepared to make and he’s sent the chef home, he comes into the kitchen to see what’s going on and finds Basil yelling to himself and having a conversation with an imaginary chef. Of course, this makes Basil look insane. The guest then says that Basil is “the British Tourist Board’s answer to” which American cartoon character?
Which of these is NOT a Fawlty Towers episode?
Over the course of its two season run, twelve episodes of Fawlty Towers were produced (well, thirteen if you believe conspiracy theories), which means that if you’re a fan of the show, that’s all you’ve got. Twelve episodes is your lot. If you’re a diehard fan, you’ll have seen them all to death. You’ll know every line off by heart. So, you should be able to tell real episodes and fake episodes apart. Which of these is NOT an episode of Fawlty Towers?
Which of these is NOT an insult Basil used against Sybil?
As with all sitcoms, Fawlty Towers had traditions and conventions that continued through the series from start to finish. These are the kind of things that remind you that you’re watching an episode of Fawlty Towers and not some other show. One of those traditions is Basil insulting his wife Sybil at every opportunity. The insults that he used against her were always so creative and used long and difficult words. Which of these is NOT one of the ones he used in the show?
Which of these isn’t on the menu on gourmet night?
In the episode “Gourmet Night,” Basil attempts to organize a gourmet night at the hotel, but he specifies “no riffraff” in the ad posting, so only two guests turn up. And his plans go even further awry when the chef has too much to drink and passes out. So, Basil cuts the menu down to three items, all duck dishes, and darts across town to pick up food for the guests. But then his car breaks down and he beats it with a tree branch. That’s another story. Which of these is NOT on the menu on gourmet night?
Which does Basil NOT guess when Sybil asks him what day it is on their anniversary?
In the series 2 episode “The Anniversary,” Basil teases Sybil on their wedding anniversary by pretending to forget about it, because he’s planning a big surprise where all her friends are coming to the hotel for a party. But before he gets to reveal that, she takes off into town and he’s stuck with a bunch of guests expecting to see her. While he’s teasing her about forgetting what day it is, and she asks him what day it is, which of these is NOT one of his pretend guesses?
Who plays Manuel?
The clueless Spanish bellboy Manuel was played by an actor whose origins are in Germany, and he therefore wanted to play the character as German. Sadly, the actor passed away in 2016 after a lengthy battle with dementia, but his legacy will live on in his role as Manuel and his many other film and television appearances like Quartet where he was directed by Dustin Hoffman, Mel Brooks’ History of the World Part I, and Going Postal. Which actor was it?
Which was the final episode of Fawlty Towers?
Fawlty Towers didn’t get a big, triumphant, orchestral send-off like the series finales of today. There was no Dexter controversy, Sons of Anarchy question answering, Breaking Bad score settling, Sopranos cutting to black, nothing like that. The final episode of Fawlty Towers was an episode like any other. That’s because Basil and Sybil aren’t going anywhere. They’ll run that hotel like that until the day they die. We might as well just enjoy another grade A episode of our favorite show before it’s off our screens forever; that was the philosophy. So, which was the final episode of the show?
Who composed the theme music for Fawlty Towers?
The theme music of Fawlty Towers is a touch more sophisticated and classical than the theme music of other classic sitcoms like Seinfeld and The Office, but it's every bit as catchy and memorable. The music is used to cut out of an awkward or embarrassing or otherwise hilarious predicament that Basil has found himself in at the end of an episode. It doesn't quite hit you like when a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode ends with "Frolic," but nevertheless it's a classic tune that you immediately associate with a madcap hotel manager, so it does its job as the theme music of a TV show. But who composed it originally? Hint: he also composed music for Steptoe and Son and Till Death Us Do Part.
Who is Basil Fawlty based on?
John Cleese got the idea for Fawlty Towers when he and some of the other members of Monty Python were staying at the Gleneagles Hotel and found the manager to be the rudest man they’d ever met. The Gleneagles Hotel saw some extra publicity from the show, but overall, the owner upon whom the Basil character was based was unhappy with how he was portrayed by Cleese. It’s what you’d expect from the real life Basil Fawlty. What was his name?