John Cleese, Connie Booth: Here is what the cast of Fawlty Towers is doing now

Fawlty Towers remains one of the most famous BBC sitcoms, and it left a mark on television history, especially thanks to occasional reruns. The show aired from 1975 to 1979. In 2019, the sitcom was named as the greatest British sitcom of all time by a Radio Times poll. It remains so anchored in British people's minds that Fawlty Towers even moved to London's West End for a production on stage. Indeed, writer, creator and actor John Cleese adapted the plots from three episodes to make up the play: The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans and Communication Problems. The act premiered in May 2024.

What is the cast actually doing now? Find out below.

What is the cast of Fawlty Towers up to now?

The funny sitcom has seen its stars, including John Cleese, Connie Booth and Prunella Scales, rise up to national fame. Die-hard fans will probably be wondering where they are now. Here is what you need to know.

John Cleese has been married several times

British actor John Cleese rose to fame thanks to his work on the classic Monty Python franchise, but his success also started by his acting and writing in Fawlty Towers. The actor starred as the lead of the show, Basil Fawlty. He also wrote the sitcom alongside his co-star and now ex-wife Connie Booth. Over the years following the airing of Fawlty Towers, John Cleese went on to play in several cult classics such as A Fish Named Wanda, where he shared the screen with Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as the Bond franchise, where he played Q. More recently, he has appeared in The Very Excellent Mr Dundee, and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

John Cleese has been married four times so far. His third divorce ended in a costly settlement, as he was asked to pay a whopping £12 million to his ex-wife Alyce Eichelberger. He now lives on the Carribbean island of Nevis with his fourth wife, Jennifer. He explained his decision to leave the United Kingdom as having grown tired of the state of British politics.

In 2024 John Cleese revived the sitcom for a special West End play, which he wrote with his daughter Camilla Cleese. Speaking to Hello! about play, John Cleese said:

We've been involved in the casting process for some time, being constantly reminded of what a wealth of acting talent we have in Britain - sorting the very, very, very good from the merely very, very good.

Finally, we assembled a top-class group of comedy actors.

Connie Booth had a career change

Connie Booth made a name for herself as Polly Sherman in Fawlty Towers. She also wrote some of the episodes alongside her then-husband, John Cleese. The couple was married was 1968 up until 1978, and they welcomed a daughter together, named Cynthia. After the sitcom was over, the actress had several roles in films and series before making a U-turn in her career. Indeed, in 1995, she retired from acting to pursue a career in psychotherapy.

Despite having retired from acting, and living her life away from the limelight for these past few years, Connie Booth made an appearance at the London's West End play of Fawlty Towers, alongside her second husband, American theatre critic John Lahr. Lahr happens to be the son of Bert Lahr, who played the Cowardly Lion in the legendary Hollywood film The Wizard of Oz.

The former actress posed for pictures with the new cast, and appeared in high spirits. Prior to their attendance at the play, her husband told the Daily Mail she would not give any interviews:

I understand people are interested - why wouldn't they be? Connie is not giving interviews. She doesn't generally do it anymore.

Prunella Scales has been diagnosed with vascular dementia

British actress Prunella Scales made her way to our hearts thanks to her role as Sybil Fawlty, Basil's long-suffering wife and manager of the hotel, on the sitcom. After the show, the actress went on to play Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett's A Question of Attributions, for which she won a BAFTA for Best Actress.

Prunella Scales was married to fellow actor Timothy West for about 60 years before the actor sadly passed away at the age of 90. He left behind his heartbroken wife, who has been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2014. The couple shared everything, from their daily lives to their careers, and they both appeared on a joint docuseries entitled Great British Canals.

They both retired for good in 2021, when the actress' health started deteriorating too much for her to keep working. 91-year-old Prunella Scales can count on the support of her two sons, Samuel and Joseph, as well as her late husband's daughter, Juliet, in these difficult times.

The last few years of Andrew Sachs' was not easy

Andrew Sachs became an iconic part of the show when he played the infamous Spanish waiter Manuel in Fawlty Towers. During the series, he suffered from second-degree burns due to a stunt gone wrong. After the show aired, he struggled to find work and Manuel remains his most notable role.

However, the actor did go into voiceover and radio work. He also made appearances in Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, Run for Your Wife,Coronation Street, as well as EastEnders.

The actor got caught in the midst of a national scandal

In 2008, Andrew Sachs found himself caught in the middle of a scandal. Indeed, comedians Russell Brand and Jonathan prank-called him out of the blue to tell the actor all about the intimate things Brand used to do with his granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. The incident has been nicknamed the Sachsgate, and it quickly became a national story. The BBC had to issue a formal apology, Russell Brand was forced to resign, and Jonathan Ross ended up being suspended.

Russell Brand and Georgina Baillie had a brief relationship in 2008, which she qualifies as 'friends with benefits'. She was twenty at the time, while the comedian was ten years older. While Russell Brand has recently been accused of sexual misconduct by several women, Andrew Sachs' granddaughter defended him saying 'nothing untoward' happened between the two. Russell Brand even paid for her rehabilitation center as an apology for Sachsgate, which helped Georgina Baillie battle her addiction. He also reportedly apologised personally to her.

Years later, Andrew addressed the scandal revealed the full story,recounting the events that transpired and how it hurt their family. He wrote, as published by Daily Mail.

Their lewd banter was deeply hurtful for me, my wife, our daughter and our granddaughter. It not only caused pain but huge stress to the family.

Both Andrew and his wife, Melody, received a flood of support from stars within the industry.

Sadly, the actor was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012, eventually leaving him unable to speak. He passed away at his North London nursing home at the age of 86 in 2016. Remembering his beloved co-star, John Cleese said he was a 'sweet, sweet man'.

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Sources used:

Hello!: Where are the cast of Fawlty Towers now? Find out here

Daily Mail: John Cleese's reclusive ex-wife Connie Booth, 83, and her second husband sneak in to see Fawlty Towers: The Play as she poses for pictures with actress who plays her role

Metro: Andrew Sachs’ granddaughter reveals Russell Brand paid for her rehab as apology for ‘Sachsgate’ scandal

Daily Mail: Cruelty that will haunt me forever: ANDREW SACHS reveals the full story of how Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross humiliated his family in obscene calls

Express: BBC Fawlty Towers cast now - Sad diagnosis, £12m marriage split and TV stint after death