Fawlty Towers stars today from health struggles to new careers and a sequel in the works

It's been 49 years since fans were first introduced to the chaotic world of Fawlty Towers on the BBC, and the cast have come a long way since then, with one member battling cancer and another dementia

Fawlty Towers is marking its 49th anniversary as one of Britain's most cherished sitcoms.

The iconic series, which first graced screens on BBC Two from 1975 to 1979, was the brainchild of John Cleese and his then-wife Connie Booth. Spanning two series, it chronicled the chaotic goings-on at a dysfunctional hotel in Torquay, Devon.

At the heart of the show were the uproarious escapades of hotel proprietor Basil Fawlty, his wife Sybil, chambermaid Polly, and the hapless Spanish waiter Manuel. The inspiration for the series struck John Cleese following a memorable stay at a Devon hotel, where he met its notably peculiar owner.

Fawlty Towers has scooped numerous awards, including a British Academy Television Award for Best Scripted Comedy, and was honoured by the British Film Institute as the greatest British television programme in 2000.

Fast forward and a sequel series featuring John and his daughter Camilla is in the pipeline, nearly half a century since the original charmed audiences.

Curious about the Fawlty Towers cast today? Here's the latest.

John Cleese - Basil Fawlty

At 84 years young, John Cleese continues to embark on fresh endeavours. His recent role was in Roman Polanski's drama 'The Palace', released in 2023.

That October, he began hosting 'The Dinosaur Hour' on GB News, cautioning listeners on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that GB News viewers "may not be used to hearing the sort of things I'll be saying" and expressed his desire to foster "proper argument".

The beloved star has found a furry new friend to cherish - his daughter's dog Harry. Gushing about his affection for the four-legged companion, he posted several videos on Instagram, revealing: "I adore him."

His marriage to Jennifer Wade remains strong.

Prunella Scales - Sybil Fawlty

Prunella Scales, famed for her role as Sybil Fawlty, has bravely stepped back into the limelight despite her ten-year battle with dementia. At 92, she lent her talended voice to portray an elderly Queen Victoria in the play 'Queen' at the Edinburgh Festival.

Julian Machin, who worked on the original production, told The Telegraph about Prunella's remarkable abilities: "Although Prunella has vascular dementia, which greatly affects her in many ways, she absolutely retains longer-term memory of herself and her working experience."

She continues to share a life with fellow acting great Timothy West.

Connie Booth - Polly Sherman

Connie Booth, once known to screens as Polly Sherman, left acting behind in 1995 to embark on a five-year study period at the University of London that led her to a career in psychotherapy until her retirement. Settled in North London, she lives with John Lahr, her second husband who is an acclaimed author and former drama critic.

In May 2024, Connie visited the cast of the Fawlty Towers stage adaptation, where she met theatre performer Victoria Fox, her West End successor.

Andrew Sachs - Manuel

Andrew Sachs, best known for portraying the lovable Manuel, completes the legacy of the Fawlty Towers ensemble.

Andrew Sachs, the actor behind Manuel, had his fair share of drama during the production of the show. He suffered second-degree acid burns due to a fire stunt gone wrong while filming the episode "The Germans".

Additionally, he was hit by a faulty prop on set by John Cleese, which left him with a severe headache.

Andrew died in November 2016 at the age of 86, after being diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012, which left him unable to speak and forced him to use a wheelchair.

Brian Hall - Terry Hughes

Brian Hall, who played the hotel chef Terry Hughes, formed a close bond with his co-star John Cleese. Years after the series ended, John sent him a personally signed autographed picture as a joke, to which Brian responded by demanding a "signed Rolls-Royce car".

John humorously sent him a children's toy car instead.

Brian died at a hospice in 1997 at the age of 59, after a three-year battle with cancer. In an interview with the Mirror a year before his death, he said: "Cancer is a bully and I hate bullies. This old boy cancer will get about as much change out of me as all the other bullies I've met nothing."

Renee Roberts - Miss Ursula Gatsby

Renee Roberts, who played Miss Ursula Gatsby, was married to actor Ronald Frankau and later married Eric P Pattison. Her daughter, Rosemary Frankau, also became an actress.

Renee died in February 1996 at the age of 87.

Gilly Flower - Miss Abitha Tibbs

Gilly Flower, who played Miss Abitha Tibbs, was a model in her youth and retired from acting in 1991. She passed away in February 2001 at the age of 92.

Ballard Berkeley - Major Gowen

Ballard Berkeley played the role of Major Gowen. Ballard gained posthumous fame in the early 2020s as a beloved figure of Hampshire Cricket Club, after a clip from Fawlty Towers featuring his exclamation, "Hampshire won! " became the club's celebratory post on X, previously known as Twitter, after every win.

His final acting job was voicing the Head of the Army in the animated adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic, The BFG.

He died in London in January 1988 at the age of 83, with the film coming out a year after his death.

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