John Cleese meets Basil Fawlty in a hilarious promo video for his brand new show.
The comedy veteran, 84, arrives at London’s Apollo Theater to pick up two free tickets to Fawlty Towers: The Play and is greeted by Basil, played by actor Adam Jackson-Smith, who mans the reception desk in typically inimitable fashion.
John is adapting the legendary sitcom, which he wrote with co-star and ex-wife Connie Booth and famously starred as hotel manager Basil, for the West End and launches on May 4.
A new cast will bring the iconic characters back to life, led by Jackson-Smith, who will be the first actor to play Basil in an official Fawlty Towers production since John.
And as the exclusive promo shows, he’s managed to capture the hallmarks of one of British comedy’s most famous creations.
John Cleese (pictured in October 2023) meets Basil Fawlty in a hilarious promo video for his brand new show
The comedy veteran arrives at London’s Apollo Theater to pick up two free tickets to Fawlty Towers: The Play and is greeted by Basil, played by actor Adam Jackson-Smith (pictured), who mans the reception desk in typically inimitable style.
He is first seen giving short shrift to a caller to the theater asking if drinks were being sold during the break, before sarcastically suggesting the theater could be moved ‘to the left’ to suit their needs.
His brashness continues when John enters the theater and asks him to “talk decently” before moaning about how giving away free tickets was hurting the theater’s finances.
But Basil’s mood quickly changes when John reveals his name, prompting him to turn on the charm by offering the show’s figurehead some treats, including an intermission drink, peanuts, a prawn cocktail and a bottle of expensive wine.
John respectfully declines the offer, admits that he just wants to see the show, turns to the camera and says, “I hear it’s really funny.”
Fawlty Towers: The Play is a two-hour production based on three classic TV episodes: The Hotel Inspector and The Germans from series one and Communication Problems from series two.
Speaking about the show’s return to the West End, John said: ‘What a thrill to bring Fawlty Towers to the West End for the first time – almost 50 years since the show was first recorded in December 1974.
‘We have been involved in the casting process for some time and are constantly reminded of how much acting talent we have in Britain – separating the very, very, very good from the merely very, very good.
‘Ultimately we have put together a group of top class comedy actors who will bring the show to the Apollo Theater on Shaftesbury Avenue.
A new cast will bring the iconic characters back to life, led by Jackson-Smith, who will be the first actor to play Basil in an official Fawlty Towers production since John.
Fawlty Towers: The Play is a two-hour production based on three classic TV episodes: The Hotel Inspector and The Germans from series one and Communication Problems from series two
‘I adapted three of my favorite episodes for the stage and wrote one grand finale, which brings together the endings of all three episodes.
‘So here we are, all the way from Torquay, via the old BBC Television Centre, to the West End. I really hope some of you come to the Apollo to laugh together. And laugh. And laugh.’
The iconic comedy ran from 1975 to 1979 and is widely considered one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.
It revolved around the dysfunctional fictional Fawlty Towers hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, Devon, owned and managed by Basil, whose rude and abrupt style led to several meltdowns.
The sitcom also starred Prunella Scales as his bossy wife Sybil and Andrew Sachs as the hapless Spanish waiter Manuel.
- Tickets for Fawlty Towers: The Play are on sale at FawltyTowersWestend.com