Fawlty Towers: Bloopers and outtakes

Small but funny collection of bloopers by Cleese, Connie and co. Enjoy!
If you have any favourite clips from the show, let us know and we'll upload them!
All copyrights belong to the BBC.

[@g.b569]

I love the moment where the set wobbles and Cleese begins to check its stability. Such great improv

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

It's a follow-up from the scene just beforehand, when he does the same on the window from the outside when caught peering in. This is the return upstairs after Sybil comes outside and slaps him.

[@goodferwyatt4440]

Checking the walls

[@jtaylor9562]

For just 12, albeit incredible, episodes. The legacy and impact of this show is unparalleled.

[@eccehomer8182]

Quality over quantity. There are only 18 Father Ted episodes and only 24 Blackadder episodes... and you can't really count the first series, which didn't really work as well as the others.

[@leonskum.5682]

@@eccehomer8182 You are right. good shout with Father Ted!

[@Alucard-gt1zf]

Only 1 season of Mr bean

[@chiefstain]

@@Alucard-gt1zf which was quantity over quantity

[@andrewmay1299]

@Jordan Taylor - what a strange and perhaps ignorant comment. Surely The Office had as much if not more of a legacy and impact?

[@soylentteal]

1:20 - I guess O'Reilly did *that* wall, too.

[@rebeccamatthews5678]

Seventh Mist 🤣🤣

[@ELPlop]

Yes he did, he sent a hideous orangutan to build it 😂

[@kasper-3099]

Thats what you get from O'rally men.

[@takeiteasy6154]

Yes most oriely men did half baked jobs those days, because after lunch they were all pissed. 😂😂😂

[@HiVizCamo]

"If you're not over here in 20 minutes with my door, I shall come over there and insert a large garden gnome in you. Good day."

[@RockerJC89]

The strangest thing seeing Mrs Richards smile at the end lol

[@RockerJC89]

@Tobias Rieper yeah to get a cheaper room and a vetter view lol

[@glamourchick21]

I've been rewatching the series on Amazon Prime and reading the trivia for every episode. It's amusing how many of the most antagonistic guests are played by Cleese's close friends. Apparently the actress who played Mrs. Richards was the polar opposite of her character in reality, which was exactly why Cleese wanted her for the role. Incidentally, I have also learned that when Basil does his Hitler impression, the German phrase he shouts translates to, "I can kill bats with an egg spoon."

[@DrCrabfingers]

@@glamourchick21Is that true? That's very funny....the result of a good education!!

[@brettmillman9137]

Without a doubt the funniest show ever made. John Cleese is simply brilliant supported by a wonderful cast.

[@johnmc3862]

Brilliant writing also.

[@TicoStudio90]

This is the only comedy series that still cracks me up as much as it did in 1975. It's still my Saturday evening treat. I will never tire of it 😂😂😂😂

[@steffenrosmus9177]

Come on , Dave Allen at large, MASH, ..... there are a lot of good shows out there

[@graemebdh2172]

@@steffenrosmus9177 don’t hold a candle to Fawlty Towers.

[@masere]

Not Going Out comes pretty close.

[@duckduckgoismuchbetter]

Try "You Rang M'lord". It is a bit like someone crossed Are You Being Served with Downton Abbey and a tiny bit of Fawlty Towers. It's a 90s show, that involves a comedic upstairs/downstairs dynamic like a very funny version of Downton Abbey, before there was a D.A.

[@patrickblind998]

Black Adder too :)

[@Testedecazzo]

"It's not a pigeon, it's a hamster" 😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@bwhog]

PIDGEON! LIKE YOU'RE ENGLISH! 😁

[@Shazbut-he3ne]

It's really unnerving hearing Manuel talk with an English accent

[@MetallicAGirl14]

What a mistake a to make a lol

[@DextroDNAOfficial]

@@MetallicAGirl14 Wasn't a mistake, he said the line wrong and commented on it in his normal accent

[@karenhuff9925]

@@DextroDNAOfficial I love Manuel!!!!!!

[@roseannseale1916]

yes it is!!!!!!!!!

[@dunruden9720]

@@DextroDNAOfficial Someone is not familiar with, "Allo Allo!!"

[@JackDaniels267]

No matter how often you watch, even knowing what is coming, it still creases you with laughter. Masterpiece of how to write comedy. ❤️

[@thoughtfortheday7811]

It's over there between the land and the sky!

[@ashleyrosevear4319]

A lot of inspiration was gained from the Goon Show of the 50's...

[@CyanideSublime]

1:27 was unbelievable. Only Cleese could be that quick.

[@kennyt4849]

They honestly should have kept that blooper in the episode, John Cleese's quick and witty reaction was perfect and honestly could have made it pass in the episode

[@thoughtfortheday7811]

It's a brilliant "I wish I'd thought of that" moment.

[@stumpynadge]

Amazing comedy. They don't make 'em like that anymore. Fawlty Towers is the reason The Young Ones and The Office only ran to two series. Arrogance or respect? Take your pick.

[@ddavies1967]

Sorry, beg to differ. Uncommon but not unique. A friend at school did something equally amazing when a giant prop fell, mid scene, when he was alone on stage. Stopped, turned, considered it for a moment, spat (he was playing an old man) & continued up the stairs. Got a cheer& a ripple of applause & a special mention in the school review.

[@windyhead7960]

@@ddavies1967 You did not get it I assume. There was an actual scene in an episode in which Cleese wanted to spy on someone and whenever they saw him, he would pretend to check the walls; that's why this is genius, your friend's spitting was not a reference to a previous scene

[@helen677]

Loved ‘Flowery Twats!’ Great comedy.

[@Lmclean89]

that door scene was incredible hahaha

[@royfearn4345]

Brought fond memories of dear old Crossroads!

[@bryanpalmer9660]

John's off the cuff response is great

[@Tirana44]

I honestly never get bored seeing this wonderful series. A work of pure genius.

[@luciferbox5577]

The best comedy series ever in my opinion. Absolute masterpiece. Every single episode is a classic and it never dates. I never get tired of watching Fawlty Towers and despite seeing the episodes more times than I can remember, I still find them hysterically funny. Brilliant scripts, brilliant characters (the Major is my undoubted favourite) and a fantastic cast.

[@deanwood9893]

Prunella Scales was such a beautiful lady. I loved her in this. 😍

[@elliotgeorge322]

1:27 genius!!

[@flabbybum9562]

This is really timeless - sign of a true classic. John Cleese isn't just one of the very finest comedy actors of his generation, but also a stonkingly brilliant scriptwriter. The man oozes talent. His defence of free speech and traditional liberal values, is the cherry on the cake.

[@lanceash]

Too bad such an intelligent person is in favor of Brexit, from his home in Arizona.

[@lesglover9353]

Oh Lance get over it, it was a democratic vote.

[@lanceash]

@@lesglover9353 It may have been a democratic vote, but it was a stupid decision, Les. It galls me that people like John Cleese and Ringo Starr thought that Brexit was a good idea (mainly because they thought that by some bizarre logic it would make the UK great again), when they are rich enough, or isolated enough, in Cleese's case, to be insulated from the deleterious effects.

[@Velodynamic]

@@lanceash While the rest of Europe faces sharia laws and energy crisis.

[@saikoujikan]

@@Velodynamic rubbish, not a single piece of sharia law hasn't been even discussed in the EU. As for the energy crisis. The EU cut VAT on energy and severely limited the increase in energy bills. France only had a 4% increase in energy bill cost, while the U.K. has a 54% increase that only promises to rise further

[@tombarclay7108]

Loved the way they rearranged the letters on the hotel sign at the beginning of each episode (Warty Towels, Flay otters, Farty Towels, etc).

[@Pugwash.]

And my favourite, Flowery Twats

[@breebw]

I was stunned when I learned that happened. I live in New Zealand, and that was edited out to fit in the New Zealand time slot which was slightly shorter than the UK. It was some years later when I got the DVD set I was even aware of the letter swap sequence.

[@ashleyrosevear4319]

@@breebw we used to see the letter swap in NZ at the start of each episode...

[@bryanpalmer9660]

@@breebw hello that practice was quite common in NZ during the late 80s early 90s( Blackadder goes fourth was badly cut by tvnz who initially were unapologetic but then backed off after public outcry,,!) Auckland New Zealand 2022

[@akitatrips]

My favourite is Fatty Owls :)

[@johnblack8655]

John Cleese as Basil Fawlty, in his best scenes, is without doubt the funniest human being I have ever seen.

[@MrSvante88]

Don’t mention the war!

[@johnsmith-rs2vk]

Basil .Today is the 15 th. Does that remind you anything ? Yes my dear , Trafalgar , Agincourt ?

[@allsorts-allshorts]

It's hard to believe there was only 12 episodes, wish they had made a lot more. Brilliant series 🤣

[@dilltdog1158]

One of the funniest programmes ever to grace the BBC.

[@lpsp442]

Connie's little frustrated *EEE* is so endearing

[@reuireuiop0]

As is the protective gesture of the elder gentleman, getting hold of his wooden case. Like "Oh my dear, God knows what she might do _next_

[@jasonhurd4379]

And it's nice seeing Joan Sanderson smile. I don't think she cracks a single one as Mrs Richards.

[@v-town1980]

Connie was a hottie. Her in her underwear...yup.

[@Plus_P_Plus]

I could watch more of these all day long.

[@seanmcgoldrick4870]

One of if not the greatest sit com ever made.true genius from john and connie

[@warrenalexander5285]

I have both series on DVD. Still reduce me to tears of laughter after all these years and countless viewings.

[@tonyarichards5430]

Absolutely my favorite show ever. I painstakingly recorded all 12 on vhs.

[@ashleyrosevear4319]

Yip, I remember VHS. Where are those things now?

[@VelkanAngels]

@@ashleyrosevear4319 - In my basement :D

[@garyhaber333]

Loved growing up watching old British comedy. Fawlty, Blackadder, Benny Hill, Mrs Browns Boys. Great memories. They were hilarious.

[@anarchistatheist1917]

Me also. I must add besides the shows you mentioned, Are you being served, Dad's army, Allo Allo, On the buses, and Last of the summer wine.

[@Jannie-]

🤣 I wish this was longer . I was really getting into that lol.

[@alexmorgan3435]

Fawlty Towers simply the best serious comedy ever written and JC the funniest straight man to ever grace our screens.

[@susieq9801]

And one of the tallest.

[@Dane_Youssef]

Very tongue-in-cheek as always, John... Best of British literally... Cheers...

[@kdee8166]

Without doubt the greatest comedy series ever. No matter how many times I’ve watched every episode they’re still funny. Quintessentially English and totally brilliant.

[@andrewmay1299]

I think there’s plenty of doubt over that claim.

[@kdee8166]

@@andrewmay1299 there’s no doubt in my own head as to what my own opinion is, which is what I was stating. That’s the point of a comments section I suppose.

[@derby1884]

Definitely in the top twenty. Round about 16th, I'd say.

[@kdee8166]

@@derby1884 who’s your top 3 then?

[@derby1884]

@@kdee8166 For what it's worth - and it's only my opinion - it would be Hancock's Half Hour, You Rang M'Lord and Steptoe & Son. Great writing, great performances. For me, Fawlty Towers was just a little bit too manic and the comedy more physical than verbal at times. But it was very, very good.

[@MrsBlaileen1]

Best TV comedy of all-time. Not even close.

[@DrCrabfingers]

Prunella Scales though...what a beautiful woman...! I'm quite smitten.

[@terencejay8845]

See if you can find the film 'Hobsons Choice'. With Charles Laughton and John Mills. Prunella plays a very young shop girl and I think it was her first film part.

[@DrCrabfingers]

@@terencejay8845 Yes I have the DVD...she looks about 16! It's one of my favourite films...David Lean again....the master film maker. I say 'again' because Lean made most of my favourite movies. Good call Terence.

[@robertianhawdon]

Just to think, if the VT department hadn’t put these outtakes on the 1979 Xmas Tape (titled: Good King Memorex) then I think all the Fawlty Towers outtakes would have been lost forever

[@TransmissionEpicts]

Crazy to think that no one thought anyone might be interested in such material! But then....this was decades ahead of DVD extras and even home video was just a few years old, so it probably didn't even cross people's minds to keep it all....except for the lovable weirdoes making the annual Christmas tapes!

[@Uftonwood2]

To much good material, has been lost or destroyed by the BBC

[@miriamgreen3973]

This was a wacky and fun as the series itself! Thank you to whoever shared it!

[@Taylorkaraoke]

"intercounty basket-weaving" who in his right mind thinks of something like that? LOL

[@v-town1980]

It blew my mind when I read how much effort and rehearsing went into creating a show with such wit at lightening speed.

[@meisterlymanu5214]

Connies english accent was perfect. Never knew she was american until recently.

[@richardharrold9736]

There was always a bit of transatlantic twang there, but one could have believed she was English but had gone to an American university or something.

[@joannemurdock7899]

@@richardharrold9736 yes I agree

[@joannemurdock7899]

Did u know he was married to American lady!

[@joannemurdock7899]

@@richardharrold9736 did u know John cleese was married to the American lady!

[@SR-iy4gg]

@@joannemurdock7899 Yes. She helped create the show too.

[@thecovidprisoner]

12 episodes gave us just the starter , left us chomping at the bit of what could of been so much more. 100 % timeless classic

[@carlodonn8983]

Hes going to play basil again in a spin off series !! Left it 40 years to late e but you never know. Might still have at least some of the old magic.

[@Keepingitrespectfulmostly.]

MR Cleese, total genius and mad with it but in a good way. Love all the sudden expressions. Perfect timing too.

[@scorchx3000]

It's not a pigeon, it's a hamster. XD

[@Hungry4Mor]

Perhaps, no, absolutely THE BEST INTERNATIONAL TV comedy of all time.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

John Cleese always a great comedian actor I always like him

[@numismatric]

As a great fan of F/T over all the years, this is a total gem, beautiful and thank you... ;)

[@slartybartfarst9737]

The series was funny as bloopers......the bloopers are off the scale.....genuine genius

[@telecomgear]

Communication Problems is the best half hour of comedy ever.

[@adampowell5481]

Great improve of "checking the walls" when sybil slammed the door haha

[@Wolfsschanze99]

Pure class, comedy Gold

[@helenmullane3547]

A True Classic, Great to see some bloopers! Can't wait to see what he'll come up with for the new series.....

[@thoughtfortheday7811]

The closing shot of Mrs Richards, brilliant!

[@malahammer]

1:12 WTF does he do with his eyes, they do not move together :)

[@artistinbeziers7916]

I can say only "Genius, pure comedic genius"

[@advocate_of_HAKAI]

Bro Manuel going back to his British accent broke my fucking worldview😂😂😂 The greatest comedy show of all time

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

John is now in his 80s and he’s already a proud grandfather to his daughters son and daughter

[@Majerly_Annoyed]

That was great to see Mrs. Richards out of character

[@hazelanderson1479]

What?

[@tutekohe1361]

Agreed. I can’t recall seeing her on anything else.

[@nkt1]

She also breaks in response to "Is this a piece of your brain?", but hides it well and keeps going.

[@Majerly_Annoyed]

@@nkt1 It must have been so hard to work with Cleese. You would never know when he’d throw something in.

[@terencejay8845]

@@tutekohe1361 She was Mrs Ewell, a teacher in the sitcom series 'Please Sir'. Played much the same character but she wasn't deaf.

[@latheofheaven]

Stellar, thank you! 😁

[@johnsmith-rs2vk]

I served John Cleese in a theatre restaurant in 1975 . Mr. Cleese , are you eating before the show ? YES . SOUP AND ANYTHING !

[@virginiaconnor8350]

Now, John looks more Jimmy Doohan (Scotty on "Star Trek") at 85.

[@drstrangelove2771]

Thanks for this vid. I've never seen it before. Brilliant.

[@DeadRaymanWalking]

Oh, this was such a funny show. Didn't watch it much on WXXI (PBS affiliate in Rochester, New York) when they used to air it...the show would come on right after Are You Being Served? (another Britcom that used to air on WXXI), which I often watched. My mother LOVED Fawlty Towers.

[@tncorgi92]

We got Python and The Goodies on our PBS channel, 11 pm on Saturdays. I would go to bed after that. Then one weekend I happened to be up after 1 am, flipped on the TV and saw Fawlty Towers, I couldn't believe what I'd been missing all that time.

[@GenGamesUniverse]

I always loved this show!

[@ughxr500a3]

oh naughty Polly

[@mejustme683]

And bazil

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

The joke in the first one is that the final episode "Basll the Rat" didn't air until October 1979, long after the other episodes had run. That was because of yet more strike action at the BBC. There was an even worse one at Christmas 1978 which caused all BBC radio stations to roll into one and most TV output stopped.

[@SjMk1.]

I'm missing the blooper because I'm already belly laughing!

[@bobspittle2227]

One of the all time greatest comedies ever.

[@elSplunky]

1:51 lmao john's reaction and you can tell andrew did that on purpose

[@ChrisManley1994]

“Mr Richards is the gentl-OH F*CK!!!” 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@EugVR6]

One of the funniest TV shows made

[@QBtracksandstuff]

Such a brilliant show.

[@zedata57]

Brilliant.

[@jeffestrada6857]

Best show ever!!

[@bunkyman8097]

This has as the best show ever! I recorded them on VHS, then had the cd's. I also had the scripts so I could follow the words. So funny!!

[@alexmorgan3435]

I got the official BBC videos and CDs before they could be mutilated by the PC easily offended woke lefties.

[@banzanbuddhist1451]

Connie Booth and Prunella Scales were so beautiful when they were young.

[@Testedecazzo]

"Inter counties basket weaving" 🤣😂🤣

[@margochristensen6359]

This is best sitcom ever made.

[@dougtaylor7724]

I loved that show.

[@robbertbroekv.d305]

BEST SHOW EVER !!!!!! top class!

[@billyturner4619]

Good to see Mrs Richards (Joan Sanderson) smiling.

[@organismseven3700]

One of the best comedies ever made. Such a shame it was filmed using VT instead of proper film. Then we could be enjoying it today in HD.

[@stefangray5795]

If it had been shot on film in the 1970s then it would have been shot on 16mm stock. This is most definitiely not HD. The exterior scenes are shot on film. I don't see what is inferior about the video quality of something from this era. It's in colour, you can see everything pefectly well and it's obviously shot in a TV studio. The same as something like Father Ted twenty years' later.

[@organismseven3700]

@@stefangray5795 Hi, Don't claim to be an expert in this field. However, other older TV series such as The Saint, The Champions, even Gerry Anderson TV shows all seem to have been filmed in such a way that they can be scanned and reissued which look pin sharp and in pristine condition. In the 70s lots of programs seem to have been recorded using cheap VT methods. The quality of these in comparison seem really poor.

[@caitthenerd7470]

Frankly you should be grateful it didn't just get wiped like much of the BBCs earlier archives

[@organismseven3700]

@@caitthenerd7470 That's very true.

[@organismseven3700]

@R J Probably because I live in the First World. Thank goodness.

[@davidrule385]

"Mr. Richard is the gentleman-- Oh, f***!" LOL

[@EffectiveIrritant]

I so wish they had saved more outtakes/bloopers from the show... these seem to be the only ones ever to surface.

[@rjlchristie]

I doubt if Cleese would have authorised the beeping out of Connie's "oh fuck".

[@england8186]

THANKING YOU 🤣👍

[@SynthMagic]

Amazing comedy writing. Everyone in each episode was perfect. Side note: I always thought Sybil was a gorgeous looking lady.

[@sesquashtwo]

We need THIS type of programing even more so today...!!!!!

[@DrCrabfingers]

Prunella Scales....she really was stunningly beautiful....she plays such a dragon but I find myself even now watching her like a smitten schoolboy.

[@mrfrankiej932]

Fawlty Towers was almost not made at all. John Cleese made the rejection letter public and it reads; "I'm afraid I thought this one as dire as its title. It's a kind of "Prince of Denmark" of the hotel world. A collection of clichés and stock characters which I can't see being anything but a disaster. Ian Main." Now this was 1974. Crank it up by about 100/150 or so degrees and I wonder how many good ideas land in the lap of publishers and distributers and the like which are rejected outright today. Either for political correctness or because it's not 'sending the message.' It's a sad thought that the only use I get out of my television these days is video games and reruns on DVD and VHS of a bygone era like Fawlty Towers. @@sesquashtwo

[@jerrybailey5797]

Brilliant that is fantastic

[@wisteela]

Fantastic

[@lindasheldon6940]

Prunella Scales also wonderful on "After Henry'

[@RobQuincyAdams]

She really is. I've just started watching it. She and Ms. Sanderson had great chemistry.

[@FartsnShitz]

This series was comedy gold. I wonder if young ppl these days would get it and laugh as much as we did.

[@annieh.8175]

I loved the episode where his ‘wife’ is in bed following an ingrown toenail surgery...she is on the phone gossiping with her girlfriend, eating a box of chocolates and says every three seconds ‘I know, I know’ and Basil is standing there wanting to talk to her. I loved all the episodes but this one sort of stands out and the one where he has German guests and starts marching (with those unbelievable long legs!) Also poor Manuel...he sure gets beaten up a lot! I read somewhere that Connie was his real wife?

[@LordHeath1972]

Nuh they'd probably be too offended by everything.

[@kevinseven6633]

@@annieh.8175 Yes, John and Connie were married when they wrote Fawlty Towers together.

[@sturmovik5448]

Yes, we would/do. But then, my father did take pains to properly educate his children with Monty Python in our comedic formative years.

[@druidus]

My kids, in their early 20s, love it! But they were brought up on it.

[@MetalVII]

Wow. That book has really helped Manuel.

[@h4r4]

The greatest comedy ever made.

[@nunosoares2329]

John Cleese. Such a talented actor 🙂

[@jimmythemadostrich8947]

Manuel's room looks nice and cozy.

[@petepnut]

Ahh, the BBC 1979 Christmas Tape, I watched that "live" over PO Lines into our VT Suite

[@paulh5293]

Most of these were collected for the rather wonderful "Good King Memorex" 1979 not-for-broadcast Christmas tape by the BBC's videotape department, hence the "BBC vt" logo. Brilliant stuff.

[@JoshSamimi2024]

1:48 Manuel actual voice

[@mrfrankiej932]

2:06 Is probably the only time we'll ever see Mrs Richards genuinely smile. Despite how poorly run Fawlty Towers is you do feel sympathy for Basil and the other staff when they have to deal with this guest. Great actress.

[@tonygunk8261]

Joanne Sanderson was reluctant to play such a horrible character because she was such a nice person. Cleese had to talk her into it.

[@Jackomac43]

There's also a Manuel scene at the end of the pilot episode of not the nine o clock news. Would love to see that.

[@dogbarbill]

I've got the DVD, and watch it quite often. I think the first series is the better one of the two series. It's very interesting to listen to the commentary from John Cleese on each episode.

[@kenjarby]

Andrew Sachs was so convincing as Manuel I forgot he was British! 1:47

[@terencejay8845]

The BBC had a slight problem with Manuel when they sold the show to Spain. As it was dubbed, they made him Italian and said he was from Milan, which always got a great laugh in Spain.

[@stefanleo8963]

01:35 IKR, you read script, think about what's the difference between a guinea pig and a hamster. then, thought it all day, and researched, ah! it's size, life span and hamsters are actually nocturnal animals! then next day, on set, 'what's my line?...no, not guinea pig, what's the word?'... then brain goes PIGEON!