Fawlty Towers: The best of Sybil

If you have any favourite clips from the show, let us know and we'll upload them!
All copyrights belong to the BBC.

[@Zephaniah3verse17]

"An ageing, brilliantined stick insect." Never fails to make me laugh out loud. Best putdown ever!

[@carlodonn8983]

Cleeses was only in his 30s tho. I always felt that basil was meant to be about 10 years older then Cleese

[@BarekHalfhand]

I think she said "brilliantine" in reference to a gel used make hair look glossy... I'm not fluent in British lingo so I'm not completely sure

[@fffUUUUUU]

​​@@BarekHalfhandrilliantine is a thing, she said brilliantined - meaning "covered in brilliantine". Exactly as OP wrote.

[@BarekHalfhand]

@@fffUUUUUU Got it thanks... At first I thought she was saying "brillianting" as perhaps a British expression for balding.

[@silverkitty2503]

haha ha

[@robkeeleycomposer]

Prunella Scales is so gorgeous! And magnificent timing.

[@sid2112]

As a kid, she was the Dragon Lady.... As a middle aged man, wow, cute figure!

[@sorchamcgowan98]

Happy 90th birthday to Prunella Scales! Thanks so so much for all the laughter! 💖💖

[@bendalymckenna6271]

Ha ha ha ha 🦭🔫

[@Toby_the_Glen]

Sybil had a great figure!

[@db7541]

“Ooh I know” -you wouldn’t believe such a simple line could be so well delivered and so iconic

[@jasonhurd4379]

'Do you really imagine, even in your wildest dreams, that a girl like this could possibly be interested in an aging, brilliantined stick insect like you!?'

[@mejustme683]

A girl like who dear?

[@magicmike6961]

and he called Polly a cloth eared bint,

[@c.saigir3456]

Ave Christus Rex

[@susandumbill8805]

"It's alright dear, just checking the door!" "What's going on?!" The rapport between Basil and Sybil is something to behold!!!

[@silverkitty2503]

i do ha ha

[@lindamckenzie6500]

Sybil acted her role so well , never looses her cool so believable . Made Basil look like an incompetent fool. One of the greatest comedies of all time.

[@royfearn4345]

The character of Basil WAS that of an incompetent fool. It's just that Basil didn't think so! Brilliant!

[@jackfitzpatrick8173]

Fawlty Towers...perfectly written...perfectly acted.

[@mejustme683]

Bazil:Hello dear * kisses * Sybil:What are you doing? Bazil:kissing you dear. Sybil:well dont 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mejustme683]

@@MND139 Sybil: * talking about friends * They have all said at one point or another how on earth did the 2 of us ever get together? Black magic my mother says. Basil: * moment of silence * Well she would know wouldn't she?

[@davidcole9971]

The brilliant Prunella Scales. I find it so interesting that Cleese says that when Scales auditioned for the part for him and Connie she did it in a different way than they wanted, but went with her interpretation, that's class.

[@mattjames7386]

It makes me wonder how Cleese and Booth imagined Sybil as a character... less acidic and more sarcastic, perhaps?

[@startracker5895]

@@mattjames7386 she was sarcastic.

[@nztv8589]

@@mattjames7386 they imagined her posher and classier than him.

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

@@nztv8589 I thought they had said that they imagined Basil and Sybil had got together because she was attracted to how posh he sounded, almost like she was a social class below his. That seemed to be the explanation for why on earth she would have been interested in him. I had the impression they meant that he had less choice in women than Sybil had in men, and that she was conventionally attractive enough for him to overlook her slightly lower class.

[@nztv8589]

@@dronesclubhighjinks yes originally Cleese envisaged Sybil as posher than him, as it gave the social climbing Basil motivation to marry above him. However, Scales said this wouldn't have worked dramatically as she wouldn't have married someone lower than herself , so she played it slightly more "common ". This made more sense as Basil would need someone who knew how to run hotel well , and she would think she was social climbing .

[@galebailey5583]

Sybil’s walk in the ladder scene…LMAO!

[@Gwailo54]

It is perfect. It’s a mutton dressed as lamb waddle in an outfit one or two sizes too small that she conveys. Prunella Scales was amazing. Saw her at the National in Alan Bennett’s spy plays. She was convincing as the graceful and elegant Coral Brown but when she entered as the Queen she was small and dumpy and just as convincing. Both parts a million miles away from Sybil but both thoroughly as convincing. Terriifc characterisations every time. Anybody older than me who remembers Marriage Lines?

[@veronicacampbell9095]

3:14 The way she snaps "Basil!" makes me laugh out loud each time

[@phavok]

The O'Riley bit still makes me laugh

[@moneybus8975]

Veronica Campbell I knooooow !

[@AAngerJ]

Me too! She’s serous!

[@db7541]

Best bit is when Basil looks around, sees she’s nowhere to be found, and slaps himself while saying “Basil” like she normally does

[@Euroviking86]

Seeing Sybil put Basil in his place was endlessly entertaining.

[@bryanpalmer9660]

Basil describing Sybil laughing as sounding like "somebody machine-gunning a seal"

[@robintyson591]

"What are you doing? I'm kissing you dear. Well - don't." So well delivered.

[@HiVizCamo]

Great, but missing one. The Gourmet Night dinner, while she's stalling the guests waiting for the meal to arrive, she's telling stories and laughing. Great character, so well played.

[@levenscott645]

Prunella Scales was a wonderful comic actress. In Sybil, she created a character for all time.

[@stephengarth8575]

Such absolute brilliance. I feel that Prunella, just like every other character staring in this magnificent comedy, was the perfect choice for the role. It doesn't matter how many times i have seen each episode, the laughs never diminish, even though i know what is coming next. To all the actors, living or dead, thanks for the laughter, time and time again.

[@keepgoing1973]

"he put basil in the ratatouille?" "I do apologize, he's from Barcelona" Great.

[@ZoKitchen]

He’s still looking for it

[@keepgoing1973]

@@ZoKitchen I just can't imagine ever wanting to put basil (herb) in a ratatouille. The French would prefer the rat.

[@AlexEssex8]

Sybil had so many fantastic lines but I always loved the confidence trickster episode when she didn’t actually have lines as such but when Basil said “Sybil I forbid you...” ; such brilliant comic timing! I also loved the “Mother has more of a death force dialogue - “open spaces....... confined spaces” and “...its a little difficult, chef’s just opened the tin” 😀

[@Simon0]

I want a Waldorf salad 🥗🥗!!

[@redlabel3977]

Classic comedy , never to be repeated 🎭

[@flat5sharp11]

Brilliant character acting by Prunella Scales (also a Shakespearean theatre actress) And of course, genius scriptwriting from Cleese and Booth.

[@joejones9497]

Imagine the joy of proceeding... and realizing more and more just how good it was going to be.

[@LeofromFreo]

Sybil’s morbid fears lines are so masterfully delivered.

[@Mike8981]

You weren’t listening were you? Lol

[@StephenGrayce]

So hard to play the "straight woman" among such hilarity. Prunella Scales is amazing.

[@papercup2517]

Her and Polly. Forever holding the fort/keeping that sinking ship afloat. Wonderful women.

[@SpookyElectric319]

Her and Polly, Connie Booth who co wrote it, can.

[@am74343]

I like when Sybil scurries in high heels outside the hotel so she can slap Basil! LOL!!

[@marklythall8712]

there’s a really quick one liner when basil wanting a some toast holds up a piece of bread as sybil walks by and says “breathe on this please dear” or words to that effect

[@nigelw512]

A time when the BBC made brilliant comedy. Puts the crap they make now to shame

[@brendanmcbrearty554]

I agree with you. Far too much crap on TV today.

[@soulshine8281]

Same as with American TV!

[@masterfarr8265]

oh I know

[@duckduckgoismuchbetter]

I'm American and the crap that Hollyweird puts out today is beyond shameful. Ironically, I didn't care for this, or really get it, when I was a kid. But I love it now. The only problem with British TV is that when it is at its best, they starve you to death for it, lol. I mean..."Here's your 12 extraordinary episodes, strung out over several years...that's all you're going to get. Learn how to starve happily! And be glad we didn't only make ten or eleven." It makes me wonder seriously if there's a universe in the multiverse somewhere, where John Cleese made hundreds of these, and at the same quality level. And the same goes for Downton Abbey and Are You Being Served, and a few other brilliant British TV shows I'm starving for more of. And I'm sure there's more I don't know about yet.

[@nigelw512]

@@duckduckgoismuchbetter Unfortunately the Woke BBC is now censoring a lot of these old classics like Dads Army, Steptoe and Son, Till death us do part and ruining them. Make sure you watch the old ones.

[@jessesands4099]

"Sybil I Forbid You To Open That Safe"!😆👩‍⚖️🗄️

[@Robert_Fordin]

The most accurate comedy sitcom of all the time.

[@manxpuss]

I'd love to be a fly on the wall at a Sybil/ Basil marriage counselling session.

[@1830mof]

Am I the only man of a certain age who quietly fancies Sybil?

[@hughmacfarlane9662]

Oh , you old dog , you !

[@speakertreatz]

no, there's two of us

[@johnmc3862]

Feisty one she is!

[@edlawn5481]

You like a girl with spirit, don't you?

[@alking7655]

My two favourites are "Ageing brilliantine stick insect like you?" and when Mr O Reily smiles at her. Basil: "Oh for god sake, don't smile." Sybil: "Why are you smiling Mr O Reily?" Mr O Reily: "Well to be perfectly honest Mrs Fawlty I like a woman with spirit." S: "Oh do you, is that what you like?" Mr O: "I do, I do!" Where she proceeds to whack them both with the umbrella.

[@garyhickman6897]

...and I love Basil's description of Sybil as a "golfing puff adder"......

[@lachlanholidayaccessibletr6758]

+

[@7x34hj]

Yes, but she used 'brilliantine', a noun, as an adjective.

[@robertmoore2527]

@@7x34hj Call the spelling police and they can go back 45 years or so in a time machine.

[@duckduckgoismuchbetter]

Basil KNEW what was coming for O'Reilly. And even though he hated him, and was also a very unsympathetic character, he was obviously feeling sorry for what O'Reilly was putting himself in for. 😂

[@SuperMisterInvisible]

Hello dear. What are you doing? I'm kissing you dear. Well don't. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@omikronweapon]

definitely one of my favorite Fawlty Towers bits :P

[@stevejelly3161]

BRILLIANT ACTRESS !!!!!!!!!!!!! ,,,,,, absolutely outstanding. !!!!!!!!!!

[@jenniferjones188]

I agree brilliant actress

[@stewux]

Honestly, I think that slap in the last clip and Cleese's fall is one of the great comedy moments of all time.

[@keepgoing1973]

I feel that Sybil was in her own world completely.

[@photo161]

The greatest episodic comedy show of all time. But the bits in these clips work much better in context of course.

[@DrRock2009]

“Benzedrine puff adder” 🤣

[@Robert_Fordin]

She is perfect background for Basil. Marvelous acting.

[@Steven_Rowe]

I was 22 when they filmed this and I loved how she dressed Prunella Scales was a very sexy woman. You think at 22 #I would like Polly but Sybil to me was feminity PLUS

[@johnmitchelljr]

Timeless comedy is timeless. Thank you for sharing.

[@roberttaylor148]

She was definitely a good looker in her prime.

[@eddyfinkful]

@Charlie Miller Me too! We see her in the Uk, on the Canal boats, with her husband. Still got the timing.

[@jasonhurd4379]

Check her out in the film Hobson's Choice. She was twenty-one and just as sexy as she wanted to be.

[@davidhoward2487]

Sorry I believe she was 19...

[@omikronweapon]

@Charlie Miller with all respect to her, she's 87... She hasn't aged badly and I'm sure she's a nice person, but she's hardly sexy anymore.

[@malcolmtinker4259]

@@davidhoward2487 p

[@olesrensen7819]

"How long have you been married, mrs. Fawlty?" "Oh, since 1485" 😄😄

[@jackbenimble1373]

Always had a crush on "Sybil" since i was a kid.

[@kitcarson9047]

absolutely brilliant comedy

[@killerrabbit2693]

The scene when Sybil's listing her mother's worries.. That's Cleese's mother.

[@assafnaor5752]

The wonderful Prunella Scales

[@mejustme683]

Sybil:Awww! Your only single once! Basil:Twice can be arranged How the hell did they not divorse half way through?!🤣

[@adamschwartz3449]

Prunella Scales is still acting (as of 2021) in audio drama for The Wireless Theatre Company, and still great.

[@davidnelson7149]

I'm sorry to tell you, but she's suffering from late stage Alzheimer's now.

[@keepgoing1973]

John wrote this along with Connie and some of the best lines were given to Prunella.

[@Jakegothicsnake]

It’s missing the parts where Sybil does her signature laugh. MWUAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!! *wheeeeeeez*

[@jasonhurd4379]

Also the bedtime phone conversation with Audrey: 'I know...I know...Oh, I know...'

[@studiobencivengamarcusbenc5272]

I bloody love Sybil and Basil - brutally funny

[@jamesbannon6443]

my favorite character on this show!

[@Mck0948]

Sybil’s mother’s phobia are almost identical to Jon Cleese’s mother’s phobias as described in his autobiography

[@user-ep9fu2be4z]

Haha. That's pretty great.

[@omikronweapon]

"all of them" you mean? Maybe Basil should have called his little man in Fulham ;P

[@bythebreach]

That golfing puff adder! [proceeds to strangle gnome]

[@johnkehoe646]

So practical ,organised and composed.Exactly the opposite of Basil. Loved the way she immediately grasped the situation when Polly told them Lord Melbury was a conman....while Basil was still in denial😅Without a doubt she was easily the funniest female character to ever take part in a sitcom.

[@vincentbugalia3858]

I watched this show on tv way back when and loved it.

[@MultiRwarren]

outfits are fire everytime

[@annhatchet3799]

My favourite Sybil moment is when she throws coffee at Basil but most of it lands on the Major 😭

[@vitothepizzaguy7475]

"He's from Barcelona..."

[@malcolmabram2957]

8:00 love the walk of Sybil. So focused, so full of purpose with only one aim in mind: To clobber Basil.

[@Zephaniah3verse17]

Yes!! To see that is to understand the meaning of "singularity of purpose". Hilarious.

[@Hipppy1001]

07:50 Hello Dear.. I was just going to ehr SMACK!! HAAAAh

[@arthurscrote4640]

Prunella Scales as Sybil was a wonderful actress, sadly not too well these days. Connie Booth was the woman of my dreams. Utterly desirable. Fory four years after release, the series has never been eclipsed.

[@Robard65]

“Charming people.” “Hmm ....?” “The Abbot’s ... charming couple.” “Yes, all three of them.” 😂😂 “You’re only single once.” “Twice can be arranged.” 😂😂 “Oh hi dear ... i was just .. ehm ...” Wack. 😂😂 And that one sentence; yes, a knoow ..

[@JohnMichaelson]

The very first one is my favorite, the "aging, Brilliantined stick insect" line. It's almost like they were ad-libbing the insults on the fly.

[@Fendermanpaul]

Brilliant Scripts, Fantsastic acting, and very wobbly sets. I have all the episodes recorded and watch them all the time. We ALL know a Basil Fawlty don't we?

[@duckduckgoismuchbetter]

Probably. But if one doesn't know a Basil Fawlty, then that means that one is the Basil Fawlty. Come to think of it...I myself don't actually know a Basil Fawlty, lol.

[@lorenzomagazzeni5425]

I loved Sybil - always in control

[@zacktong8105]

She really made the show!

[@christianf7740]

She is awesome!

[@rogerpritchard]

Great cast. Thanks for the memories

[@dubbelhenke854]

She is perfect. 😂 And she was so good as the tragic Miss Bates in the TV series "Emma" 1996.

[@Cladcreeper]

2:20 I DEW I DEW!!

[@nrjelley]

"Memories? Huh...Agincourt?" Pmsl

[@alanobrien4020]

Marriage is made In heaven But so is thunder and lightning 😆

[@tamar5261]

Sybil was pretty fit to my 18 yo senses

[@barry7608]

Real talented actors...brilliant.

[@HLk-jb9nt]

Sybil was a one off ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@GordonWishart]

Polly was exquisite

[@jaldav]

My favorite has to be when Sybil opens the safe.

[@mdaniels6311]

Such great acting from everyone.

[@vitothepizzaguy7475]

"how long have you been married?" "oh since 1485..."

[@Robert_Fordin]

Mr. Sir One of my favourite shots.

[@vitothepizzaguy7475]

@Yasika Sambora she means they've been married for ever.

[@bgd-canman9976]

Darn, I missed it. I thought she said '1945', lol. This is even better.

[@papercup2517]

@Yasika Sambora I think she means that's what it feels like... far, far too long...

[@davidhoward2487]

In 1485 there was the Battle of Agincourt...which we won...against the French...poor Basil would never win against Sybil!

[@arlichar11]

im 44 now in 2024, and she was obvious much older than i but i alwas thought she was very sexy.. but in reality a brilliant actress

[@bindon4]

Everyone (rightly) applauds Basil, but it would be nothing without the AMAZING Sybil.

[@TheSteveRobinson]

A classic TV show from the UK.

[@TheFetter04]

Aging brilliantine stick insect🤣🤣🤣kills me every time! 😂😂😂

[@jonkline709]

All those shows were great!!

[@dianderson7022]

Totally brilliant acting, love it.

[@Chris-qo4rt]

It always perplexed how Basil and Sybil even ended up together in the first place, there is not a single scene where they share a happy moment. Kinda sad lol

[@jockstrapp21]

The last scene is the best. I love her

[@AAngerJ]

Well, when Ben comes, you can give them to him!😂

[@jcee6886]

The older I get the more attractive I find Sybil.

[@JuggernautVault]

"Villains whose motives are hard to find fault in and arguably better than the hero's." Elder God Tier Villain

[@Raky2427]

Come on! Give us a smile!

[@tovmatt8506]

Raky 2427 😂😂

[@grannym2880]

I thought there might have been a few "ooh, I knoooooooow" -s in there but still a great compilation.

[@beezy364]

Sybil was fine with an attitude. My type of woman

[@sunnsight]

Really???

[@andyhaochizhang]

You like a woman with spirit?

[@speakertreatz]

@@sunnsight yes

[@theymusthatetesla3186]

One SEXY lady! Especially in season 2!!

[@paullacey2999]

Shes a National Treasure👍

[@BobbySMiles]

I bought the complete series for my own enjoyment back a few years ago .

[@laurieparker-stuart868]

Yes. The some will remove these from public view.

[@FJB_USA_1ST]

I loved all of your outfits. Very classy.

[@stevencassidy6982]

I seem to remember her playing the Queen, long before Helen mirren, in that Alan bennett TV play

[@Gwailo54]

She did both soy plays at the National. She stole the show. Such a pity they didn’t have the streaming and recording of present times. She had presence and then some.