U&GOLD has acquired the broadcast rights for Fawlty Towers: The Play.
Written by series co-writer and star John Cleese, the show brings together three of the show’s most iconic episodes – The Hotel Inspector, The Germans and Communication Problems. It has been enjoying sell-out audiences in the West End since it opened in May 2024 and will tour the UK and Ireland later this year.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the wonderful response to Fawlty Towers: The Play since its debut in the West End and it’s a pleasure to hear U&Gold will be bringing it straight to everyone’s living rooms just in time for the 50th anniversary,” says Cleese.
Fawlty Towers: The Play is commissioned for UKTV by Mark Iddon, senior commissioning editor, and ordered for U&GOLD by Gerald Casey, director of programming, comedy and entertainment and director of commissioning, Hilary Rosen. This recording is produced by Phil McIntyre Television, and stars Adam Jackson-Smith as Basil, Anna-Jane Casey as Sybil, Hemi Yeroham as Manuel and Victoria Fox as Polly.
The original series ran for just 12 episodes between 1975 and 1979, though has been repeated many times since. Widely regarded as one of the best British comedies of all time, the lack of content presents a problem for channels such as U&GOLD when dipping into the library.
Gerald Casey, director of programming, comedy and entertainment, UKTV, says, “Fawlty Towers is a cornerstone of British comedy, and we’re honoured to be the first place TV audiences can watch this new stage version to mark the show’s 50th anniversary. With the legendary John Cleese at the helm, U&GOLD viewers are really in for something special.”
U&GOLD is part of UKTV, owned by BBC Studios.
