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Fawlty Towers storyline confirmed ahead of legendary sitcom’s return – and it’s set to divide fans

JOHN Cleese will launch his Fawlty Towers reboot by killing off Basil’s wife Sybil.

His revival of the BBC sitcom will also introduce bombastic hotelier Basil Fawlty’s secret daughter — the result of an affair with a guest.

John Cleese will launch his Fawlty Towers reboot by killing off Basil’s wife Sybil
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John Cleese will launch his Fawlty Towers reboot by killing off Basil’s wife Sybil
Fawlty Towers starred John as Basil and Prunella Scales, now 90 and living with Alzheimer’s, as Sybil
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Fawlty Towers starred John as Basil and Prunella Scales, now 90 and living with Alzheimer’s, as SybilCredit: BBC
Monty Python star John is reviving the show with real-life daughter Camilla, above
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Monty Python star John is reviving the show with real-life daughter Camilla, aboveCredit: Alamy

John, 83, revealed: “The new one starts with Sybil’s death and Basil’s daughter getting a text message from her father saying, ‘Sybil did’.

“She texts back, ‘Sybil did what?’. Basil is about to deliver the eulogy and says what an absolutely wonderful woman Sybil was.

“And then the camera pans around and you see that behind his back he has his fingers crossed.”

Fawlty Towers ran for only 12 episodes in the 1970s.

READ MORE ON FAWLTY TOWERS REBOOT

It starred John as Basil and Prunella Scales, now 90 and living with Alzheimer’s, as Sybil.

She was often the butt of Basil’s muttered insults, such as “rancorous, coiffured old sow” and “my little nest of vipers”.

Monty Python star John is reviving the show with real-life daughter Camilla.

He explained: “Sybil dies and Basil goes to see his daughter because it was all part of a naughty affair that he once had with a guest at the hotel.

“My daughter will probably be a hotelier who’s running this small hotel.

“It’s going to be a sort of slightly posh boutique hotel in the Caribbean with a multicultural staff because that’s the world of hotels.

“And there’ll be no one in except Basil.”

BASIL'S BEST INSULTS

BASIL'S put downs for Sybil included:

  • Golfing puff adder
  • Great sabre-toothed tart
  • Of Sybil’s laugh: “Someone machine gunning a seal.”
  • Of her manners: “Her finishing school got bombed.”
  • Of Sybil’s intelligence: “What have you got for brains? Sponge cake?”
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