2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Deborah Hall)
Grimsby actor and former Strictly dance star Joanne Clifton is heading out on the road in a stage version of the iconic TV show, Fawlty Towers. Joanne is to appear as Polly, played on the small screen by Connie Booth, who co-wrote the Torquay-set sit-com with John Cleese. The TV show won many awards and plaudits, including two BAFTAS for Best Situation Comedy and in 2000 it was voted the best British programme of all time in a British Film Institute poll.
Now, Fawlty Towers - The Play is going on a ten-month tour of the UK and Ireland after a critically acclaimed West End run, starting in September. It will make a stop at Hull New Theatre from May 12 to 16, 2026. Nearly 50 years since Fawlty Towers was first broadcast on BBC Two on September 19, 1975, comedy legend Cleese has chosen three of his favourite original TV episodes - The Hotel Inspector and The Germans from series one and Communication Problems from series two - and adapted them into a two-hour play, complete with a new finale.
Casting has just been announced for the tour, directed by originating West End director Caroline Jay Ranger, and will star Danny Bayne as Basil Fawlty, Mia Austen as Sybil, Hemi Yeroham reprising his role as Manuel, Joanne Clifton as Polly, Paul Nicholas reprising his role as The Major and Jemma Churchill as Mrs Richards. Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Grimsby with our free newsletter Cleese said: “I’m thrilled with the top-class group of comedy actors that we've assembled for the UK tour of Fawlty Towers - The Play, which begins in September. September also marks exactly 50 years since the first ever TV episode was broadcast on the BBC.
“I never thought that all these years later the stage show would get the reception that it has. But here we are, still making theatres rock with laughter.” John Cleese, the original Basil Fawlty, with Joanne Clifton as Polly in the stage version of the sit-com (Image: Trevor Leighton) Following a tip-off that hotel inspectors may be visiting and eager to impress, Basil attempts to ingratiate himself with guests that he suspects are there to critique the establishment.
The situation is further plagued by a party of Germans, the deaf and dotty guest-from-hell, Mrs Richards, whose infuriating complaints prevent him from hiding a gambling win from his ever vigilant and bossy wife, Sybil. Together they run their hotel with a little help from the unflappable Polly, and very little help at all from Manuel, the trainee waiter from Barcelona who is the butt of Fawlty’s frustration. The play features other beloved characters from the original TV sitcom: Mr Hutchinson / Wilhelm played by Greg Haiste; Miss Tibbs played by Emily Winter; Miss Gatsby played by Dawn Buckland; Mr Thurston / Günter played by John Hasler; Mr Walt played by Adam Elliott; Taxi Driver/ Mr Firkins / Mr Kerr / Mr Sharp played by Neil Stewart; and Johanna and Liz (Hotel Guest) played by Josie Brightwell.
Completing the company of players are Ashleigh Harvey, Ben Jacobson, Matthew Gordon and Raymond Rose, playing hotel guests Debbie, Ken, Mr Dale and Philip, respectively. Set in a fictional hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, only 12 half-hour episodes of the original BBC comedy were ever made. Based on a real-life hotel owner, Donald Sinclair, John Cleese came up with the idea for the character Basil Fawlty when he stayed at Sinclair’s Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay and became fascinated with his incredibly rude behaviour.
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