How John Cleese Created Fawlty Towers | Basil's Origin Story

Do you want to know how John Cleese created Basil Fawlty and Fawlty Towers? Find out where he got his inspiration and the terrible hotel he visited.
Basil Fawlty, the iconic character from Fawlty Towers, was inspired from a real hotel manager. His name was Donald Sinclair, and Monty Python met him when they stayed at Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay, Devon in 1970 to film for their comedy sketch show, Monty Python's Flying Circus.
But Donald was the rudest man that John Cleese had ever met, which made their stay at Gleneagles horrifying, but it planted the seed in Cleese's head to base a character around him with his 1975 sitcom, Fawlty Towers.
Watch the video to find out what the Pythons experienced, such as a problem with Eric Idle's briefcase (including John's explanation to Michael Parkinson), and Terry Gilliam's eating habits. And why the Monty Python crew had to check out fast! Also learn what happened to the Gleneagles Hotel after the Pythons left.
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[@SeriousClassics]

Do you sympathise with the Sinclairs for the attention they got?

[@nicholasjanke3476]

I think Don Sinclair never wanted to be a hotel man but was forced into it when his wife bought such a business.

[@wayneyadams]

My two favorite scenes are the one where he started marching through the restaurant like a German soldier, and the one where he beats his car with the tree branch.

[@Hans_van_der_veen]

The Spanish waiter is named: MANUEL! Played by Andrew Sachs!

[@SeriousClassics]

Yes