Finally, here is the ultimate celebration of the nation's beloved sitcom from its legendary creator, John Cleese. Enjoy the behind-the-scenes magic, with stunning on-set photographs from the archives ... and a laugh on every page! Duck surprise. The car that wouldn't start. The psychiatrists. Those builders...

Fifty years ago, Fawlty Towers first hit British TV screens, becoming an instant classic. Now, for the first time, John Cleese shares his behind-the-scenes stories of his favorite moments. From writing scripts that were so carefully planned they were twice as long as similar shows, to casting, lighting, how the show nearly got canceled before it even began, and other production secrets, these are your favorite moments from Fawlty Towers like you've never seen them before.

Exploring how and why classic comedy is created, there is a laugh on every page and a nostalgic touch for vintage TV fans. With beautiful commissioned illustrations and archival images, the book revisits iconic scenes such as Basil smashing his car, a rat appearing in a box of cheese biscuits, and Basil goose-stepping across the dining room to an audience of shocked guests.

Written by and starring Cleese and his then-wife Connie Booth, the first series of Fawlty Towers aired in 1975, with a second series broadcast in 1979. It featured Cleese as the irritable hotel manager Basil Fawlty, Prunella Scales as his indulgent wife Sybil, Andrew Sachs as the clumsy waiter Manuel, and Booth as Polly, an efficient waitress and art student. It won three BAFTAs and, despite having only 12 episodes in total, continues to be regularly voted the best sitcom in British history.

Pages: 224, Year of Publication: 1014, Dimensions: 19.4x19.4cm