John Cleese | Fawlty Towers: Fawlts and All
Sat 22 Nov 2025 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Oh Basil — Fawlty Towers is 50!
Fifty years ago, Fawlty Towers first hit British television screens and instantly became a classic. Regularly voted the greatest sitcom in British TV history, it has never lost its power to make audiences laugh, or to horrify them with Basil’s gloriously awkward antics.
Now, for the first time, John Cleese – writer, creator and, of course, the irascible Basil Fawlty himself – shares the stories behind the show. From scripts so carefully planned they were double the length of other sitcoms, to last-minute production dramas, casting triumphs and near-cancellations, Cleese takes us behind the scenes of this comedy masterpiece. Expect a return to such iconic moments as Basil thrashing his car, Manuel’s misadventures, Sybil’s cutting one-liners, and the unforgettable goose-stepping across the dining room.
In conversation with Alex Clark, Cleese will explore the how and the why of creating great comedy, offering both a laugh-filled trip down memory lane and fresh insights into the making of a legend.
An unmissable evening of nostalgia, hilarity and classic comedy with one of Britain’s true comic geniuses.
In conversation with Alex Clark
Livestream option available
Venue: TTP Stage (Cambridge Union)
Duration: 1 hour
Event supported by
Tickets available soon.
Author Biography
John Cleese co-founded the legendary Monty Python comedy troupe, writing and performing in the TV series and in films including Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python’s Life of Brian. In the 1970s Cleese and his first wife, Connie Booth, co-wrote and starred in the now-classic sitcom Fawlty Towers, which won three BAFTAs. Cleese co-wrote and starred in the 1988 smash hit A Fish Called Wanda, for which he won a BAFTA award for acting. He went on to appear in many other films, from James Bond to Harry Potter, and guest starred in numerous TV shows, including Cheers and Will and Grace. In his twilight years he passes his time touring, writing film scripts, making speeches to business audiences and doing seminars on creativity, and teaching at Cornell University. He has recently completed scripts for two upcoming stage projects: a musical version of A Fish Called Wanda and an adaptation of Life of Brian.
Chair Biography
Alex Clark is a broadcaster and journalist, who writes for many publications including the Guardian, the Observer, and the Times Literary Supplement. She is a co-host on the Graham Norton Book Club for Audible and hosts the TLS podcast. She is a professional chairperson and appears all over the UK at Edinburgh, Hay and the Southbank Centre. Alex is a festival honorary patron.
