Fawlty Towers Co-Creator Admits Unnoticed "Terrible Joke" in Classic Sitcom

In November 2025, it has been 50 years since the iconic British sitcom Fawlty Towers first burst onto our screens. The show, which starred John Cleese as the sarcastic and ill-tempered hotel owner Basil Fawlty, has gone down as one of the most beloved comedies in British television history.

Cleese, who is now 86 years old, not only starred in the sitcom but also co-created and co-wrote it with his then-wife, Connie Booth. Booth went on to play the role of the hotel's chambermaid, Polly, in the series. Despite the show's immense popularity, Cleese has now revealed that one of the "terrible, terrible jokes" he wrote in reference to Wales in one of the episodes went completely unnoticed by viewers.

The Fawlty Towers co-creator's admission comes as a surprise, given the show's reputation for sharp, satirical humor. The sitcom, which ran for just 12 episodes, has remained a beloved classic, with its memorable characters and iconic moments etched in the minds of comedy fans worldwide.