‘Fawlty Towers’ revival in works at Castle Rock with John Cleese to return

Fawlty Towers

British sitcom Fawlty Towers is set to be revived after more than 40 years, with Rob Reiner’s Castle Rock Entertainment developing the series alongside original creator and star John Cleese.

Monty Python star Cleese will return to write and star in the series, with the show catching up with terse hotel owner Basil Fawlty in the current day as he sets up a new boutique hotel with a long-lost daughter – played by his real-life daughter Camilla Cleese.

Cleese, Reiner, Michele Reiner, Derrick Rossi and Matthew George will exec produce the series, which picks up 44 years after the end of sitcom, which aired two seasons on BBC Two in 1975 and 1979.

Only 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers were made, across two seasons of six episodes, but it is considered one of the greatest British comedies ever made and retains great popularity in the UK, with the show following Basil Fawlty and his put-upon wife and staff as he runs a chaotic Torquay hotel.

“When we first met, he [Matthew George] offered an excellent first idea, and then Matt, my daughter Camilla, and I had one of the best creative sessions I can remember,” said Cleese. “By dessert, we had an overall concept so good that, a few days later, it won the approval of Rob and Michele Reiner. Camilla and I look forward enormously to expanding it into a series.”

Reiner added: “John Cleese is a comedy legend. Just the idea of working with him makes me laugh.”