John Cleese, 84, and spouse Jennifer, 52, attend Fawlty Towers: The Play
John Cleese seemed in good spirits as he cosied up to wife Jennifer at the opening night of Fawlty Towers: The Play at The Apollo Theatre in London on Wednesday.
The actor, 84, who portrayed Basil Fawlty and wrote the original TV series, cut a dapper figure as he posed on the red carpet with his jewellery designer partner Jennifer, 52.
It marked a big night for John, who is reprising his role as Basil, after jokingly revealing he is doing it for the money so that he no longer has to fly economy.
Ahead of taking to the stage, the comedian cut a smart figure in a blazer and tucked a navy polo top into a pair of denim jeans.
John kept comfortable in a pair of white trainers as he wrapped his arm around his fourth wife Jennifer, who he married in 2012.
John Cleese seemed in good spirits as he cosied up to wife Jennifer at the opening night of Fawlty Towers: The Play at The Apollo Theatre in London on Wednesday
The actor, who portrayed Basil Fawlty and wrote the original TV series, cut a dapper figure as he posed on the red carpet with his jewellery designer partner Jennifer
John with the original cast of Fawlty Towers, in the hit BBC sitcom which was broadcast from 1975 to 1979 for two seasons
She seemed to coordinate with John as she wore a dark blazer and jeans, with the couple putting on a united display as they posed for photos.
Elsewhere, Penny Lancaster put on a leggy display in a black floral minidress and towering pink heels.
The model, who is married to singer Rod Stewart, looked incredible as she flashed her gorgeous smile while posing for photos.
Leaving her long blonde tresses loose, Penny carried her belongings in a stylish pink handbag.
Dame Arlene Phillips turned heads in an eye-catching orange and white midi dress which she teamed with navy shoes.
The choreographer looked stunning as she accessorised the ensemble with a simple pearl necklace.
Jason Manford smiled as he stopped to pose for selfie with fans who lined the red carpet.
The presenter dressed smart in a black jacket which he teamed with denim jeans and Nike trainers.
Leigh Francis – who is also known by the character he plays, Keith Lemon – commanded attention in a yellow and black checked suit.
The comedian cut a smart figure in a blazer and tucked a navy polo top into a pair of denim jeans
John kept comfortable in a pair of white trainers as he wrapped his arm around his fourth wife Jennifer, who he married in 2012
The iconic British sitcom Fawlty Towers has been revived for an eagerly-anticipated West End production, more than 40 years later
John co-wrote the original series with Connie Booth, who was then his wife. She also starred in Fawlty Towers as Polly – pictured 1979
She seemed to coordinate with John as she wore a dark blazer and jeans as they posed for photos
Show creator Cleese was seen exiting a people carrier ahead of the launch on Wednesday
Elsewhere, Penny Lancaster put on a leggy display in a black floral minidress and towering pink heels
The model, who is married to singer Rod Stewart, looked incredible as she flashed her gorgeous smile while posing for photos
Dame Arlene Phillips turned heads in an eye catching orange and white midi dress which she teamed with navy shoes
The choreographer looked stunning as she accessorised the ensemble with a simple pearl necklace
Leigh Francis – who is also known by the character he plays, Keith Lemon – commanded attention in a yellow and black checked suit
The presenter rocked a large black hat and orange tinted glasses with his ensemble as he beamed for photos with fans and signed autographs
The presenter rocked a large black hat and orange tinted glasses with his ensemble as he beamed for photos.
Leigh stopped to chat to fans and sign autographs as he made his way inside the theatre.
This Morning and Celebs Go Dating star Vanessa Feltz opted for a summery pink patterned blouse and matching wide legged trousers.
Leaving her blonde tresses loose in waves, the TV personality opted for a pair of pink framed sunglasses and donned a pair of large drop coordinated earrings.
She kept comfortable in a pair of silver glittering sandals and carried her belongings in a woven pom pom handbag.
Skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean also seemed in high spirits as they attended the opening night of the show.
Former Monty Python star Terry Gilliam signed autographs for fans outside the theatre
Penny Lancaster was seen leaving the Apollo with a friend following the press night party
Jayne looked stylish in a white jacket, pink blouse and black trousers while Christopher opted for a cool black leather jacket with a white T-shirt.
Suzy Izzard rocked an edgy black minidress with a leather jacket as she posed at the star-studded gala night.
Strictly Come Dancing winner and actor Bill Bailey dressed to impress in a patterned black shirt which he teamed with matching trousers.
The West End show Fawlty Towers has come to the stage nearly 50 years after it became one of Britain’s best-loved sitcoms.
The original series, which ran from 1975 to 1979, followed inept hotel manager Basil Fawlty, played by Cleese, as he tried to keep his hotel and marriage afloat.
The writer and creator has used material from three episodes of the series – The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans and Communication Problems.
John said it was a ‘thrill’ to bring the show to the stage for the first time.
He has adapted the three episodes to write ‘one huge finale’ which will tie them all together.
The strikingly similar-looking West End cast includes Adam Jackson-Smith as Basil Fawlty, Anna-Jane Casey as his wife Sybil, Hemi Yeroham as waiter Manuel and Victoria Fox as Polly, the chambermaid.
Skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean also seemed in high spirits as they attended the opening night of the show
Jason Manford smiled as he stopped to pose for selfie with fans who lined the red carpet
The presenter dressed smart in a black jacket which he teamed with denim jeans and Nike trainers
Terry Gilliam put on an animated display on the red carpet
Suzy Izzard rocked an edgy black minidress with a leather jacket as she posed at the star-studded gala night
Strictly Come Dancing winner and actor Bill Bailey dressed to impress in a patterned black shirt which he teamed with matching trousers
This Morning and Celebs Go Dating star Vanessa Feltz turned heads in a summery pink patterned blouse and matching wide legged trousers
Jack Whitehall’s parents Hilary and Michael held hands as they posed for photos
The West End show Fawlty Towers has come to the stage nearly 50 years after it became one of Britain’s best-loved sitcoms
The original series, which ran from 1975 to 1979, followed inept hotel manager Basil Fawlty, played by Cleese, as he tried to keep his hotel and marriage afloat
The writer and creator has used material from three episodes of the series – The Hotel Inspectors, The Germans and Communication Problems
Fawlty Towers, which premiered in the seventies, is set in a hotel in the seaside town of Torquay. Basil Fawlty is the irritable owner of the hotel, who was often rude to demanding guests.
Basil is constantly berated by his wife, Sybil, portrayed by Prunella Scales, and he also had a number of comedic run-ins with their Spanish waiter Manuel, who was played by Andrew Sachs.
The play will follow Basil as he attempts to ingratiate himself with guests he suspects are posing as hotel inspectors.
Fawlty Towers was awarded many plaudits, including two Bafta awards for best situation comedy.
In 2019, the show was named the greatest British sitcom of all time by a panel of television experts for the Radio Times magazine.
The sitcom was based on real life hotel owner, Donald Sinclair, and Cleese was given the idea when he stayed at Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay.
The original episode, The Germans, was removed off some broadcast platforms for a period of time due to the use of racial slurs, following the Black Lives Matter protests.
However, it returned and was reinstated with a warning about ‘offensive content and language’.
Cleese co-wrote the original series with Connie Booth, who was then his wife. She also starred in Fawlty Towers as Polly.
Fawlty Towers The Play Review: Shamelessly recycled it may be, but this is a fine reproduction of a vintage antique… it’s as if time stood still, writes PATRICK MARMION
Shamelessly recycled, fifty-year-old comic material it may be. But as shamelessly recycled 50-year-old comic material goes, John Cleese and Connie Booth’s stage replica of their classic TV comedy, Fawlty Towers, is still very good fun.
It’s such a high-quality copy of the 1975 original that if you look closely, you might even find it says ‘Made In China’ on the bottom. Fawlty Towers purists will be relieved to learn there is nothing new to see here.
Instead, this is a tightly wrought highlights package, distilling the fire drill fiasco, the wall-mounted moose debacle, and the fateful fiver secretly bet on the horse Dragonfly.
Into the carefully choreographed chaos step deaf old battleaxe Mrs Richards (a peerlessly contemptuous Rachel Izen), undercover hotel inspectors and many others, including… the Germans.
Being live adds frisson, but this is a risk-free re-run unthreatened by ‘new material’. Caroline Jay Ranger’s production offers her company all the creative freedom that Kim Jong Un grants the people of North Korea.
It’s shamelessly recycled, but John Cleese and Connie Booth’s stage replica of their classic TV comedy, Fawlty Towers, is still very good fun
It’s such a high-quality copy of the 1975 original that if you look closely, you might even find it says ‘Made In China ’ on the bottom
And Liz Ashcroft’s staging distils the chintzy Torquay hotel into an open plan design faux pas — from lobby with flock wallpaper and dining room with lacy tablecloths, to upstairs bedroom sans sea view.
Adam Jackson-Smith is a faultless avatar of Basil, down to the long moustache muffling his sotto voce sarcasm. He leaps adroitly to attention at Sybil’s shrieking threats to his manhood (‘you’ll have to sew them back on first…’), but he’s also supple enough to do the swivelling, head-bandaged goose step for the bewildered Germans.
Anna-Jane Casey’s Sybil is likewise a Prunella Scales carbon copy, while Hemi Yeroham has the exact rubber-ball bounce of Andrew Sachs’s waiter from Barcelona, Manuel. Victoria Fox has the swimming head movements and mid-Atlantic accent of Connie Booth’s Polly, and Paul Nichols is as blissfully oblivious as Ballard Berkeley’s mystified Major.
It’s as if time has stood still for this fine reproduction of a vintage mid-century antique. I suggest you book an en suite.
It’s as if time has stood still for this fine reproduction of a vintage mid-century antique. I suggest you book an en suite
