Fawlty Towers 50th anniversary show set for Torquay

Basil, Sybil and Manuel are coming home.

Torquay, the town that inspired one of Britain’s most beloved comedies, will host the Faulty Towers The Dining Experience - a special anniversary performance at the Osborne Hotel on Hesketh Crescent on Friday September 19.

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the original BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers, which first aired on September 19, 1975.

Written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, the series about the quintessential irascible Torquay hotelier ran for just 12 episodes but became one of the most acclaimed and influential British comedies of all time. Its enduring popularity has made it a cornerstone of UK television history.

The Torquay performance is part of a global celebration, with Faulty Towers The Dining Experience hosting simultaneous shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, London, Colchester, Newark and Bristol – all marking 50 years to the day since the first episode aired on BBC Two.

The Torquay cast will feature Jack Baldwin as Basil, Kat Mary as Sybil, and Jonathan Matthews as Manuel – serving up two hours of chaos, comedy and a 70s-style three-course meal in the most infamous hotel restaurant in British comedy history.

Producer Jared Harford said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing Basil back to Torquay for this historic milestone. Fawlty Towers has a special place in British comedy, and to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the town that inspired it is the perfect way to say thank you to our audiences around the world.”