John Cleese shares touching tribute to late Fawlty Towers co-star Prunella Scales

by

John Cleese has fondly remembered his Fawlty Towers colleague, Prunella Scales, after her passing at 93, calling her “absolutely perfect.”

I remember watching ‘Fawlty Towers’ and being completely captivated by Prunella Scales as Sybil. She played Basil Fawlty’s wife, and she was just brilliantly sharp-tongued – a perfect match for John Cleese’s character!

John Cleese shared a heartfelt statement following the news of Prunella Scales’ death. He described her as a truly gifted comedic actress, recalling how flawlessly she performed in numerous scenes while he recently revisited episodes of ‘Fawlty Towers’ for research purposes.

He described her as a kind and gentle woman who often apologized, something he playfully teased her about. He said he cared for her deeply.

The actress passed away peacefully at her London home on Monday, her sons Samuel and Joseph announced on Tuesday, October 28th. They shared that she had enjoyed watching Fawlty Towers the day before her death.

The statement also revealed she was 93 years old. Even though dementia led to her retirement after an incredible acting career spanning almost 70 years, she remained at home. Remarkably, she was watching Fawlty Towers just one day before her passing.

“Pru was married to Timothy West for 61 years. He died in November 2024.

She is remembered by her two sons, a stepdaughter, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

The family expressed their gratitude to everyone who cared for Pru during her final days, noting she was comfortable, peaceful, and surrounded by love.

This year marked 50 years since Fawlty Towers first launched onto our screens.

Downing Street expressed its sympathy to Prunella Scales’s family. A spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer said she was a star of a classic period for British comedy, bringing joy to viewers in their homes for many years.

“The prime minister, of course, passes all his condolences to her family.”

Scales had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013.

Throughout her career, she also famously portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in the Alan Bennett play, A Question of Attribution, earning her a BAFTA nomination for the performance.

The actress famously appeared on Channel 4’s Great Canal Journeys with her late husband, Timothy West. The show documented their travels across Europe, Egypt, and India as they explored by narrowboat.

The show was also remarkable for its portrayal of how the couple dealt with Scales’s battle with dementia.

Read More

2025-10-28 21:14