Fawlty Towers, Series 1

Manic, arrogant, sycophantic and sadistic, Basil Fawlty is the perfect vehicle for John Cleese’s comic brilliance. Basil is a much put-upon, hard-working hotel manager whose life is plagued by dead guests, hotel inspectors and riffraff. Of course his biggest headache is his 'little nest of vipers' — his nagging wife Sibyl (Prunella Scales). Together they run their hotel, Fawlty Towers, with a little help from the unflappable Polly (Connie Booth), and Manuel (Andrew Sachs), the trainee waiter from Barcelona with marginally more intelligence than a monkey. Everyone loves Fawlty Towers — except the poor, abused guests. Since that memorable mid 1970s evening when Basil first snarled and smarmed at his customers, it has become cult viewing in 61 countries world-wide, and has won 3 BAFTA awards.