MovieChat Forums > Fawlty Towers (1975) Discussion > The 2nd series

The 2nd series

posted 10 years ago by richardbeirne
3 replies | jump to latest

This is MERELY hypothetical, so I'm not being too serious but I often wondered...

Would John & Connie have proceeded with the 2nd series if some/all of the original actors hadn't been available/not interested in doing so.

For example, if Andrew Sachs or Pru Scales had said "no" I wonder if they'd have left it at that, or got other actors as replacements.

I'll use another one of my fave British sitcoms from the 70s era as a comparison.. Are You Being Served.

They did numerous series but in the later years, a lot of the male actors left and were replaced.

Thoughts?

[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

Well unless Basil and Sybil divorced then Sybil would have continued as a character and I can't see it working if the actress playing her changed between the two series. Manuel could have left as a character; like Sybil I can't see the character surviving if played by another actor.

Ultimately my answer would be no; they would not have continued without the actors in the ensemble, which includes the major and old ladies as resident hotel guests, remaining. Each actor owned their character.

I can't comment on Are You Being Served? as I rarely watched it.

A bird sings and the mountain's silence deepens.

[–] John_Dee_007 10 years ago

Manuel could have left as a character

He was a signature and pivotal character, and essential for so many of the jokes to work. Not to mention the physical comedy between Sachs and Cleese. No Manuel in Fawlty Towers would be akin to no Baldrick in Blackadder.

OCJOC

[–] benman46 10 years ago

As John Cleese only ever intended making two series, the point is moot.