Paul Whitehouse offers John Cleese damning advice on Fawlty Towers reboot

705     0
Paul Whitehouse offers John Cleese damning advice on Fawlty Towers reboot
Paul Whitehouse offers John Cleese damning advice on Fawlty Towers reboot

Comedian Paul Whitehouse had a few choice words for John Cleese when asked if the actor should bring back Fawlty Towers.

The seventies sitcom is one of Britain's best loved comedies, but Paul, 64, reckons John, 83, should leave it in the past.

The Monty Python star announced he was rebooting the series along with his daughter Camilla, 39, who will star in the show alongside her dad - but Paul isn't convinced.

Speaking on Andrew Marr's LBC show, he said: “You think I'm going to give Cleese advice? Don’t do it, John! Get someone younger in!

“Things you could say last year, you have to reevaluate now and you have to tread very carefully.

John Cleese to star in new series of Fawlty Towers alongside his daughter eiqtidduidqkinvJohn Cleese to star in new series of Fawlty Towers alongside his daughter

“There’s a zeal about it – of addressing, perhaps, issues that have gone unaddressed in the past.

Paul Whitehouse offers John Cleese damning advice on Fawlty Towers rebootComedian Paul Whitehouse had a few choice words for John Cleese (AFP/Getty Images)
Paul Whitehouse offers John Cleese damning advice on Fawlty Towers rebootHe's bringing back Fawlty Towers (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

“As we all know, there have been so many injustices in society that need to be addressed, and as I say, we’ve probably gone too far in our attempt to suppress those.”

John played Torquay-based hotelier Basil from 1975 to 1979, but he recently hinted the remake could be set in the Caribbean.

The star also said the show would not be on the BBC as he would not get the "freedom" he had before.

Paul Whitehouse offers John Cleese damning advice on Fawlty Towers rebootThe show is a seventies classic

The comic told GB News: "We thought, 'Where?' Not in a small English town but somewhere more fun and much more different - say a Caribbean island."

On the BBC snub, John claimed changes within the station had led it to prioritise audience numbers.

Speaking about programme making in the seventies, he said: "That was the best time because the BBC was run by people with real personalities who loved the medium and were operating out of confidence."

Paul Whitehouse offers John Cleese damning advice on Fawlty Towers rebootPaul told John: "Don't do it!" (LBC)

Fawlty Towers was named the greatest British sitcom by Radio Times in 2019. The show followed the exploits of hapless hotelier Basil and his wife Sybil, played by Prunella Scales.

John will be the only original cast member in his new series and will be joined by his comedian daughter.

However in recent weeks, the actor has been begged by fans not to relaunch the series with many saying it should be left untouched.

John Cleese's Monty Python co-star shares concern over Fawlty Towers revivalJohn Cleese's Monty Python co-star shares concern over Fawlty Towers revival
Paul Whitehouse offers John Cleese damning advice on Fawlty Towers rebootHe'll star in the series with his daughter (FilmMagic)
Paul Whitehouse offers John Cleese damning advice on Fawlty Towers rebootJohn has been begged not to relaunch the show (Getty Images)

Viewers reckon the show would have been "cancelled" had it launched now due to the 'politically incorrect' comedy.

But John wasn't having a bar of it, taking to Twitter, quipping: "I must apologise. I had no idea that the idea of writing a new sitcom with my daughter would cause so much anger and distress.

"I truly meant no harm. Naively I thought it might be fun."

Victoria Johns

Paul Whitehouse, John Cleese

Read more similar news:

09.02.2023, 12:55 • More
Should there be a Fawlty Towers reboot? Vote in our poll
10.02.2023, 11:36 • More
John Cleese snubs BBC in savage swipe over Fawlty Towers reboot
10.02.2023, 22:28 • More
John Cleese hints Fawlty Towers reboot won't be filmed in original location
10.02.2023, 22:45 • World
Tories leave Britain as only G7 country with smaller economy than before Covid
14.02.2023, 18:27 • More
Fawlty Towers star's fury as John Cleese didn't speak to her before reboot news
20.02.2023, 12:26 • More
John Cleese reacts to 'tide of negative emotion' after Fawlty Towers reboot
25.02.2023, 16:52 • More
Manuel won't work in new Fawlty Towers, says family of star who played him
07.05.2023, 04:51 • World
John Cleese sparks furious debate as he compares King Charles to Donald Trump
10.05.2023, 14:38 • News
David Walliams wants to 'work with John Cleese' in Fawlty Towers reboot
15.05.2023, 21:49 • More
Fawlty Towers risks fan fury as reboot sees a main character killed off