22 February 2023 , 11:14
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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
“There’s a zeal about it – of addressing, perhaps, issues that have gone unaddressed in the past.
Comedian Paul Whitehouse had a few choice words for John Cleese (AFP/Getty Images)
He'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.
The show is a seventies classicThe 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 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 revival
He'll star in the series with his daughter (FilmMagic)
John 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."