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'Fawlty Towers' re-opening ruled out at cast reunion

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Thirty years since they had Britons in stitches by running the most appallingly inefficient hotel in the country, the Fawlty Towers crew reunited for a photoshoot on Wednesday.

Viewers were often left roaring with laughter as the inept staff insulted guests and served revolting food, so excitement over the re-grouping of the key players was high.

Those hoping to see the Torquay establishment reopen for business are in for disappointment, however. Writer and creator John Cleese said the cast were "too old and tired" to make another episode.

"A remake would be "good - not very good" he reasoned, explaining that 43 weeks of work went into each series in the show's Seventies heyday.

Joining him at the event to promote two documentaries about the comedy classic were Connie Booth, the long-suffering waitress, Andrew Sachs – the hotel's hopeless Spanish waiter Manuel - and Prunella Scales, who played John's wife.

These days 69-year-old year-old multi-millionaire John has moved on to a career Hollywood.

Prunella Scales, still a favourite with the public for her Tesco ads and theatre career, was also taking a nonchalant approach to the proceedings, asking reporters: "Can you remind me exactly what the occasion is?".

But Andrew, who's recently returned to prominence as a result of the Jonathan Ross answerphone incident, declared the attention "rather overwhelming".

He will have to get used to the exposure though – he's soon to be appearing in ITV soap Coronation Street.

Photo: Rex
John Cleese said the original show would be difficult to top and the cast were "too old and tired" to make another episode. He was joined by Connie Booth, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs to promote two documentaries about the programme
The personnel of the most inefficient hotel in Britain as they were in the Seventies

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