What's Funny About...

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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What's Funny About ...

Discussion & Talk

Comedy: Chat

Peter Fincham and Jon Plowman hear the inside story of the biggest TV comedies..

Peter Fincham and Jon Plowman hear the inside story of the biggest TV comedies in Britain.

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What's Funny About ...: Series 2: 5. John Cleese on Fawlty Towers

5. John Cleese on Fawlty Towers

Series 2

BBC Radio 4 Extra - What's Funny About ..., Series 2, 5. John Cleese on Fawlty Towers

John Cleese shares the inside story of BBC TV sitcom masterpiece, Fawlty Towers.

John Cleese shares the inside story of a sitcom masterpiece with TV veterans Peter Fincham and Jon Plowman. From 2021.

Comedy legend John Cleese discusses his BBC TV sitcom masterpiece, Fawlty Towers.

He's sharing the inside story with TV veterans Peter Fincham and Jon Plowman.

John traces the beginnings of Basil Fawlty all the way back to his work on Monty Python (“nice though the abattoir is…”), and talks about the real hotelier who inspired the character. 
 
He tells us about the writing and casting of the show, and discusses some of the challenges of bringing a character like Fawlty to the screen. 
 
And John talks about the doomed American effort to remake Fawlty , but with one tiny change –  the leading character Basil was written out!

Producer: Owen Braben

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra by Expectation Productions, and first broadcast in October 2021.

What's Funny About ...: Series 2

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Peter Fincham and Jon Plowman hear the inside story of the biggest TV comedies.

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What's Funny About ...

Series 2

5. John Cleese on Fawlty Towers

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