Fawlty Towers legend Prunella Scales has died

BREAKING

The actress was best known for her role in legendary British sitcom Fawlty Towers as Sybil Fawlty, hotel manager and wife of Basil, played by John Cleese.

Her sons Samuel and Joseph said that she died "peacefully at home in London yesterday".

Scales received a Bafta nomination for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett's 1991 televised play, A Question of Attribution.

She also appeared in the sitcom After Henry and the TV show Great Canal Journeys which ran for 13 seasons.

In a statement, her family said: "Our darling mother Prunella Scales died peacefully at home in London yesterday. She was 93. Although dementia forced her retirement from a remarkable acting career of nearly 70 years, she continued to live at home.

"She was watching Fawlty Towers the day before she died. Pru was married to Timothy West for 61 years. He died in November 2024. She is survived by two sons and one stepdaughter, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren."