[Oliver_W]

Quite right too! <3

Fawlty Towers has been named as the best British sitcom of all time.

The BBC series topped the Radio Times magazine’s list, compiled by a panel of television experts, beating Father Ted, Blackadder, I’m Alan Partridge and Only Fools and Horses.

The judges called John Cleese a “six-foot-five comic genius” who made the show a hit playing the highly-strung Basil Fawlty, proprietor of a sub-par Torquay hotel.

Fawlty Towers ran for just two series of six episodes each in the 1970s.

Co-writer and co-star of Connie Booth told the publication: “Fawlty Towers succeeds, I think, because it allows infantile rage and aggression a field day in a buttoned down, well-mannered English society.

“It’s unique in being a farce, with all the plot surprises and precision that the style requires. And it doesn’t hurt that the star of the show is a six-foot-five comic genius. If he was shorter I can’t imagine how it would have worked.”

Cleese added: “I was very lucky to be working at the BBC when decisions were taken by people who had actually made programmes.

“What a cast. I’m proud we are up there with Porridge and Only Fools and Ab Fab and Blackadder and The Office and Reggie Perrin and The Thick of It.”

Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted, penned by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, came second in the list, with I’m Alan Partridge coming third, and Blackadder fourth.

The list was voted for by 42 comedy experts, including lauded writers Mathews, Linehan and Richard Curtis, as well Barry Cryer and Alison Graham.

Graham said: “When we find a comedy that does make us laugh, that brings a quick hit of joy into our lives, and we treasure it for ever.

“In our memories, great comedies are pearls that become more burnished and beautiful through the years. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.”

[Tony Montana]

Alf will be chuffed then

[RileyH]

how old are the voters jfc

[Liam-]

Appalling

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Appalling

You did not watch it so wtf

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by RileyH

how old are the voters jfc

I was born well after a decade after the show ended and I'd probably have voted for it.

[LaLaLand]

I mean it's okay but...

[Denver]

its not The Royle Family

[Liam-]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

You did not watch it so wtf

Don’t assume things, it makes you look dumb when you’re wrong

[Denver]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Don’t assume things, it makes you look dumb when you’re wrong

Me to customer at work

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Don’t assume things, it makes you look dumb when you’re wrong

Or I'm right

That is much more likely

[Marsh.]

Wow, overrated.

[LaLaLand]

I'm quite surprised in today's "snowflake society" that this has topped any charts tbh.

[Liam-]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Or I'm right

That is much more likely

Do you have a designated number of rows you have to meet or something? Bore off

[Amy Jade]

AbFab and Keeping Up Appearances are way better

[Barry.]

Originally Posted by Amy Jade

AbFab and Keeping Up Appearances are way better

Yes agreed but it is still good.

[Alf]

We had our own poll on this question last year, on this forum. The results were embarrassing.

[Nicky91]

amazing news my parents loved this, they got me into watching this and i also liked it a lot

well deserved this for fawlty towers

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Amy Jade

AbFab and Keeping Up Appearances are way better

Maybe to someone with the sense of humour of Jason Voorhees.

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Do you have a designated number of rows you have to meet or something? Bore off

[smudgie]

Hmmmm, personal preferences I suppose.
But going by the success of a show it doesn’t really rate high up there.
12 episodes in total.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by smudgie

Hmmmm, personal preferences I suppose.
But going by the success of a show it doesn’t really rate high up there.
12 episodes in total.

Tbf 12 episodes because that's all the creator wanted to make. Not because it flopped and was cancelled.

A number of hugely successful shows only lasted 18 episodes over 3 series.

[Daniel-X]

I love Fawlty Towers but this should’ve been Ab Fab’s!

[Daniel-X]

I’m Alan Partridge coming third, we love taste!

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Tbf 12 episodes because that's all the creator wanted to make. Not because it flopped and was cancelled.

Or it could have been that the writers were going through a divorce to each other around about that time, I'm sure that would have played a part in the quantity of episodes.

Ricky Gervais always does 12 episodes in his sitcoms, because he's such a big Fawlty Towers fan, but I bet he never took in to consideration that there would have likely been more if Cleese and Booth weren't going through a break-up.