John Cleese returns to Torquay after 50 years

John Cleese returns to Torquay for first time since encountering real Basil Fawlty 50 years agoFawlty Towers legend John Cleese has returned to Torquay for the first time in over 50 years as the hit West End play tours to the town where it all beganCommentsNewsHoward Lloyd Regional content editor18:29, 14 Apr 2026Updated 18:44, 14 Apr 2026John Cleese returns to TorquayFawlty Towers legend John Cleese has returned to Torquay for the first time in more than 50 years - and the infamous incident that led to the creation of the comedy classic. The star, now 86, was last in the seaside town experiencing the 'astonishing' rudeness of the hotelier Donald Sinclair in 1971 - an encounter that inspired Basil Fawlty.‌But in an interview today (Tuesday, April 14), looking over the town's harbour, he said it felt like bringing the show home as he recalled the encounter at the now-demolished Gleneagles hotel that led to its creation.‌John was at the Princess Theatre as the Fawlty Towers play, a hit West End show now on tour, came to town. He said: "It has been a long time since I was in Torquay but it is lovely to be back. I used to come here a lot in the mid-50s, because my closest friend lived here and we used to spend long summers playing miniature golf.‌"Then I came back in the 70s when Python came to film here. Most of them left the Gleneagles Hotel after 24 hours to go to the Imperial. I stayed on and thank god I did as it gave me lots of items."Then I came back to the show the hotel to the producers and to our disappointment Mr Sinclair had left and gone to Miami. I was met by a nice agreeable chap, which was a great disappointment."View 2 ImagesJohn Cleese on Princess Pier in Torquay(Image: SWNS)‌Recalling his encounter with Mr Sinclair, John added: "When I arrived to the Gleneagles I remember it seemed strange. I walked in and there was this guy sitting at a reception desk, staring into space, not doing anything - and the moment he...