NJ
John Cleese did revive his Basil Fawlty character, albeit it in an advert for Specsavers.
And the passing of Andrew Sachs and the decline of Prunella Scales does not automatically mean a revival is off the cards for Fawlty Towers, although it is very unlikely to happen. John Cleese did say in the publicity for the Specsavers advert that most of the scripts he'd been sent or seen for Basil Fawlty were God awful but the only reason he did the Specsavers advert was because he liked the idea behind it, even though it was effectively a rehash of one scene in the original show with a modern addition. Probably safe to say if Fawlty Towers is ever revived it won't be in John Cleese's lifetime.
In any event, Open All Hours was revived long after the passing of Ronnie Barker. Was never going to be quite the same show after Barker but it's been running for quite some time and it's written by the same writer of the original show so its not like its in somebody else's hands.
Neil Jones
Founding member
I mean, what else can they do? You may as well say, well, it's obvious, just commission a new episode of Fawlty Towers or Blackadder.
John Cleese did revive his Basil Fawlty character, albeit it in an advert for Specsavers.
And the passing of Andrew Sachs and the decline of Prunella Scales does not automatically mean a revival is off the cards for Fawlty Towers, although it is very unlikely to happen. John Cleese did say in the publicity for the Specsavers advert that most of the scripts he'd been sent or seen for Basil Fawlty were God awful but the only reason he did the Specsavers advert was because he liked the idea behind it, even though it was effectively a rehash of one scene in the original show with a modern addition. Probably safe to say if Fawlty Towers is ever revived it won't be in John Cleese's lifetime.
In any event, Open All Hours was revived long after the passing of Ronnie Barker. Was never going to be quite the same show after Barker but it's been running for quite some time and it's written by the same writer of the original show so its not like its in somebody else's hands.
JO
John Cleese did revive his Basil Fawlty character, albeit it in an advert for Specsavers.
And the passing of Andrew Sachs and the decline of Prunella Scales does not automatically mean a revival is off the cards for Fawlty Towers, although it is very unlikely to happen. John Cleese did say in the publicity for the Specsavers advert that most of the scripts he'd been sent or seen for Basil Fawlty were God awful but the only reason he did the Specsavers advert was because he liked the idea behind it, even though it was effectively a rehash of one scene in the original show with a modern addition. Probably safe to say if Fawlty Towers is ever revived it won't be in John Cleese's lifetime.
In any event, Open All Hours was revived long after the passing of Ronnie Barker. Was never going to be quite the same show after Barker but it's been running for quite some time and it's written by the same writer of the original show so its not like its in somebody else's hands.
John Cleese has done variants of Basil Fawlty for ads before like the infamous Sainsbury ad. It's a bit like how Mr Bean is revived by Rowan Atkinson for ads and sketches but not a full length as he's probably gets paid the same if not more for less work.
The one sitcom I've always thought could be ripe for a one-off is Men Behaving Badly.
I mean, what else can they do? You may as well say, well, it's obvious, just commission a new episode of Fawlty Towers or Blackadder.
John Cleese did revive his Basil Fawlty character, albeit it in an advert for Specsavers.
And the passing of Andrew Sachs and the decline of Prunella Scales does not automatically mean a revival is off the cards for Fawlty Towers, although it is very unlikely to happen. John Cleese did say in the publicity for the Specsavers advert that most of the scripts he'd been sent or seen for Basil Fawlty were God awful but the only reason he did the Specsavers advert was because he liked the idea behind it, even though it was effectively a rehash of one scene in the original show with a modern addition. Probably safe to say if Fawlty Towers is ever revived it won't be in John Cleese's lifetime.
In any event, Open All Hours was revived long after the passing of Ronnie Barker. Was never going to be quite the same show after Barker but it's been running for quite some time and it's written by the same writer of the original show so its not like its in somebody else's hands.
John Cleese has done variants of Basil Fawlty for ads before like the infamous Sainsbury ad. It's a bit like how Mr Bean is revived by Rowan Atkinson for ads and sketches but not a full length as he's probably gets paid the same if not more for less work.
The one sitcom I've always thought could be ripe for a one-off is Men Behaving Badly.
JL
John Cleese did revive his Basil Fawlty character, albeit it in an advert for Specsavers.
And the passing of Andrew Sachs and the decline of Prunella Scales does not automatically mean a revival is off the cards for Fawlty Towers, although it is very unlikely to happen. John Cleese did say in the publicity for the Specsavers advert that most of the scripts he'd been sent or seen for Basil Fawlty were God awful but the only reason he did the Specsavers advert was because he liked the idea behind it, even though it was effectively a rehash of one scene in the original show with a modern addition. Probably safe to say if Fawlty Towers is ever revived it won't be in John Cleese's lifetime.
In any event, Open All Hours was revived long after the passing of Ronnie Barker. Was never going to be quite the same show after Barker but it's been running for quite some time and it's written by the same writer of the original show so its not like its in somebody else's hands.
John Cleese has done variants of Basil Fawlty for ads before like the infamous Sainsbury ad. It's a bit like how Mr Bean is revived by Rowan Atkinson for ads and sketches but not a full length as he's probably gets paid the same if not more for less work.
The one sitcom I've always thought could be ripe for a one-off is Men Behaving Badly.
Men Behaving Badly was another I was thinking off. Actually thought people were talking about it at first when I saw MBB. I don't know whether the cast would be interested though.
Outnumbered could probably be revived as well, but obviously the show would be very different now with all the kids being adults, and I don't think a family reunion setting episode would be particulary funny.
I mean, what else can they do? You may as well say, well, it's obvious, just commission a new episode of Fawlty Towers or Blackadder.
John Cleese did revive his Basil Fawlty character, albeit it in an advert for Specsavers.
And the passing of Andrew Sachs and the decline of Prunella Scales does not automatically mean a revival is off the cards for Fawlty Towers, although it is very unlikely to happen. John Cleese did say in the publicity for the Specsavers advert that most of the scripts he'd been sent or seen for Basil Fawlty were God awful but the only reason he did the Specsavers advert was because he liked the idea behind it, even though it was effectively a rehash of one scene in the original show with a modern addition. Probably safe to say if Fawlty Towers is ever revived it won't be in John Cleese's lifetime.
In any event, Open All Hours was revived long after the passing of Ronnie Barker. Was never going to be quite the same show after Barker but it's been running for quite some time and it's written by the same writer of the original show so its not like its in somebody else's hands.
John Cleese has done variants of Basil Fawlty for ads before like the infamous Sainsbury ad. It's a bit like how Mr Bean is revived by Rowan Atkinson for ads and sketches but not a full length as he's probably gets paid the same if not more for less work.
The one sitcom I've always thought could be ripe for a one-off is Men Behaving Badly.
Men Behaving Badly was another I was thinking off. Actually thought people were talking about it at first when I saw MBB. I don't know whether the cast would be interested though.
Outnumbered could probably be revived as well, but obviously the show would be very different now with all the kids being adults, and I don't think a family reunion setting episode would be particulary funny.
JO
There's been 7-8 year gap between each of the three Johnny English films so he's clearly not desperate to do often.
Although Rowan Atkinson keeps doing those Johnny English movies, despite them getting progressively worse with each outing.
There's been 7-8 year gap between each of the three Johnny English films so he's clearly not desperate to do often.
VM
There's been 7-8 year gap between each of the three Johnny English films so he's clearly not desperate to do often.
Still seems surprisingly often for someone who otherwise gets to be highly selective about what he does.
Although Rowan Atkinson keeps doing those Johnny English movies, despite them getting progressively worse with each outing.
There's been 7-8 year gap between each of the three Johnny English films so he's clearly not desperate to do often.
Still seems surprisingly often for someone who otherwise gets to be highly selective about what he does.
AN
John Cleese did revive his Basil Fawlty character, albeit it in an advert for Specsavers.
And the passing of Andrew Sachs and the decline of Prunella Scales does not automatically mean a revival is off the cards for Fawlty Towers, although it is very unlikely to happen. John Cleese did say in the publicity for the Specsavers advert that most of the scripts he'd been sent or seen for Basil Fawlty were God awful but the only reason he did the Specsavers advert was because he liked the idea behind it, even though it was effectively a rehash of one scene in the original show with a modern addition. Probably safe to say if Fawlty Towers is ever revived it won't be in John Cleese's lifetime.
In any event, Open All Hours was revived long after the passing of Ronnie Barker. Was never going to be quite the same show after Barker but it's been running for quite some time and it's written by the same writer of the original show so its not like its in somebody else's hands.
I’m not in favour of stuff that shouldn’t be revived being revived just because there is desperation of getting a big one off rating at Christmas. It’s the idea of reviving at all cost which is why we ended up with a Sharon less Birds of a Feather.
That’s also why it’s debatable if a proper Vicar of Dibley would work as most of the supporting cast is no longer with us, I’ve also seen in the past people suggest more One Foot in the Grave, pretending the last episode didn’t happen. Reviving Faulty Towers but just with Basil would be similar.
Reviving Outnumbered would work and I expect it will happen at some time, but I’m not sure if it was that massive a show in the first place where there is massive anticipation like Gavin and Stacey.
Andrew
Founding member
I mean, what else can they do? You may as well say, well, it's obvious, just commission a new episode of Fawlty Towers or Blackadder.
John Cleese did revive his Basil Fawlty character, albeit it in an advert for Specsavers.
And the passing of Andrew Sachs and the decline of Prunella Scales does not automatically mean a revival is off the cards for Fawlty Towers, although it is very unlikely to happen. John Cleese did say in the publicity for the Specsavers advert that most of the scripts he'd been sent or seen for Basil Fawlty were God awful but the only reason he did the Specsavers advert was because he liked the idea behind it, even though it was effectively a rehash of one scene in the original show with a modern addition. Probably safe to say if Fawlty Towers is ever revived it won't be in John Cleese's lifetime.
In any event, Open All Hours was revived long after the passing of Ronnie Barker. Was never going to be quite the same show after Barker but it's been running for quite some time and it's written by the same writer of the original show so its not like its in somebody else's hands.
I’m not in favour of stuff that shouldn’t be revived being revived just because there is desperation of getting a big one off rating at Christmas. It’s the idea of reviving at all cost which is why we ended up with a Sharon less Birds of a Feather.
That’s also why it’s debatable if a proper Vicar of Dibley would work as most of the supporting cast is no longer with us, I’ve also seen in the past people suggest more One Foot in the Grave, pretending the last episode didn’t happen. Reviving Faulty Towers but just with Basil would be similar.
Reviving Outnumbered would work and I expect it will happen at some time, but I’m not sure if it was that massive a show in the first place where there is massive anticipation like Gavin and Stacey.
JO
Still seems surprisingly often for someone who otherwise gets to be highly selective about what he does.
The Johnny English films are very profitable for Universal and Working Title as each film has made $160m WW. I'm not sure what Rowan Atkinson gets paid for them but presumably it's lucrative enough for him to keep returning to them,
Still seems surprisingly often for someone who otherwise gets to be highly selective about what he does.
The Johnny English films are very profitable for Universal and Working Title as each film has made $160m WW. I'm not sure what Rowan Atkinson gets paid for them but presumably it's lucrative enough for him to keep returning to them,
TE
The reason Victor got killed off in the end is because David Renwick was sick of people asking him when the show was coming back.
There was a five year gap between series 5 and 6 during which time Renwick had started writing Jonathan Creek so maybe he simply was burned out and/or wanted to move on from OFITG at that point. He hasn't got the same workload now so maybe a new episode would be possible.
I’ve also seen in the past people suggest more One Foot in the Grave, pretending the last episode didn’t happen.
The reason Victor got killed off in the end is because David Renwick was sick of people asking him when the show was coming back.
There was a five year gap between series 5 and 6 during which time Renwick had started writing Jonathan Creek so maybe he simply was burned out and/or wanted to move on from OFITG at that point. He hasn't got the same workload now so maybe a new episode would be possible.
JL
John Cleese did revive his Basil Fawlty character, albeit it in an advert for Specsavers.
And the passing of Andrew Sachs and the decline of Prunella Scales does not automatically mean a revival is off the cards for Fawlty Towers, although it is very unlikely to happen. John Cleese did say in the publicity for the Specsavers advert that most of the scripts he'd been sent or seen for Basil Fawlty were God awful but the only reason he did the Specsavers advert was because he liked the idea behind it, even though it was effectively a rehash of one scene in the original show with a modern addition. Probably safe to say if Fawlty Towers is ever revived it won't be in John Cleese's lifetime.
In any event, Open All Hours was revived long after the passing of Ronnie Barker. Was never going to be quite the same show after Barker but it's been running for quite some time and it's written by the same writer of the original show so its not like its in somebody else's hands.
I’m not in favour of stuff that shouldn’t be revived being revived just because there is desperation of getting a big one off rating at Christmas. It’s the idea of reviving at all cost which is why we ended up with a Sharon less Birds of a Feather.
That’s also why it’s debatable if a proper Vicar of Dibley would work as most of the supporting cast is no longer with us, I’ve also seen in the past people suggest more One Foot in the Grave, pretending the last episode didn’t happen. Reviving Faulty Towers but just with Basil would be similar.
Reviving Outnumbered would work and I expect it will happen at some time, but I’m not sure if it was that massive a show in the first place where there is massive anticipation like Gavin and Stacey .
True. Outnumbered never aired on Christmas Day as well, specials were always Christmas Eve or Boxing Day (and one occasion on the 27th) so I think it would be a huge surprise if it did one year.
Thinking back to 2009, the Gavin and Stacey episode on Christmas Day wasn't Christmas themed, but was the normal episode in the series, albeit leading up to the finale on NYD. I can't see them doing that with any series at the moment
I mean, what else can they do? You may as well say, well, it's obvious, just commission a new episode of Fawlty Towers or Blackadder.
John Cleese did revive his Basil Fawlty character, albeit it in an advert for Specsavers.
And the passing of Andrew Sachs and the decline of Prunella Scales does not automatically mean a revival is off the cards for Fawlty Towers, although it is very unlikely to happen. John Cleese did say in the publicity for the Specsavers advert that most of the scripts he'd been sent or seen for Basil Fawlty were God awful but the only reason he did the Specsavers advert was because he liked the idea behind it, even though it was effectively a rehash of one scene in the original show with a modern addition. Probably safe to say if Fawlty Towers is ever revived it won't be in John Cleese's lifetime.
In any event, Open All Hours was revived long after the passing of Ronnie Barker. Was never going to be quite the same show after Barker but it's been running for quite some time and it's written by the same writer of the original show so its not like its in somebody else's hands.
I’m not in favour of stuff that shouldn’t be revived being revived just because there is desperation of getting a big one off rating at Christmas. It’s the idea of reviving at all cost which is why we ended up with a Sharon less Birds of a Feather.
That’s also why it’s debatable if a proper Vicar of Dibley would work as most of the supporting cast is no longer with us, I’ve also seen in the past people suggest more One Foot in the Grave, pretending the last episode didn’t happen. Reviving Faulty Towers but just with Basil would be similar.
Reviving Outnumbered would work and I expect it will happen at some time, but I’m not sure if it was that massive a show in the first place where there is massive anticipation like Gavin and Stacey .
True. Outnumbered never aired on Christmas Day as well, specials were always Christmas Eve or Boxing Day (and one occasion on the 27th) so I think it would be a huge surprise if it did one year.
Thinking back to 2009, the Gavin and Stacey episode on Christmas Day wasn't Christmas themed, but was the normal episode in the series, albeit leading up to the finale on NYD. I can't see them doing that with any series at the moment
WH
I always found that odd, particularly given the Christmas Day episode featured them sat on Barry Island beach during the height of Summer. You'd have thought they'd have scheduled the series so that the finale aired on Christmas Day.
Whataday
Founding member
Thinking back to 2009, the Gavin and Stacey episode on Christmas Day wasn't Christmas themed, but was the normal episode in the series, albeit leading up to the finale on NYD. I can't see them doing that with any series at the moment
I always found that odd, particularly given the Christmas Day episode featured them sat on Barry Island beach during the height of Summer. You'd have thought they'd have scheduled the series so that the finale aired on Christmas Day.