SERIES 1 - First broadcast 1975

1. A Touch Of Class

His pretentious snobbery leads Basil to encourage a somewhat classier clientele to Fawlty Towers (“rather than the riff-raff we normally get in here”). Lord Melbury's arrival is right up his street; there's nothing Basil won't do for the nobility. With hand-rubbing obsequiousness the proprietor is only too pleased to cash his Lordship's cheque.

First broadcast: 19th Sep 1975

2. The Builders

Not for the first time, Basil's tight-fistedness finds him out. There is building work required in the hotel lobby and, when Sybil's back is turned, Basil immediately goes for the lowest quote for the job. But he soon discovers why O'Reilly and his men come so cheap…

First broadcast: 26th Sep 1975

3. The Wedding Party

Basil's prudish nature is outraged by what he perceives to be an outbreak of promiscuity at Fawlty Towers. As ever, he grabs the wrong end of the stick and then proceeds to beat himself with it. Yet another terrible day for Basil ends with him being discovered by the guests in a compromising position with Manuel.

First broadcast: 3rd Oct 1975

4. The Hotel Inspectors

Basil is terrified by the news that hotel inspectors are in the area — and well he might be. The awful probability occurs to him that the eccentric guest to whom he has been so appallingly offensive may be one of the officials. His ranting turns to a pathetic fawning — but has he got the right man?

First broadcast: 10th Oct 1975

5. Gourmet Night

The cream of Torquay society turns out for a special gourmet night at Fawlty Towers. Expectations are high but so, unfortunately, is the chef. In fact, he's incapably drunk! A desperate Basil hurtles round to a friend's restaurant in a car that's about as reliable as his chef. His mission is to find a replacement main course — he's out for a duck.

First broadcast: 17th Oct 1975

6. The Germans

Sybil is in hospital for her ingrowing toenail. “Perhaps they'll have it mounted for me,” mutters Basil as he tries to cope during her absence. The fire-drill ends in chaos with Basil knocked out by the moose’s head in the lobby. The deranged host then encounters the Germans and tells them the “truth” about their Fatherland…

First broadcast: 24th Oct 1975