Fawlty Towers icon Prunella Scales dead at 93
Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales - best known for playing Sybil Fawlty in the legendary 1970s BBC sitcom - died on Monday (27.10.25) aged 93.
Fawlty Towers legend Prunella Scales has died
The star - best known for playing Sybil Fawlty, the domineering wife of the inept titular hotel owner Basil Fawlty - passed away at her home in London on Monday (27.10.25) at the age of 93, following a battle with dementia.
Her sons, Samuel and Joseph, said in a joint statement: "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.
"We would like to thank all those who gave Pru such wonderful care at the end of her life: her last days were comfortable, contented and surrounded by love."
In 2013, Prunella was diagnosed with vascular dementia - a common type of the degenerative condition that causes a decline in thinking, memory, and reasoning skills.
The star was best known for her role as Sybil Fawlty in the much-loved 1970s BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.
But she previously said that TV sitcoms were her "least favourite form of work".
In January 1995, Prunella told Radio Times magazine: "It's a dreadful thing to say - because I suppose I earn the bulk of my living from them - but TV sitcoms are my least favourite form of work.
"I don't mind situation comedy in the theatre, where you do it night after night and can learn from the audience. I love long runs because I'm a slow worker. But on TV it's a horrendous schedule."
Even though Prunella initially did not feel "ready" to do Fawlty Towers, she was thankful for the show boosting her profile and giving her more work.
She said: "I never really felt ready to go on Fawlty Towers. Do you think I'm still lumbered with that show? People need a peg to hang you on, and I'm grateful to it on the whole.
"It opened, rather than closed, doors for me. I enjoyed After Henry enormously and was quite proud of it."
