From Fawlty Towers to many people's hearts: Looking back at the legacy of Prunella Scales

The day before Prunella Scales died, she was watching Fawlty Towers- the British sitcom that made her a household name across the world.

It seemed fitting that the 93-year-old actress spent her final day revisiting the role that brought joy to millions.

In a statement released by her sons, Prunella Scales died peacefully at her London home on Monday, 27 October.

'Although dementia forced her retirement from a remarkable acting career of nearly 70 years, she continued to live at home,' her sons further shared.

For many Australians, Scales will forever be remembered as Sybil Fawlty, the long-suffering yet formidable wife of John Cleese's chaotic hotel manager Basil Fawlty.

Though Fawlty Towers only had 12 episodes between 1975 and 1979, it is regularly cited as one of the funniest sitcoms and greatest British shows of all time.

Prunella Scales (left) with the rest of the Fawlty Towers cast. Image Credit: IMDb

John Cleese himself paid tribute to his on-screen wife, describing her as 'absolutely perfect' and 'a really wonderful comic actress'.

'I've recently been watching a number of clips of Fawlty Towers whilst researching a book. Scene after scene, she was absolutely perfect,' Cleese reflected.

What made Sybil memorable wasn't just her catchphrases, but the complexity Scales brought to the role.

In an interview back in 2007, Scales talked about the complexity of the role she had, all while injecting humour.

'Sybil's trouble was that, having married out of her class and been fooled by Fawlty's flannel, she realised, too late, that she had landed with an upper-class twit for a husband. But behind all of Sybil's apparent disenchantment with Basil, there is still some—just enough—real affection for him, and that is probably what makes her stay,' she shared.

A love story spanning six decades

Scales' death came 11 months after her husband, Timothy West, died peacefully last November.

The couple's enduring marriage was one of show business's great love stories, spanning 61 years until West's passing.

Off-screen, Scales and West shared passions for regional theatre, letter writing, classical music and Britain's waterways.

Facing dementia with remarkable grace

Scales was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013, but rather than embracing a private life, she and West chose to share their journey openly.

Between 2014 and 2019, they explored waterways in Britain and abroad in the travel show Great Canal Journeys.

The documentary series became an unexpected meditation on love, memory, and living fully despite illness.

'Since the first instalment in 2014, the series has charted the long, slow goodbye that is living with dementia, cherishing every moment of precious normality and celebrating how an immersion in nature is the surest way to bring the old Pru back,' Guardian reviewer Jack Seale wrote.

Scales approached her condition with characteristic wisdom and humour.

Her son Samuel shared, 'She said, "I don't always know where I'm going but I enjoy getting there," and I thought if that is her philosophy, that might have to be mine as well.'

A distinguished career beyond Fawlty Towers

While Sybil Fawlty remains her most famous role, Scales had a remarkable acting career spanning nearly 70 years.

Her career break came with the early 1960s sitcom Marriage Lines, starring opposite Richard Briers.

She earned a BAFTA nomination for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett's A Question of Attribution (1991).

Remarkably, she was the first actress to portray a reigning monarch on the contemporary British stage when she played the Queen at the National Theatre in 1988, capturing both the monarch's essence and her enigma.

Scales was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1992 and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 1999, along with an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Bradford.

Scales became an inspiration for speaking openly about living with dementia, shining an important light on the United Kingdom's biggest killer, helping to raise awareness.

The Alzheimer's Society commended her openness about living with dementia, describing her as 'an inspiration'.

Prunella Scales with her husband, Timothy West, as hosts of Great Canal Journeys. Image Credit: IMDb

A family's tribute

Scales is survived by two sons, one stepdaughter, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Her family expressed gratitude for the care she received in her final days.

'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,' her family wrote in a statement.

Her son, Samuel West, has followed in the family acting tradition as both an actor and theatre director, continuing the theatrical legacy that began with Scales' mother, Catherine Scales, who was also an actor and an author.

Industry tributes pour in

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the acclaimed actress.

'Prunella Scales was part of a golden era for British comedy, someone whose talent was beamed into people's homes over many years and gave many people a huge amount of enjoyment. The Prime Minister, of course, passes all his condolences to her family,' the Prime Minister wrote in a statement.

BBC Comedy Director Jon Petrie called her 'a national treasure whose brilliance as Sybil Fawlty lit up screens and still makes us laugh today'.

Prunella Scales' passing also marked the 50th anniversary of Fawlty Towers' first appearance on screens, cementing its place as a comedy classic that continues to find new audiences decades later.

As we remember Prunella Scales, we celebrate not just the laughter she brought to millions, but her courage in facing life's challenges with dignity and her unwavering commitment to living fully, right until the end. May she rest in peace.

What are your favourite memories of Prunella Scales' performances? Did Fawlty Towers hold a special place in your household, and what did you think of her openness about living with dementia in later years? Share your thoughts and tributes in the comments below.