Major Gowen
Encyclopedia
Major Gowen is a fictional character played by Ballard Berkeley in the BBC
sitcom Fawlty Towers
.
Major Gowen is an old, befuddled, somewhat senile ex-soldier permanently residing in the hotel. He enjoys talking about the world (especially the cricket
scores and workers' strikes) and is always on the lookout for the newspaper. He has trouble forgiving the Germans
for the World War
s. In the episode "The Germans
," he distinguishes between West Indians, "nigger
s", and India
ns, whom he terms "wog
s".
The Major hangs around the bar, and has an uncanny ability to turn up at 6pm when it opens. Basil has called him a drunken old sod. Despite this, most staff and residents think of him fondly. He is one of Fawlty Towers' few satisfied customers, voicing his dissent against the complaints of the dissatisfied American Mr. Hamilton in "Waldorf Salad
", if only to opine that he has seen worse hotels.
His eccentricity leads him to believe preposterous ideas, such as that Basil's moose could talk (Manuel
was dusting behind it). Though he shows surprise on this occasion, his detachment from reality causes him to remain completely calm in the most bizarre of circumstances: he does not seem remotely concerned at the disappearance and blocking off of the dining room door in "The Builders
", assuring Basil that "it's bound to turn up", or to learn that the hotel kitchen is on fire in "The Germans
", or to discover the dead body of Mr. Leeman in Basil's office in "The Kipper and the Corpse
", commenting merely that "he doesn't look quite the ticket". Later in the episode, after another encounter with Leeman's corpse, he calmly asks Basil "Another one, Fawlty?"
The Major's tendency to forget, confuse and muddle situations leads Basil
into farce. In "Communication Problems
", he contrives to lose Basil's money, which Basil had won from a bet on a horse and was asked to keep safe. In "Basil the Rat
", it transpires that the Major keeps a shotgun in the hotel, possibly unlicensed, with which he attempts to shoot a rat which he encounters in the bar. He subsequently fails comprehensively to grasp Basil's proposed cover story that he was attempting to shoot a starling through the window, cheerfully greeting the health inspector as a "starling inspector".
Major Gowen tends in the morning to ask "Papers arrived yet, Fawlty?" - invariably they have not, the paperboy being perennially late. On one occasion he manages to say it while having a newspaper folded under his arm. At 6pm prompt he says "I think it's about that time, Fawlty!" while pointing to the clock and his watch - an obvious hint that the bar should be open and his drink should be served. Early in the day, Basil tends to say "Ah, morning Major". John Cleese
has said that the Major was based on his Latin
teacher from school.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcom Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
.
Major Gowen is an old, befuddled, somewhat senile ex-soldier permanently residing in the hotel. He enjoys talking about the world (especially the cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
scores and workers' strikes) and is always on the lookout for the newspaper. He has trouble forgiving the Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
for the World War
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s. In the episode "The Germans
The Germans
"The Germans" is the sixth episode of the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers. It is remembered for its line "Don't mention the war" and Cleese's silly walk when he is impersonating Adolf Hitler.-Plot:...
," he distinguishes between West Indians, "nigger
Nigger
Nigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur...
s", and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
ns, whom he terms "wog
Wog
Wog or Pog is a slang word with a number of meanings, generally considered derogatory and, in some instances, extremely offensive when used in relation to ethnicity...
s".
The Major hangs around the bar, and has an uncanny ability to turn up at 6pm when it opens. Basil has called him a drunken old sod. Despite this, most staff and residents think of him fondly. He is one of Fawlty Towers' few satisfied customers, voicing his dissent against the complaints of the dissatisfied American Mr. Hamilton in "Waldorf Salad
Waldorf Salad (Fawlty Towers)
"Waldorf Salad" is the third episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Synopsis:American tourist Mr. Hamilton checks in with his wife late one evening. They want a hot meal, but Terry, the cook, has finished his shift. Hamilton bribes Basil to keep the kitchen open, but Terry leaves...
", if only to opine that he has seen worse hotels.
His eccentricity leads him to believe preposterous ideas, such as that Basil's moose could talk (Manuel
Manuel (Fawlty Towers)
Manuel is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers. Played by Andrew Sachs, he is an iconic character in British comedy history...
was dusting behind it). Though he shows surprise on this occasion, his detachment from reality causes him to remain completely calm in the most bizarre of circumstances: he does not seem remotely concerned at the disappearance and blocking off of the dining room door in "The Builders
The Builders
"The Builders" is the second episode in the first series of the BBC TV sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Synopsis:Basil hires Irish builder O'Reilly to do some vital work on the hotel...
", assuring Basil that "it's bound to turn up", or to learn that the hotel kitchen is on fire in "The Germans
The Germans
"The Germans" is the sixth episode of the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers. It is remembered for its line "Don't mention the war" and Cleese's silly walk when he is impersonating Adolf Hitler.-Plot:...
", or to discover the dead body of Mr. Leeman in Basil's office in "The Kipper and the Corpse
The Kipper and the Corpse
"The Kipper and the Corpse" is the fourth episode of the second series of the British sitcom Fawlty Towers. It first aired on BBC2 on 12 March 1979. Distinguishing it from other episodes is its heavy use of Black comedy.-Background:...
", commenting merely that "he doesn't look quite the ticket". Later in the episode, after another encounter with Leeman's corpse, he calmly asks Basil "Another one, Fawlty?"
The Major's tendency to forget, confuse and muddle situations leads Basil
Basil Fawlty
Basil Fawlty is the main character of the British sitcom Fawlty Towers, played by John Cleese. The character is often thought of as an iconic British comedy character, and has been deemed unforgettable despite only a dozen half-hour episodes ever being made....
into farce. In "Communication Problems
Communication Problems
"Communication Problems" is the first episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers and the seventh episode overall. It is also known as "Mrs. Richards".-Cast:Episode Credited cast:*John Cleese as Basil Fawlty...
", he contrives to lose Basil's money, which Basil had won from a bet on a horse and was asked to keep safe. In "Basil the Rat
Basil the Rat
"Basil the Rat" is the sixth and final episode of the second season of the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers and the final episode of the programme as a whole.-Synopsis:Fawlty Towers is in threat of closure by a Health and Safety inspector...
", it transpires that the Major keeps a shotgun in the hotel, possibly unlicensed, with which he attempts to shoot a rat which he encounters in the bar. He subsequently fails comprehensively to grasp Basil's proposed cover story that he was attempting to shoot a starling through the window, cheerfully greeting the health inspector as a "starling inspector".
Major Gowen tends in the morning to ask "Papers arrived yet, Fawlty?" - invariably they have not, the paperboy being perennially late. On one occasion he manages to say it while having a newspaper folded under his arm. At 6pm prompt he says "I think it's about that time, Fawlty!" while pointing to the clock and his watch - an obvious hint that the bar should be open and his drink should be served. Early in the day, Basil tends to say "Ah, morning Major". John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
has said that the Major was based on his Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
teacher from school.