Polly Sherman (Fawlty Towers)
Encyclopedia
Polly Sherman is a fictional character in the BBC
sitcom Fawlty Towers
. Played by Connie Booth
, she is Fawlty Towers' long-suffering waitress and maid.
Polly is, by far, the most sensible character in the series, and often stands as the voice of sanity during Basil's frequent escapades. However, she frequently finds herself embroiled in ridiculous masquerades (such as pretending to be the voice of Mr. Stubbs' secretary in The Builders
or pretending that money Basil won on a horse was hers in Communication Problems
) owing to her immense loyalty towards Basil. She will usually take his side over Sybil's, and try hard to keep secrets of his from her. However, she does occasionally stand up to Basil whenever he acts particularly irrationally, such as slapping him when he throws a fit. Memorably, when she refused to do one of his more unpleasant duties - pretend to be Sybil - unless he lent her £100 for a new car, and he threatened to "ruin" her as a waitress, she stormed:
Although Polly is generally level-headed and intelligent, she occasionally shows signs of malice. Notably, in The Kipper and the Corpse
, after being bitten by the dog of an elderly guest, she laced its sausages with hot pepper, tabasco sauce and chilli powder, giving it a nasty stomach ache. And, when Basil begins to insult the demanding Mrs. Richards in Communication Problems
, Polly, who herself had been inconvenienced by Mrs. Richards' rude behaviour, soon joined in. After Mrs Richards threw a tantrum because she was not being served, Polly impishly presented Manuel to her, knowing Manuel would definitely infuriate Mrs Richards more. In Basil the Rat
, she attempts to get a man to purchase a painting she made, including lying that "it's for my sister's eye operation." When the man declined, she muttered "you b*****d."
It is mentioned in the second series that Polly is an art student, which she has been studying for three years. It is not entirely clear what kind of art, or how good she is at it - in one episode, she draws an impressionist caricature of Basil (which everyone except Basil recognises) and is seen drawing a sketch of Manuel with a raw leg of lamb in The Builders
. In The Wedding Party
, Basil complains about her leaving a life drawing sketchbook lying around, and flicks through it, answering the phone "Hello, Fawlty Titties?" As well as her art, she is very fluent in foreign languages, occasionally serving as a translator to Manuel and communicating in German to some German guests who come to stay.
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...
. Played by Connie Booth
Connie Booth
Constance "Connie" Booth is an American-born writer and actress, known for appearances on British television and particularly for her portrayal of Polly Sherman in the popular 1970s television show Fawlty Towers, which she co-wrote with her then-husband John Cleese.-Biography:Booth's father was a...
, she is Fawlty Towers' long-suffering waitress and maid.
Personality
Polly is the hotel waitress during the series, and one of only three staff members seen there, the others being Manuel and Terry. Although she at one point claims to be employed part-time, she is shown working there as a maid, and is occasionally saddled with more duties than this, which she will often go along with for the extra money.Polly is, by far, the most sensible character in the series, and often stands as the voice of sanity during Basil's frequent escapades. However, she frequently finds herself embroiled in ridiculous masquerades (such as pretending to be the voice of Mr. Stubbs' secretary 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...
or pretending that money Basil won on a horse was hers 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...
) owing to her immense loyalty towards Basil. She will usually take his side over Sybil's, and try hard to keep secrets of his from her. However, she does occasionally stand up to Basil whenever he acts particularly irrationally, such as slapping him when he throws a fit. Memorably, when she refused to do one of his more unpleasant duties - pretend to be Sybil - unless he lent her £100 for a new car, and he threatened to "ruin" her as a waitress, she stormed:
Although Polly is generally level-headed and intelligent, she occasionally shows signs of malice. Notably, 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:...
, after being bitten by the dog of an elderly guest, she laced its sausages with hot pepper, tabasco sauce and chilli powder, giving it a nasty stomach ache. And, when Basil begins to insult the demanding Mrs. Richards 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...
, Polly, who herself had been inconvenienced by Mrs. Richards' rude behaviour, soon joined in. After Mrs Richards threw a tantrum because she was not being served, Polly impishly presented Manuel to her, knowing Manuel would definitely infuriate Mrs Richards more. 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...
, she attempts to get a man to purchase a painting she made, including lying that "it's for my sister's eye operation." When the man declined, she muttered "you b*****d."
It is mentioned in the second series that Polly is an art student, which she has been studying for three years. It is not entirely clear what kind of art, or how good she is at it - in one episode, she draws an impressionist caricature of Basil (which everyone except Basil recognises) and is seen drawing a sketch of Manuel with a raw leg of lamb 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...
. In The Wedding Party
The Wedding Party
"The Wedding Party" is the third episode of the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Synopsis:Basil is disgusted when two young lovers, Alan and Jean, begin 'hanky-pankying' under his very nose while checking in. He becomes convinced that they and two other guests are engaged in group sexual misbehaviour,...
, Basil complains about her leaving a life drawing sketchbook lying around, and flicks through it, answering the phone "Hello, Fawlty Titties?" As well as her art, she is very fluent in foreign languages, occasionally serving as a translator to Manuel and communicating in German to some German guests who come to stay.