Sybil Fawlty
Encyclopedia
Sybil Fawlty is a fictional character from the BBC
sitcom Fawlty Towers
. She is played by Prunella Scales
. Her age is listed as 34 years old as seen on her medical chart in the 1975 episode "The Germans
", thus presumably indicating that she was born in 1941. Scales was in her 40s during the filming of Fawlty Towers.
's wife, and the only recurring character in the series who refers to him by his first name. Sybil is a far more effective worker and manager than Basil; she handles crises calmly, picks up the pieces after a nasty confrontation and stays polite to guests. Despite her effectiveness as a worker, however, she is known to be extremely lazy; during busy check-in sessions or meal-times, while everyone else is busy working around her, she's frequently seen talking on the phone to one of her friends (usually 'Audrey', who makes an appearance in "The Anniversary
"), smoking, or chatting with customers. In "The Kipper and the Corpse
", she does little to help Basil, Manuel and Polly with the disposal of Mr. Leeman's body, prompting Basil to direct all the complaints to her. He does the same trick in "Waldorf Salad
". Basil is utterly terrified of Sybil, describing her to Irish
builder O'Reilly in "The Builders
" as having the ability to "kill a man at ten paces with one blow of her tongue."
Despite this, Basil has attempted to defy Sybil face to face, yet she manages to silence him with one sharp bark of "BASIL!", except for one moment in "The Psychiatrist
", when Basil is driven to breaking point and angrily lashes out at her, calling her a "Rancorous, coiffeured old sow" to her face. A few times, Basil has infuriated Sybil to the point of physical violence
; in "The Builders", she flies into a rage and throws a cash box across the room toward her husband, who only just manages to avoid it. In "Waldorf Salad", meanwhile, she strikes Basil across the face after he refuses to surrender the titular dish to a guest. She also slapped him in "The Anniversary
", after she believed he had again forgotten their anniversary. She also implies that the last time he forgot, she gave him a severe beating.
She is characterised by a shrill conversational tone and laugh, which her husband compares to 'someone machine-gunning a seal'. Basil also refers to her by a number of epithets, occasionally to her face: these include "the dragon", "toxic midget", "my little nest of vipers", "sabre-toothed tart", "my little piranha fish
", "my little workhorse" and "my little commandant." She either does not hear (as he often states them as soon as she is out of earshot) or doesn't care. Indeed, in "The Psychiatrist
", she calls him "an ageing, brilliantined stick insect".
Sybil and Basil never directly express love for one another (in "The Wedding Party", they are shown to sleep in separate beds; in A Touch of Class
Basil kisses her and she tells him not to), and Basil especially never seems to be capable of courtesy towards his wife - in the episode "Gourmet Night", while drunk, Sybil shows Basil affection, only for him to tell her to "drink another vat of wine." On another occasion, in "The Anniversary
", one of Basil's escapades - making her think that he had forgotten their wedding anniversary - brings Sybil to tears - though, ironically, this was one of the few episodes in which Basil was thinking of someone besides himself and preparing to show some love to his wife.
Sybil is the archetypal
nagging wife, getting in the way of Basil 'enjoying himself' when he squabbles with the guests by forcing him to do unnecessary chores. Notable examples of this appear in the episodes "A Touch of Class
" and "The Germans
". She sometimes flirts with guests, notably Mr. Johnson (Nicky Henson
) in "The Psychiatrist
", but gets angry whenever Basil flirts with someone.
Prunella Scales has said that the reason Sybil married Basil was because his origins were of a higher social class than hers; in "Gourmet Night
", she recounts an anecdote about 'Uncle Ted and his crate of brown ale' while drunk, which implies a working-class background.
charity telethon. The character was seen taking over the management of the eponymous hotel from the BBC drama series Hotel Babylon
, interacting with characters from that programme as well as other sitcom characters. The character of Sybil was used by special permission of John Cleese
.
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...
. She is played by Prunella Scales
Prunella Scales
Prunella Scales CBE is an English actress, known for her role as Basil Fawlty's long-suffering wife in the British comedy Fawlty Towers and her award-nominated role as Queen Elizabeth II in the British film A Question of Attribution.-Career:Throughout her long career, Scales has usually been cast...
. Her age is listed as 34 years old as seen on her medical chart in the 1975 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:...
", thus presumably indicating that she was born in 1941. Scales was in her 40s during the filming of Fawlty Towers.
Personality
She is Basil FawltyBasil 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....
's wife, and the only recurring character in the series who refers to him by his first name. Sybil is a far more effective worker and manager than Basil; she handles crises calmly, picks up the pieces after a nasty confrontation and stays polite to guests. Despite her effectiveness as a worker, however, she is known to be extremely lazy; during busy check-in sessions or meal-times, while everyone else is busy working around her, she's frequently seen talking on the phone to one of her friends (usually 'Audrey', who makes an appearance in "The Anniversary
The Anniversary (Fawlty Towers)
"The Anniversary" is the fifth episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.- Synopsis :Basil pretends to have forgotten about Sybil's and his wedding anniversary, having secretly arranged a cocktail party with their friends due to arrive any minute. However, Sybil becomes enraged with...
"), smoking, or chatting with customers. 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:...
", she does little to help Basil, Manuel and Polly with the disposal of Mr. Leeman's body, prompting Basil to direct all the complaints to her. He does the same trick 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...
". Basil is utterly terrified of Sybil, describing her to Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
builder O'Reilly 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...
" as having the ability to "kill a man at ten paces with one blow of her tongue."
Despite this, Basil has attempted to defy Sybil face to face, yet she manages to silence him with one sharp bark of "BASIL!", except for one moment in "The Psychiatrist
The Psychiatrist
"The Psychiatrist" is the second episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Synopsis:Sybil flirts with a young male guest named Mr. Johnson . Meanwhile, two doctors arrive at the hotel, and Basil becomes concerned when he realises one is a psychiatrist...
", when Basil is driven to breaking point and angrily lashes out at her, calling her a "Rancorous, coiffeured old sow" to her face. A few times, Basil has infuriated Sybil to the point of physical violence
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
; in "The Builders", she flies into a rage and throws a cash box across the room toward her husband, who only just manages to avoid it. In "Waldorf Salad", meanwhile, she strikes Basil across the face after he refuses to surrender the titular dish to a guest. She also slapped him in "The Anniversary
The Anniversary (Fawlty Towers)
"The Anniversary" is the fifth episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.- Synopsis :Basil pretends to have forgotten about Sybil's and his wedding anniversary, having secretly arranged a cocktail party with their friends due to arrive any minute. However, Sybil becomes enraged with...
", after she believed he had again forgotten their anniversary. She also implies that the last time he forgot, she gave him a severe beating.
She is characterised by a shrill conversational tone and laugh, which her husband compares to 'someone machine-gunning a seal'. Basil also refers to her by a number of epithets, occasionally to her face: these include "the dragon", "toxic midget", "my little nest of vipers", "sabre-toothed tart", "my little piranha fish
Piranha
A piranha or piraña is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes...
", "my little workhorse" and "my little commandant." She either does not hear (as he often states them as soon as she is out of earshot) or doesn't care. Indeed, in "The Psychiatrist
The Psychiatrist
"The Psychiatrist" is the second episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Synopsis:Sybil flirts with a young male guest named Mr. Johnson . Meanwhile, two doctors arrive at the hotel, and Basil becomes concerned when he realises one is a psychiatrist...
", she calls him "an ageing, brilliantined stick insect".
Sybil and Basil never directly express love for one another (in "The Wedding Party", they are shown to sleep in separate beds; in A Touch of Class
A Touch of Class
A Touch of Class is a 1973 British romantic comedy film which tells the story of a couple having an affair, who find themselves falling in love...
Basil kisses her and she tells him not to), and Basil especially never seems to be capable of courtesy towards his wife - in the episode "Gourmet Night", while drunk, Sybil shows Basil affection, only for him to tell her to "drink another vat of wine." On another occasion, in "The Anniversary
The Anniversary (Fawlty Towers)
"The Anniversary" is the fifth episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.- Synopsis :Basil pretends to have forgotten about Sybil's and his wedding anniversary, having secretly arranged a cocktail party with their friends due to arrive any minute. However, Sybil becomes enraged with...
", one of Basil's escapades - making her think that he had forgotten their wedding anniversary - brings Sybil to tears - though, ironically, this was one of the few episodes in which Basil was thinking of someone besides himself and preparing to show some love to his wife.
Sybil is the archetypal
Archetype
An archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
nagging wife, getting in the way of Basil 'enjoying himself' when he squabbles with the guests by forcing him to do unnecessary chores. Notable examples of this appear in the episodes "A Touch of Class
A Touch of Class (Fawlty Towers)
"A Touch of Class" is the pilot episode in the first series of the BBC television sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Plot:The episode introduces Basil Fawlty, the cynical, sharp-tongued owner of the hotel; his nagging wife Sybil; Manuel, the eager but hapless Spanish waiter; Major Gowen, a semi-senile and often...
" and "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:...
". She sometimes flirts with guests, notably Mr. Johnson (Nicky Henson
Nicky Henson
Nicholas Victor Leslie "Nicky" Henson is an English actor who has portrayed many roles since 1963. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1977. He was born in London.-Early life:...
) in "The Psychiatrist
The Psychiatrist
"The Psychiatrist" is the second episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Synopsis:Sybil flirts with a young male guest named Mr. Johnson . Meanwhile, two doctors arrive at the hotel, and Basil becomes concerned when he realises one is a psychiatrist...
", but gets angry whenever Basil flirts with someone.
Prunella Scales has said that the reason Sybil married Basil was because his origins were of a higher social class than hers; in "Gourmet Night
Gourmet Night
"Gourmet Night" is the fifth episode in the first series of the BBC TV sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Cast:Episode credited cast:*John Cleese as Basil Fawlty*Prunella Scales as Sybil Fawlty*Andrew Sachs as Manuel*Connie Booth as Polly Sherman...
", she recounts an anecdote about 'Uncle Ted and his crate of brown ale' while drunk, which implies a working-class background.
Reappearance
In November 2007, Scales returned to the role of Sybil Fawlty in a series of sketches for the BBC's annual Children in NeedChildren in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
charity telethon. The character was seen taking over the management of the eponymous hotel from the BBC drama series Hotel Babylon
Hotel Babylon
Hotel Babylon was a BBC television drama series based on the book of the same name by Imogen Edwards-Jones, that aired from 19 January 2006 to 14 August 2009, produced by independent production company Carnival Films for BBC One...
, interacting with characters from that programme as well as other sitcom characters. The character of Sybil was used by special permission of 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...
.