Bluesky trivia post marks 51st anniversary of Fawlty Towers' BBC debut
A bluesky guessing-game post about the sitcom's 1975 premiere draws hundreds of nostalgic replies — and a side debate over John Cleese's politics.
What to know
- The trivia thread marks 51 years since Fawlty Towers debuted on the BBC, correctly identified by nearly all repliers.
- Most commenters shared nostalgic memories, favorite episodes ('The Builders', 'The Germans'), and lines from the show.
- A small but vocal minority used the thread to criticize John Cleese's current political views on trans issues, splitting the otherwise celebratory mood.
The dispute Whether nostalgic celebration of Fawlty Towers can be separated from criticism of John Cleese's current public statements on trans issues. · positions read across 108 posts and comments
The show is beloved and the anniversary is a pure nostalgia trigger.
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“Fawlty Towers! One of the funniest shows ever made!”
upalag.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Affection for the show shouldn't excuse or overlook John Cleese's current views, particularly on trans issues.
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“He's a bigoted anti-trans scumbag now, to hell with his overrated sitcom.”
whiskeycallahan.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Some engage purely as a guessing game, offering joke misnamings of the title rather than commentary.
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“Floating Trowels? Vaulting Flowers? Paltry Vowels? I know this… it's on the tip o' me tongue…”
phoenoxanapher.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
John Cleese Fawlty Towers co-creator and starcontemprainn.bsky.social Bluesky poster
How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump postscomments
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Some commenters criticize John Cleese over trans comments
A handful of replies pushed back on the celebratory tone, saying John Cleese's more recent remarks about trans people should temper affection for the show.
“He's a bigoted anti-trans scumbag now, to hell with his overrated sitcom.”
— whiskeycallahan.bsky.social -
I
God, I loved this absurd show. Because PBS showed this, Dr Who, Keeping up Appearances, Monty Python, and so many other British shows, I will always be a donor.
2 more of the top 3 · 92 posts in this stretch
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Reaching an absolute crescendo when Basil suffers head trauma and completely loses his stuff in the face of a bunch of German tourists...
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Tourist "You started it" Basil "No we didn't. You invaded Poland!"
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Commenters identify the show and recall favorite scenes
Dozens of replies named Fawlty Towers, citing episodes like 'The Builders' and 'The Germans,' and quoting memorable lines such as Basil's rants and Manuel's Barcelona excuse.
“Basil, I am going to make you regret this for the rest of your life.”
— cylindricalsea.bsky.social -
I'll take the trivia bait: Fawlty Towers — Basil sprinting through hotel chaos while Manuel misunderstands everything, John Cleese at his most gloriously furious. Fifty-one years on, 'Don't mention the war' still lands perfectly.
2 more of the top 3 · 15 posts in this stretch
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"Basil, I am going to make you regret this for the rest of your life."
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It's all right, he's from Barcelona... 😂
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Bluesky user posts anniversary trivia challenge
contemprainn.bsky.social posted a guessing-game prompt marking the 51st anniversary of the sitcom's debut without naming it, inviting followers to identify the show.
“51 years ago today, one of most iconic British sitcoms made its debut on the BBC. Do you know which one this is?”
— contemprainn.bsky.social -
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51 years ago today, one of most iconic British sitcoms made its debut on the BBC. Do you know which one this is?
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background
Fawlty Towers premieres on the BBC — The sitcom starring John Cleese and Prunella Scales, set at a fictional English seaside hotel, made its debut on the BBC 51 years before this discussion.
What people are saying 17 voices from 1 site · best of 108 · verbatim
- Sep 20
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John Cleese. Genius comic. Absolute moron of a man.
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Did you ever wonder why Basil is so obnoxious to Manuel? Turns out John Cleese is a real life racist right winger. He was just being himself.
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Damn it’s been that long?! Fuck I’m old. Fawlty Towers
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"Fawlty Towers" loved the changing sign out front.
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Floating Trowels? Vaulting Flowers? Paltry Vowels? I know this… it’s on the tip o’ me tongue…
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Farty Towels because if you know you know
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Fawlty Towers debut was 51 years ago? DAMN.
- Sep 19
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Got all of them on DVD. Yeah, that's right, DVD. Watch them on a regular basis. 😁👍
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Fawkty Towers. The episodes with the Germans and the one with Basil the rat were my favorites.
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Utterly wrecked by his being a rightwing bore.
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Fawlty Towers! One of the funniest shows ever made!
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Fawlty Towers. Never seen the series, just John Cleese was a tip off.
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Bought myself the whole series on DVD some time ago! I now have quite the BBC collection! Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, The Young Ones, Mr. Bean, Black Adder, and I believe every Python/Gilliam/Cleese films that exist. As well as the complete Gilbert & Sullivan, and every Shakespearean comedy.
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I seldom enjoy slapstick comedy, but I got some good laughs out of this show! 😄 #ThanksPBS 😊
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That's what happens when you leave Manuel in charge 🤣😂. We owned the Collectors Edition
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Fawlty Towers . The episode looks like The Builders
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Half a century?! No wonder the poor fellow's gone all doddery these days.