“Although dementia forced her retirement from a remarkable acting career of nearly 70 years, she continued to live at home. She was watching Fawlty Towers the day before she died.”
It comes after her on-screen husband, John Cleese, shared a heartfelt message to her family following her death. Prunella was best known for her role as Sybil in Fawlty Towers, the stern wife of Basil Fawlty in the beloved ‘70s sitcom.
The actor described Prunella as a “really wonderful comic actress,” adding: “Scene after scene, she was absolutely perfect.” Prunella was married to Timothy West for 61 years and is survived by two sons and one stepdaughter, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
September 19, 2025, marked 50 years since the first episode of Fawlty Towers aired. At the core of the show were the hilarious antics of hotel owner Basil Fawlty, his patient wife Sybil, clever chambermaid Pollie, played by Connie Booth, and the bumbling Spanish waiter, Manuel.
It may have been off the air since 1979, but Fawlty Towers became a cornerstone for British comedy sitcoms. It spawned a successful theatre production, fans worldwide still love the show, and a reboot of the programme, created by Cleese and his daughter Camilla, was announced in 2023.
When Fawlty Towers first began, Prunella was already a star of the stage and screen. Since the programme ended, she has appeared in movies such as Howards End and The Hound of the Baskervilles.
After several film, in 2003, Prunella appeared as Hilda, wife of Horace Rumpole in four BBC Radio 4 plays, with her real-life husband, Timothy West, playing her fictional husband.
After the news of her death hit the headlines, Jon Petrie, director of comedy at the BBC, paid tribute to the late star. He said: “All of us at BBC Comedy are so sorry to hear of Prunella Scales’ passing.
She was a national treasure whose brilliance as Sybil Fawlty lit up screens and still makes us laugh today. We send out love and condolences to her family and friends.”
Many fans also sent their condolences online, as one person wrote: “Legend. May she rest in peace”, while another added: “She was an underrated actress by many. The chemistry between Prunella and John was the mainstay of the show. RIP Prunella, and you won’t ever be forgotten.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
