Booth to break her silence over Fawlty Towers

Connie Booth is to break her silence to talk about Fawlty Towers for the first time in more than 20 years.

Booth co-wrote the sitcom with John Cleese and starred as chambermaid Polly – but has until now refused to talk about her part in the sitcom. She retired from acting a decade ago and is now a psychotherapist in North London

But Booth, 54, was persuaded to discuss the programme by the producers of a new UK TV G.O.L.D. programme, Fawlty Towers Re-opened

It one of two two-hour retrospectives Cleese is frontingfor the channel, the other being a collection of his favourite clips: Fawlty Towers Exclusive: Basil's Best Bits

The programmes promise to include unseen footage from the time as well as interviews with the cast, including Andrew Sachs and Prunella Scales, fans such as Michael Palin, Eddie Izzard and Sir Trevor MacDonald and the owners of the Gleneagles Hotel, the inspiration for the series

Jane Rogerson from G.O.L.D. said: ‘I’m thrilled we've got such great access with John Cleese and over the moon we've exclusively secured the first interview with Connie Booth in over 20 years. It will be a real televisual treat.’

Executive producer Ricky Kelehar added: ‘We are delighted to have persuaded the towering comedy legend that is John Cleese to speak in detail about Fawlty Towers for the very first time.’

Booth has previously taken action against journalists who wanted her to discuss her Fawlty Towers past.

In 2004 she complained, unsuccessfully, to the Press Complaints Commission when her local newspaper ran a story headlined ‘don’t mention the classic comedy series’. She complained that the article concentrated on the sitcom when she wanted to promote her single mothers’ support group.

Booth was married to Cleese at the time of the first series in 1975, although they had split by the time the second aired five years later.

The new shows – which follow a recent similar G.O.L.D. retrospective about Blackadder which delivered a huge ratings boost for the channel – will air on May 10 and 17 at 9pm.

Published: 23 Mar 2009