John Cleese has Fawlty doubts

Saturday, 9 May 2009

John Cleese doesn't think his brand of comedy would get made now.

The British actor said the offbeat, often risque brand of humour he created as part of the team behind the 'Monty Python' TV series and films wouldn't be commissioned in today's environment.

When asked if certain scenes from his hit 70s TV show 'Fawlty Towers' would be made now, Cleese replied: "I don't think they would no. I was saying recently, we were so lucky, so deeply lucky to be working in television when we did.

"It was wonderful, because there wasn't the fear - the moment people get anxious they tighten up. What works well is if people who know what they're doing or know what they're doing some of the time are allowed to trust their gut. That's where you get interesting television.

"I think the main problem now is that it's run on the basis of money."

Cleese also rubbished the idea certain elements of 'Fawlty Towers' - most notably in episode 'The Germans' when his character Basil Fawlty is seen goose stepping and making Nazi salutes - has racist overtones.

He added to BANG Showbiz: "It all depends how intelligent the audience is. If you're doing something to make fun of prejudice. There are two ways of attacking something - one is the head on critical attack, the other is to espouse that particular attitude you want to make fun of and, make fun of it while appearing to hold it."

Cleese recently reunited with the original cast of 'Fawlty Towers' to celebrate the show's 30th anniversary.