Today we're giving readers a first look at pictures from Fawlty Towers - The Play, which comes to Southampton next year starring Just Good Friends and Jesus Christ Superstar actor Paul Nicholas and Joanna Clifton, of Strictly Come Dancing fame. 

Following the hugely successful and critically acclaimed West End run of the play, and 50 years since since the legendary British comedy first aired on the BBC, Fawlty Towers will be at Mayflower Theatre from March 3 to 7.

Comedy legend John Cleese, who originally co-wrote Fawlty Towers, has chosen three of his favourite original TV episodes - The Hotel Inspector, The Germans and Communications Problems - and adapted them into a two-hour play, complete with a new ending.

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He said: "I’m thrilled with the top-class group of comedy actors that we've assembled for the UK tour of Fawlty Towers - The Play which begins in September.

"September also marks exactly 50 years since the first ever TV episode was broadcast on the BBC. I never thought that all these years later the stage show would get the reception that it has. But here we are, still making theatres rock with laughter."

Following a tip off that hotel inspectors may be visiting and eager to impress, Basil attempts to ingratiate himself with guests that he suspects are there to critique the establishment. The situation is further plagued by a party of Germans, the deaf and dotty guest-from-hell, Mrs Richards, whose infuriating complaints prevent him from hiding a gambling win from his ever vigilant and bossy wife, Sybil.

(Image: Hugo Glendinning) Together they run their hotel with a little help from the unflappable Polly, and very little help at all from Manuel, the trainee waiter from Barcelona who is the butt of Fawlty’s frustration.

Set in a fictional hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, only 12 half hour episodes of the original BBC comedy were ever made. Based on a real-life hotel owner, Donald Sinclair. John Cleese came up with the idea for the character Basil Fawlty when he stayed at The Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay and became fascinated with its incredibly rude owner.

The iconic TV show won two BAFTAS and was voted the best British programme of all time in a British Film Institute poll.

(Image: Hugo Glendinning)