British television lost one of its most beloved stars as Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales passed away peacefully at her home in London on October 27, 2025, at the age of 93. Best known for her sharp wit and impeccable timing as Sybil Fawlty, the no-nonsense wife of Basil Fawlty, Scales’ life off-screen was just as fascinating and heartwarming as her time in the spotlight.
In the iconic 1970s sitcom Fawlty Towers, Prunella starred opposite John Cleese, who played her on-screen husband Basil Fawlty. Together, they created one of the most memorable comedic duos in British television history. Their constant bickering and hilarious chemistry became the soul of the show, making it a timeless classic watched and loved by generations.
However, while audiences adored Sybil and Basil’s love-hate relationship on screen, in real life, Prunella’s love story was far more enduring and tender.
A Real-Life Love Story: Prunella Scales and Timothy West
Off-screen, Prunella Scales shared a remarkable 62-year marriage with Timothy West, one of Britain’s most respected stage and television actors. The couple married in 1963 and went on to become one of the entertainment industry’s most admired duos. Their marriage was a partnership built on shared values, humour, and deep respect.
Prunella and Timothy had two sons, Samuel West—a well-known actor and director—and Joseph West, who pursued a career away from acting. Samuel often spoke about his parents’ devotion to each other and their love of storytelling, both on stage and in their personal lives.
The couple’s later years were marked by their touching appearances together in the documentary series “Great Canal Journeys” on Channel 4, where they explored Britain’s waterways. The show captured not just their love of adventure but also the tenderness between them as Prunella began to face health challenges.
Life with Dementia — and Unwavering Love
In 2013, Prunella was diagnosed with vascular dementia, a condition she faced with openness and courage. Rather than retreat from public life, she and Timothy continued their canal journeys, using their platform to raise awareness about the realities of living with dementia.
Timothy once said in an interview that while the disease had taken parts of her memory, “her personality, warmth, and sense of humour were still there.” Their relationship became a testament to lasting love—rooted in patience, care, and joy in simple moments.
Her Peaceful Passing
According to her family, Prunella passed away peacefully at her home in London, surrounded by loved ones. In a touching detail shared by her sons, she had watched episodes of Fawlty Towers the day before she died—still laughing at the show that made her a household name.
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment world, with colleagues and fans remembering her as “one of Britain’s great comic talents” and “a woman of grace, warmth, and wit.”
