BBC to air classic Fawlty Towers episode in Andrew Sachs tribute

The BBC is to pay tribute to the late, great Andrew Sachs by airing one of his classic Fawlty Towers episodes.

Communication Problems will air on BBC One at 7.30pm on Friday, December 2, following the death of the actor, who brilliantly portrayed Spanish waiter Manuel in the series.

A tweet on the BBC press office’s official Twitter account read: “In a change to the schedule, @BBCOne will be showing the classic #FawltyTowers episode Communication Problems, tonight at 7.30pm.”

The episode features the arrival of “guest from hell” Mrs. Richards – played by Joan Sanderson – who is hard of hearing and bad-tempered.

Some of the classic moments from the ep, which was originally broadcast on February 19, 1979 as the first episode of the show’s second series, include her conversations with Manuel being somewhat lost in translation in a comical way.

It also tells the story of John Cleese’s Basil Fawlty attempting to prevent the money he won a horse race being discovered by wife Sybil (Prunella Scales).

Andrew passed away on November 23 aged 86 after a secret four-year battle with dementia.

John has paid tribute to the actor, saying he couldn’t have found a better person to play Manuel.

In a series of tweets, he wrote: “Just heard about Andy Sachs. Very sad….

I knew he was having problems with his memory as his wife Melody told me a couple of years ago…

“…and I heard very recently that he had been admitted to Denham Hall,but I had no idea that his life was in danger. A very sweet gentle…

“…and kind man and a truly great farceur.I first saw him in Habeas Corpus on stage in 1973.I could not have found a better Manuel. Inspired”