John Cleese Live: Celebrating Fawlty Towers at 50

Join us as John Cleese discusses his classic sitcom creation Fawlty Towers, in an exclusive onstage event to raise funds for Bristol’s Slapstick Festival. The legendary co-creator and star of Monty Python, Fish Called Wanda and Fawlty Towers reflects on 50 years of Britain’s most iconic sitcom, just ahead of the release of his new book, Fawlty Towers: Fawlty & All – In conversation with ITV West Country presenter and lifelong Fawlty Towers fan Alex Lovell. The evening will feature behind-the-scenes stories, classic clips, and a rare opportunity for audience questions.
A unique celebration of the show, voted the UK’s greatest sitcom of all time. This is a one-off event—never to be repeated.

Why Are We Raising Funds?

Slapstick Festival is a not-for-profit arts organisation dedicated to celebrating the golden age of screen comedy—bringing laughter from the past into the present. For over two decades, we’ve championed silent and classic comedy through live events that include big-screen presentations of silent film masterworks accompanied by live orchestral scores, as well as guest appearances from performers, historians, and comedians from around the world. These extraordinary experiences come at a cost, and ticket sales alone do not cover the costs of producing these events. That’s why fundraising events like this special evening with John Cleese are so important to us. Your support helps us continue to create joyful, unique experiences that honour comedy’s rich legacy and make it accessible for all. By attending, you’re directly supporting our mission to keep this wonderful, often overlooked art form alive for generations to come.