How many series of Fawlty Towers were made?

Two series of Fawlty Towers were made, with six episodes in each series.

The first series was broadcast on BBC Two in 1975, while the second followed in 1979. That produced 12 episodes in total, a remarkably small output for a programme that became one of Britain’s best-known sitcoms.

The gap between the two series was about three and a half years. John Cleese and Connie Booth were highly exacting writers, and scripts were repeatedly revised before filming. The show’s short run was therefore deliberate rather than the result of a long-running production schedule.

Viewers sometimes remember Fawlty Towers as having more episodes because its scenes and catchphrases are frequently repeated on television. The programme’s two-series structure is also distinct from the many later sitcoms that ran for several series. Its compact catalogue contains episodes such as “The Germans”, “Basil the Rat”, and “Gourmet Night”.