What is the title of the first episode of Fawlty Towers?

The first episode of Fawlty Towers is titled “A Touch of Class.” It introduces Basil Fawlty’s desperate attempt to impress the aristocratic Lord Melbury while keeping his chaotic Torquay hotel running.

The episode was written by John Cleese and Connie Booth and directed by John Howard Davies. Although it was recorded as a pilot on 24 December 1974, BBC Two first broadcast it on 19 September 1975, making it the opening episode of the first series.

A common mix-up comes from the show’s unusual production history. The episodes originally aired without on-screen titles; names such as “A Touch of Class” became standard through later releases and episode guides. The title also reflects Basil’s snobbery: he wants the hotel to seem refined, even as his behaviour repeatedly creates farce.

The series itself was inspired partly by the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay, whose owner, Donald Sinclair, impressed the Monty Python team with his eccentric conduct. “A Touch of Class” establishes the setting, characters and social-climbing theme that define the sitcom.