Who played Mr Hutchinson in The Hotel Inspectors?

Bernard Cribbins played Mr Hutchinson in “The Hotel Inspectors,” the fourth episode of the first Fawlty Towers series. His character is an irritating, demanding guest whom Basil mistakenly believes may be a hotel inspector.

The episode was written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, directed by John Howard Davies, and first broadcast on BBC2 on 10 October 1975. Mr Hutchinson makes numerous requests, talks about his contact with hotels and causes Basil to switch from hostility to exaggerated fawning.

The cast options can be confusing because several listed actors also appear in the episode. James Cossins plays Mr Walt, while Peter Brett and Geoffrey Morris play genuine hotel inspectors. Cribbins alone plays the guest Basil targets as the suspected inspector.

The plot echoes the mistaken-identity premise of Nikolai Gogol’s play “The Government Inspector.” In the final reversal, Hutchinson is revealed to be a cutlery salesman, while Basil has misjudged the real inspectors. Cribbins was already known for comedy, singing and film roles, and his performance here became one of his best-remembered television parts.