“AT LAST, WE’RE TOGETHER AGAIN…” — Fawlty Towers Icon Prunella Scales Passes Away, Leaving Fans And Loved Ones Heartbroken 💔
Beloved actress and devoted wife of Timothy West, Prunella Scales, has passed after a long battle with dementia. Her final moments were calm and peaceful, yet the loss leaves an emptiness felt across the nation.
Generations remember her wit, charm, and unforgettable performances — and now, countless fans are paying tribute to a true legend.
Rest in peace, Prunella. Your laughter, grace, and spirit will never be forgotten. 🌹
awlty Towers actress Prunella Scales has died aged 93 her family has confirmed. A statement shared to PA news agency said: “Our darling mother Prunella Scales died peacefully at home in London yesterday. She was 93. Although dementia forced her retirement from a remarkable acting career of nearly 70 years, she continued to live at home. She was watching Fawlty Towers the day before she died. Pru was married to Timothy West for 61 years. He died in November 2024. She is survived by two sons and one stepdaughter, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. We would like to thank all those who gave Pru such wonderful care at the end of her life: her last days were comfortable, contented and surrounded by love.”
All about Prunella
Prunella Margaret Rumney Illingworth was born on June 22, 1932. She attended Moira House Girls’ School in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Her career spans across seven decades, beginning with a part in the adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (1952) and Hobson’s Choice (1954). However, her big break came in the ’60s when she starred opposite Richard Briers in the sitcom Marriage Lines. She also lent her voice to radio and starred in a number of broadcast sitcoms on BBC Radio 4, including After Henry, Smelling Of Roses and Ladies Of Letters.
© Radio Times via Getty Images
Prunella was best known for portraying Sybil opposite John Cleese on Fawlty Towers
Prunella also famously portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett’s A Question of Attribution (1991). However, she will be best remembered for portraying Sybil opposite John Cleese in the beloved sitcom, Fawlty Towers. Playing the more competent half of the married duo, Basil and Sybil, Prunella brought the character to life with unforgettable comedic timing and mercurial sarcastic wit. Sybil was the domineering and highly-skilled foil to Basil’s ineptness, often being forced to step in to clean up her husband’s messes and deal with the more difficult guests.
Prunella’s dementia battle
In 2014, Prunella was diagnosed with vascular dementia. In an interview with The Times in 2024, the actress said: “Well, as one gets older, one’s memory and living from minute to minute changes, doesn’t it? You get less efficient. My memory is less good. I mean, I forget to do things and, that’s age, the same as everybody else. Oh, don’t go on asking me about things like that.”
© Geoff Pugh/Shutterstock
The actress was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2014.
Meanwhile, her son, Samuel, appeared on Lorraine last year and was asked how his mother was doing. “They’re fine, they’re fine. My mother went on a cruise the other day, I’m not sure if she knew where she was but she enjoyed getting there.”
© Mirrorpix, Getty
Prunella Scales with her two children, Samuel West & Joe West.
The 59-year-old added that his mother’s attitude to life amid her ongoing health is about enjoying life as a journey. Samuel explained: “She said: ‘I don’t always know where I’m going but I enjoy getting there’ and I thought if that is her philosophy, that might have to be mine as well.”
Prunella’s love story with husband Timothy West
Prunella’s death comes 11 months after her husband of more than 60 years, Timothy West, died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his family. The couple tied the knot in 1963 and shortly after welcomed two children, Joseph West and All Creatures Great and Small star, Samuel West. The couple’s two children, Samuel and Joseph West, as well as Timothy’s daughter from a previous relationship, Juliet, released a statement at the time. “After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old.
“Tim was with friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly. We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and at Avery Wandsworth for their loving care during his last days.”
Prunella and Timothy’s Great Canal Journeys
In later life, Prunella and Timothy accrued a whole new legion of fans thanks to their hugely popular Channel 4 series, Great Canal Journeys. Airing from 2014-2019, the programme saw the couple venture through beautiful waterways and canals in the UK, Europe and beyond. It also gave viewers an unvarnished view into Prunella’s life living with dementia, as well as Timothy’s role as a caregiver for his wife.
WATCH: Prunella Scales and Timothy West in Great Canal Journeys
Tributes to Prunella
Tributes to the beloved actress have already began rolling in with her Fawlty Towers co-star and on-screen husband, John Cleese, describing Prunella as “a really wonderful comic actress,” and added: “Scene after scene she was absolutely perfect.” Downing Street also passed on its condolences to Prunella’s family. Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: “Clearly Prunella Scales was part of a golden era for British comedy, someone whose talent was beamed into people’s homes over many years and gave many people a huge amount of enjoyment.“The Prime Minister, of course, passes all his condolences to her family.”
Meanwhile, broadcaster Gyles Brandreth remembered her as “a funny, intelligent, interesting, gifted human being.” Sharing pictures of the late star, Gyles wrote on X: “This is a snap I took last year of Prunella Scales with Queen Camilla at Lamb House in Rye – we were celebrating Mapp & Lucia in which Pru had starred. What a wonderful actress: what a funny, intelligent, interesting, gifted human being. Blessed with a wonderful marriage to Tim.”
Jon Petrie, director of comedy at the BBC, said: “All of us at BBC Comedy are so sorry to hear of Prunella Scales’ passing. She was a national treasure whose brilliance as Sybil Fawlty lit up screens and still makes us laugh today. We send our love and condolences to her family and friends.”
Corinne Mills, interim chief executive officer for Alzheimer’s Society, has also paid tribute to the actress for “shining an important light on the UK’s biggest killer.” She said: “We are deeply saddened by the news that Prunella Scales – a true British icon – has died. Prunella was an inspiration not just for her achievements on screen, but because she spoke so openly about living with dementia, shining an important light on the UK’s biggest killer. We are profoundly grateful for the awareness she helped to raise and send our heartfelt condolences to her loved ones.”
