Basil Fawlty’s comedy gold

FAWLTY Towers has been crowned Britain’s greatest sitcom, with credit going to a “six-foot-five comic genius”.

The list of the 20 best British sitcoms was compiled by a panel of TV experts for Radio Times magazine.

John Cleese was credited with channelling his rage as highly strung Basil Fawlty, owner of a sub-par Torquay hotel, to make the 12-episode, two-season series a hit.

Fawlty Towers was joined on the list by series including Father Ted, Blackadder, I’m Alan Partridge and Only Fools And Horses.