Hotel which inspired Fawlty Towers to be demolished

The world-famous hotel which inspired the hit sitcom Fawlty Towers is to be demolished.

John Cleese based his hit show on the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay after staying there with the Monty Python gang in 1973.

Unbeknown to former owner Donald Sinclair, Cleese based his character Basil Fawlty on him.

John Cleese as his infamous character Basil Fawlty. Credit: PA

The 41-bedroom hotel was given a revamp in 2006 complete with new swimming pool, al fresco dining area and a conservatory.

The £1 million makeover turned it into a four-star boutique hotel able to charge guests up to £180 a night.

But it closed its doors earlier this year after failing to attract enough customers.

Glenagles after its £1 million makeover in 2006. Credit: SWNS

The hotel is now set to be turned into a retirement home after developers secured permission to convert it.

Churchill Retirement Living will knock the hotel down and build 36 retirement apartments in its place.

Planning officers allowed the application to go through as the former hotel had become "commercially unviable" as it is in a residential area with little passing trade.

Andrew Sachs who played long-suffering waiter Manuel in the sitcom. Credit: PA

Fawlty Towers, which ran on the BBC from 1975 to 1979, was voted number one in the British Film Institute's 100 Greatest TV Programmes despite just 12 episodes ever being made.

Some of Basil's funniest escapades include trying to hide a rat from a hygiene inspector and pretending his wife Sybil was ill during their anniversary party when she had left him.

Andrew Sachs's character, well-meaning but dim waiter Manuel, also suffered verbal assaults from Basil on a regular basis.