Lovable Manuel’s funniest moments as Fawlty Towers’ hapless Spanish waiter as Andrew Sachs passes away aged 86
The actor has died after suffering with dementia for four years, here we recap his greatest Manuel moments
FAWLTY Towers' star Andrew Sachs has died at the age of 86 after suffering from dementia over the past four years.
The talented actor, who died in a care home last week, appeared in a number TV series and films but was best known for his role as Manuel, the Spanish waiter in the BBC sitcom, who he played alongside John Cleese.
We take a look at his best, gut-wrenchingly funny moments as the hapless waiter.
Manuel practices his English
In the sixth episode of the BBC sitcom, The Germans, Manuel decides to practice his English after giving the front desk a tidy up.
This was after Basil Fawlty tried to ask the waiter for hammer, only for Manuel to think he'd either wanted a ham sandwich or was asking him to see his hamster.
He begins speaking with an over-the-top British accent saying that he "is English" before kneeling down to clean the desk below.
Sitting on top of the front desk is a moose head, and when an unsuspecting Major Gowen begins to walk by he practises saying, "How are you, sir?"
Of course, the man looks over his shoulder, utterly baffled, as he thinks the moose head is talking to him.
Manuel quickly pops up and notices who it is, asking how he is before ducking down again.
The Major responds that he is "fine thank you".
What ensues is a hilarious back-and-forth between the Major and, what he thinks is, the moose head.
When Basil returns to hang up the moose head, he queries how much it is and leaves Basil confused, remarking "He's started early."
Basil gives Manuel a language lesson
Basil is frustrated after spotting Manuel juggling trays of bread and butter.
He then has to repeat that there is "too much butter on those trays".
Manuel then decides to correct Basil: "Not 'on those trays' - 'uno, dos, tres'."
Basil then attempts to say it in Spanish, only for Manuel to correct him again.
His wife then comes in and he says that he is "handling it", which he clearly isn't.
He then gets irritated and he tells him to leave.
When Basil's wife asks why he hired him, he responds: "Because he's cheap and keen to learn."
Manuel mans the phones
A frazzled, but eager, Manuel attempts to man the phones - but doesn't cope very well.
On the first ring he shouts down the phone and the second time he picks up the phone and calls them a "great big halfwit".
He then chucks the phone when he realises that it's Basil on the phone.
Manuel calls over the "man with the beard" and relays the message that he is a "hideous orangutan", which results in a fist in his face.
Basil then smugly says, "Thank you very much."
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Manuel 'knows nothing'
Basil and Manuel have a rather infuriating conversation after Basil storms into the dining room and faux whispers that he "knows nothing" about his horse.
Manuel gets the wrong end of the stick as he says: "You always say Mr Fawlty but I learn."
Basil is baffled as Manuel continues to repeat that he "learn" and "gets better".
The frustrated owner then reiterates that he "knows nothing about the horse".
Manuel then loudly asks "which horse?"
Basil then exclaims: "My horse, nitwit."
The waiter responds: ";Your horse Nitwit."
The pair then become embroiled in a painful conversation as he asks whether he means his horse Dragonfly or Nitwit.
Basil explodes: "There isn't a horse called nitwit, you're the nitwit."
Manuel then asks what a nitwit is and Basil said that it doesn't matter.
The owner then shuts him up as his wife comes in.
Biscuit with your rat?
A particular fan favourite episode came in the form of the hilarious finale of Fawlty Towers as Manuel finally catches his pet rat in the restaurant.
However drama ensues when he hides the rat in the biscuit tin.
As a customer is about to take a biscuit, the rat's head pops up among the crackers.
Basil then jokes: "Would you care for a rat?" When the guest is silent he remarks, "Just the biscuit then."
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