NATIONAL TREASURE
Who is Timothy West’s wife Prunella Scales?
We take a look at her love story with Timothy
PRUNELLA Scales is known and loved by millions for her role in iconic comedy Fawlty Towers.
Sadly in November 2024, it was revealed that her beloved husband Timothy West had died aged 90.
4
4
Born on June 22, 1932, Prunella Scales is an actress of stage and screen.
Her most most famous role is Sybil Fawlty in the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.
Despite being in her 90s and battling dementia, Prunella has continued to work in theatre and TV.
In 2024, she finished recording new voiceovers for a production at the Tabard Studio Theatre in West London.
Read more on Prunella Scales
Fawlty Towers fame
Prunella found global success in the 70s when she played long-suffering Sybil in Fawlty Towers.
The show also starred John Cleese as hot-tempered hotel owner Basil Fawlty.
Despite its success, Fawlty Towers only ran for 12 episodes from 1975 to 1979.
But this was enough to make Prunella a national icon, thanks to her role as Basil's wife.
Most read in Celebrity
Married life
Prunella and Timothy West were married in 1963.
The couple first met in 1961 while making what they both describe as a "terrible play" for the BBC called She Died Young.
Timothy West's last TV appearance saw acting legend open up about wife Prunella Scales' tragic dementia battle
Speaking to Loose Women in 2023 about the early days of their romance, Timothy said that when he and Prunella weren't filming scenes for the show, they would spend their time playing crosswords and writing letters to each other.
The star said: "Pru and I had certain amounts of time off.
"We spent a lot of time doing crosswords and writing letters to each other. This is something that has gone on all our lives."
The couple were wed for 61 years and enjoyed later-life success on their Channel 4 series Great Canal Journeys.
4
Timothy was best known for his roles in Coronation Street as Eric Babbage and in EastEnders as Stan Carter.
He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing Macbeth twice and King Lear four times.
During their life together they welcomed two sons - Samuel and Joseph West.
Prunella is also step-mum to Timothy's daughter Juliet from a previous relationship.
4
Dementia battle
In 2014, Prunella was diagnosed with vascular dementia.
Speaking to The Times, she explained: "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 do forget things and that's age, the same as everybody else."
In 2024, her son Samuel gave an update on his mum's health and revealed she continues to work and travel around the world.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Speaking to ITV's Lorraine, the actor said: "My mother went on a cruise the other day, I'm not sure if she knew where she was but she enjoyed getting there.
"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."
Topics