The Kipper and the Corpse

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“The Kipper and the Corpse”
Fawlty Towers episode
Episode no. Season 2
Episode 4
Written by John Cleese
Connie Booth
Directed by Bob Spiers
Production no. 10
Original airdate 12 March 1979
Episode chronology
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"Waldorf Salad" "The Anniversary"
List of Fawlty Towers episodes

"The Kipper and the Corpse" is the fourth episode of the second series of the British sitcom Fawlty Towers. It first aired on BBC2 on 12 March 1979.[1]

Contents

[edit] Background

During the early 1970s, John Cleese met a young hotelier called Andrew Leeman (27 July 1946 – 12 August 2007).[2] They went on holiday together to the Aegean with their girlfriends between the first and second series of Fawlty Towers, a time when Cleese was looking for ideas for plots.[2] During the holiday, Leeman told him how when he was working at The Savoy he found a dead guest in their room, and was told to discreetly dispose of the body.[2] Cleese turned this into "The Kipper and the Corpse" and the character who died was named Mr. Leeman in his honour.[2]

[edit] Cast

[edit] Plot

Basil and Sybil are working the bar where Mrs. Chase is fussing over shih-tzu dog and Dr. Price wants some sausages, but all they can offer him is sandwiches.[1] During the evening, a guest, Mr. Leeman, returns to Fawlty Towers feeling unwell, and as he picks up his key he asks for breakfast in bed.[1] Sybil offers Leeman kippers and he agrees.

The following morning, Dr. Price still yearns for some sausages, while Mrs. Chase makes a fuss of her dog, who bites Manuel. Basil takes Mr. Leeman his breakfast, despite reservations as the kippers are out of date, but fails to notice he has died, instead talking about a strike.[1] Moments later Polly takes up the forgotten milk, and she realises and comes down quickly to tell everyone. Basil panics that the kippers killed him, but Dr. Price soon confirms that he died several hours ago. Basil is then burdened with the task of trying to move the body from the room without the guests seeing.[1] However, while moving her across the upstairs hall, Miss Tibbs sees the body and Polly slaps her when she gets hysterical. Miss Tibbs and the deceased are hidden in a bedroom cupboard. When the room's occupants Mr. and Mrs. White want to enter the room moments later Basil, Polly and Manuel have to create a distraction, but Mr. and Mrs. White still hear Miss Tibbs moaning in the cupboard.[1]

The body is finally moved to the office, where the Major stumbles across it. Meanwhile, Dr. Price is still waiting for his sausages. Miss Tibbs, now recovered, goes to complain but sees the body again and faints. Mr. Leeman is then moved to the kitchen in the linen basket, until Dr. Price insists he is moved, and ends up in reception.[1] When two people come to meet Mr. Leeman, Basil thinks they are the undertakers and while talking to them the linen basket, with Leeman, is taken away.[1] Acting fast, the staff get him back but he ends up being hidden behind Basil until Basil jumps in the basket himself and is taken away by the laundry men. Leeman is then seen by all the guests.

[edit] Stage adaptation

In 1994, "The Kipper and the Corpse" was one of two Fawlty Towers episodes that was adapted for the stage and performed at the Theatre Geo in Hollywood.[3]

[edit] In popular culture

The plot is also similar to the opening episode of the 1997 BBC sitcom Chalk.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Ross, Robert. "Fawlty Towers - Fully Booked", BBC, 2001. 
  2. ^ a b c d "Obituary - Andrew Leeman", The Daily Telegraph, 28 August 2007. 
  3. ^ Meeks, Christopher. "Fawlty Towers", Variety, 1994-08-29. 
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"Communication Problems" · "The Psychiatrist" · "Waldorf Salad" · "The Kipper and the Corpse" · "The Anniversary" · "Basil the Rat"
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