Former EastEnders star Paul Nicholas surprised fans with his new role in Fawlty Towers, sporting a transformed look on This Morning. The iconic BBC series captivated audiences with its humorous yet rude hotel antics.
The veteran actor has taken on a new challenge, stepping into the shoes of the bumbling old Major in John Cleese’s stage adaptation of the iconic BBC series Fawlty Towers.
He joined the show alongside the 84-year-old actor and one of his co-stars to chat about his latest gig with This Morning’s Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary this Friday, July 26, 2024.
Gaining recognition for the role of Vincent in Just Good Friends, Paul is also known for his frequent stints in soapland, one of his latest appearances taking place in EastEnders, where he portrayed Gavin Sullivan.
Gavin, the biological father of Sharon Watts and ex-husband of Kathy Beale was known for his icy white hair and stern gaze, appearing in Walford from 2015 to 2016. But during his live TV appearance this Friday, Paul was in character as he sported glasses and most of his hair was gone.
Fans were shocked by the change, taking to X, formerly Twitter, to express their surprise. One user exclaimed: “When did Paul Nicholas get that old? ” while another was simply astounded: “Paul nicholas wow.”
Comments continued to flood in, with one fan noting: “Paul Nicholas’s hair is on the run,” and another shared their disbelief: “Me when i realised that was Paul Nicholas.” Butamidst the astonishment, a voice of reason emerged, with one person remarking: “Paul Nicholas will be 80 in December, people do get old ya know.”
Based on the real-life hotelier Donald Sinclair who ran Torquay’s Gleneagles Hotel, the original Fawlty Towers focused on the abysmally impolite behaviour which fascinated co-creators John Cleese and Connie Booth. The series first appeared on BBC2 for two seasons in 1975 and 1979.
Like its predecessor, this version chronicles the misfortunes of Torquay hotel owner Basil Fawlty, played by John Cleese, and his wife Sybil, originally depicted by Prunella Scales, as they attempt to keep their hotel business and marriage afloat.
Read more: mirror.co.uk