Ambassador insists Germans find infamous Fawlty Towers episode funny
- Miguel Berger met John Cleese after watching the new Fawlty Towers play
The German ambassador to the UK has insisted that his country does find John Cleese's infamous Fawlty Towers episode 'The Germans' funny due to its 'awkwardness'.
Miguel Berger said he 'liked the humour' of the scenes where Cleese's character Basil Fawlty riles German guests by making a number of references to the Second World War.
This is despite the disgruntled hotel owner continually telling staff: 'Don't mention the war.'
Basil, who is suffering from the effects of concussion in the episode, also offends German guests by doing a goose-stepping impersonation of Adolf Hitler.
Mr Berger told The Times: 'In the end it is the British Fawlty who is struggling how to deal with these Germans.
'This is laughing about the awkwardness of the situation and also laughing about the Brits themselves. This is what we like about his type of humour.'
Miguel Berger (pictured with John Cleese) said he 'liked the humour' of the scenes where Cleese's character Basil Fawlty riles German guests by making a number of references to the Second World War
Basil, who is suffering from the effects of concussion in the episode, also offends German guests by doing a goose-stepping impersonation of Adolf Hitler
John Cleese with the original cast of Fawlty Towers, the hit BBC sitcom
'What we get upset about are the times Germans are portrayed as dumb Nazis and things like that,' the ambassador added.
Mr Berger was speaking after he met Cleese at the new West End stage adaptation of the 1970s sitcom.
The episode on 'The Germans' has been included in the stage show along with the appearance of other key characters such as deaf-battleaxe Mrs Richards and the undercover hotel inspectors.
Mr Berger, who has been his country's ambassador to the UK for two years, also squashed assumptions that there are no similarities between British and German humour.
He said Germans were particular fans of the comedian Ricky Gervais and Britain's 'tough humour' in general.
The episode on 'The Germans' has been included in the stage show along
Cleese posing with a poster for his new play which he has adapted for the stage
Mr Berger, who has been his country's ambassador to the UK for two years, also squashed assumptions that there are no similarities between British and German humour
Mr Berger said Germans were particular fans of the comedian Ricky Gervais and Britain's 'tough humour' in general
Mr Berger explained, however, that he thinks British attitudes towards the Germans have changed since Fawlty Towers was made in the 1970s.
He said that the 'connection' to the Second World War which existed 15 to 20 years ago has 'shifted fundamentally'.
Nevertheless Mr Berger acknowledged that there was still progress to be made in the two country's post-Brexit relationship and that certain anti-German songs sung by England football fans only had the intention to 'provoke' and 'humiliate'.
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