It's 50 years since the first episode of Fawlty Towers was shown and it's still brilliant because it reflects who we really are, says Mark Smith

Some of the important events of 1975: Margaret Thatcher is elected leader of the Conservative party, a referendum is held on UK membership of the European community, Bill Gates establishes Microsoft, and the first episode of Fawlty Towers is broadcast. Fifty years on, we’re still being shaped and reflected, more or less, by all of those things, especially Fawlty Towers. Fawlty Towers is us.

The first episode, in case you need reminding, is the one about the bricks in the briefcase and the lord who turns out not to be a lord and it’s exactly 50 years ago this week since it was first shown which is a perfect opportunity, which I do not intend to resist, of celebrating the greatest sitcom of all time. No, don’t argue. Frasier. Dad’s Army. Steptoe. Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard people make the case for all of them as the greatest, and they’re wrong. Objectively, statistically, scientifically wrong. It’s Fawlty Towers.

There are some people (some people under 30) who may feel uncomfortable about this idea, or the idea of Fawlty Towers as great comedy at all; they may even believe we shouldn’t be watching it because it does not align with their values. Basil is racist, snobbish and sexist, the Major says terrible things, and the Spanish waiter is mocked and........

© Herald Scotland