[pjc50]

Basil Fawlty was based on a real hotelier.

[TheOtherHobbes]

Not only was Basil Fawlty based on a real hotelier, but the hotel is now advertising itself as 'The inspiration for Fawlty Towers.'

I discovered this last week when I drove past it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleneagles_Hotel,_Torquay