Kim sez, "This is an interview with a Swedish author, literary critic and classical muscian Lars Holger Holm about his book, Fawlty Towers – A Worshipper's Companion The book is incredibly researched and full of crazy stuff — including the story about how Holm saw the never-broadcast 13th episdoe of Fawlty Towers in 1999, and he even includes he script for 'The Robbers' in the book. Cleese has seen the book and given it his blessing. The book is not available in the U.S., but arrangements were made with the Swedish publisher to have a limited number shipped here for PBS stations to offer as pledge thank-you gifts around 'Fawlty Towers Revisited.'"
I have absolutely no idea why the 13th episode, called The Robbers, has never been aired. I only know that I saw it once in Bill Morton's flat not far from Piccadilly Circus on a particularly wet evening. Hadn't it been for this, I might myself have doubted the otherwise striking authenticity of the script, reproduced in the book.
As things stand, I can only assure the reader that the show, as far as I remember, was amazing. Rarely have I seen John Cleese and his crew reach such continuous heights of sublime entertainment, and the only reason I can see for not wanting this episode to reach the fans, is that it would perhaps create the false impression that there was so much more to wring out of the material, whereas, in fact, the 13th episode represents the ultimate solution to the problem of how to carry this tormented universe to a happy end.
As concerns the reason for never admitting its existence, let alone airing it, I must refer the reader to the BBC. They should know why. And poor Bill. The last time I tried to call him he had a parrot recorded on his answering machine, exclaiming: P-off!
(Thanks, Kim!)
