Fawlty Towers由John Cleese和他当时的妻子Connie Booth共同创意并编剧，并且均出演主要角色。该剧集以Torquay一家小旅馆Fawlty Towers为背景，主要人物包括John Cleese饰演的旅馆主人，笨手笨脚、脾气糟糕、极度老派、市侩而且怕老婆到死的Basil Fawlty；爱唠叨、笑声可怕、能让比自己高一个半头的老公噤若寒蝉的旅馆女主人Sybil Fawlty；Connie Booth饰演的经常被搅进老板倒霉事的临时女侍Polly；以及Basil为了省钱而雇佣的、听不懂几句英文、经常遭老板拳脚相向的西班牙侍者兼小厮Manuel。由这四位经营的Fawlty Towers可想而知是经常陷入窘境难以自拔了，而旅馆的几位长住客人和各色过往人等则常常成为其中的牺牲品。

John Cleese is hilarious as the descendant of Sherlock Holmes in this modern detective drama of international power politics and intrigue. Unlike his illustrious grandfather however, he only succeeds in bungling every job he organizes. Also stars Arthur Lowe as the "bionic" grandson of Dr. Watson, Stratford Johns as the Commissioner of Police, and Connie Booth as Mrs. Hudson.