EVEN a Fawlty Towers sceptic like me was converted by this incredibly funny performance by Bolton Little Theatre — but perhaps I was a fool to be a doubter in the first place.

We all know the story of mad Torquay hotelier Basil Fawlty, his domineering wife Sybil, hapless Spanish waiter Manuel and assistant Polly and their attempts to run a business while applying the minimum of customer care.

Only two series of the mid-70s television comedy were made and BLT chose to adapt sketches from three of them.

A Touch of Class deals with Basil’s over-the-top subservience to conman Lord Melbury, Communication Problems tackles the hotelier's increasing frustration with a deaf guest and The Germans . . . well, don’t mention the war.

The cast are word-perfect, the stage set is stunning and the actors have obviously studied the mannerisms of their characters in great detail.

Andrew Close is fantastic as the long-suffering and eccentric Basil, mirroring his character, looks, voice and movement. His performance in the sketch with the German family is hilarious. June Grice as his bossy wife Sybil is perfect. She looks like Sybil, walks like Sybil and talks like Sybil — what more could you ask for in a performance?

Jason Dunk makes a cracking Manuel, delivering the killer “I know nothing” line and the comic walk of the bumbling waiter with some aplomb.

Steph Shipley, as always, puts in a good performance as Polly, the woman who has to deal with the borderline madness of every other character and pull the whole operation together.

Harold Smith puts in a good show as the forgetful Major, and others worthy of honourable mention for various performances in the three sketches are Michael Tatman, Jeff Lunt, Ernest Dawson, Mark Leigh and Nina Faulkner.

So good it could almost have been called Fawltless Towers.