'Fawlty Towers' Star Reveals He Was Seriously Hurt During A Famous Episode

[Brian Damage]

Andrew Sachs, the actor, has told how he suffered burns during the filming of one of Fawlty Towers' most famous scenes.

Sachs who played the Spanish waiter Manuel has disclosed he was left with scars for five years after he suffered second degree acid burns during filming of the "Germans" episode.

Andrew has told for the first time how he was left scarred after one stunt went wrong.

In the episode Manuel sets fire to the kitchen, but Basil insists it is just a fire drill and forces him back into the burning kitchen.

Andrew recalls: "They'd covered my jacket with some chemicals which reacted together and caused it to smoke and look as if it was on fire. They told me it was fine, but the problem was it wasn't, and it got very warm.

"I stopped the dress rehearsal but they said they'd tested the chemicals and it was OK. So I carried on, but the jacket got hotter and hotter and I stopped again."

It was only when when his jacket was finally removed that it was revealed he had suffered real-life burns which were far from comical.

In fact they were so bad that Andrew says he was left with scars for five years.

But ever the comedian last night he joked about the amount of compensation he was awarded for the accident.

Andrew revealed: "They took the jacket off and my shoulders, arms and back were plum-coloured due to acid burns from the chemicals.

"I was taken to first aid and then sent to a burns specialist in Harley Street. The scars were there for five years.

"I did get £750 compensation... that's why I'm so rich!"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...ty-Towers.html

[Marvo301]

Yikes!! I'm surprised they didn't use a stuntman for that scene!