There is an episode of Fawlty Towers (1975) in which Kurt, Basil Fawlty’s Greek chef, drinks himself senseless because Manuel has rejected his advances. With guests waiting for their main courses Fawlty prevails upon his friend André, who runs a local French restaurant, to supply the dishes. Yet André’s repertoire is limited to three dishes or, as Fawlty explains to his guests, “If you don’t like duck, you’re rather stuck”, before dashing off in his temperamental car to collect their meals.
André Maranne, who played Fawlty’s friend, represented many Britons’ idea of a Frenchman, with his enjoyment of French bread, French wine and a Mediterranean diet. He was the go-to actor for directors needing a French character, appearing in Doctor Who as Benoit in The