The BBC pulled Stacey Solomon‘s DIY show Sort Your Life Out from screens on Tuesday in a last-minute schedule shake-up that went very, very wrong.

Following the news that the legendary actress Prunella Scales had passed away at the age of 93, the broadcaster decided to air an episode of Fawlty Towers in her honour.

She is best known for her portrayal of Sybil Fawlty in the classic sitcom – a role she occupied from 1975 to 1979.

The episode played, which first aired in 1975, centred around a series of renovations that go wrong.

Its synopsis reads: ‘Major renovations are made to the lobby while the Fawltys are out, but when a misreading causes the incompetent builders to mess it up spectacularly, Basil must try to remedy the situation before Sybil finds out.’

But while the BBC might have been well-intentioned with its last-minute schedule change, viewers took umbrage with several parts of the episode – especially because it barely featured Prunella.

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The BBC pulled Stacey Solomon ‘s DIY show Sort Your Life Out from screens on Tuesday in a last-minute schedule shake-up that went very, very wrong

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Following the news that the legendary actress Prunella Scales had passed away at the age of 93, the broadcaster decided to air an episode of Fawlty Towers in her honour

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But while the BBC might have been well-intentioned with its last-minute schedule change, viewers took umbrage with several parts of the episode – especially because it barely featured Prunella

They fumed: ‘Well done BBC for showing Fawlty Towers tonight. However you managed to show the episode which features Prunella the least. Also I’m still waiting for your Robert Redford tribute.’;

‘@bbc have scheduled a tribute to Prunella Scales with an episode of Fawlty Towers that she’s hardly in;

‘No, not The Builders being shown in tribute to Prunella Scales? OK, Sybil has some great scenes, but it’s easily the weakest episode of the entire series. If you wanted a Sybil-centric episode, why not show The Anniversary?’

Another viewer, meanwhile, slammed the broadcaster for failing to censor a racial slur in the TV programme.

However, not everyone was so critical of the BBC’s tribute, with one viewer describing the late actress’s brief performance in the episode as being ‘the standout’.

They praised: ‘Absolutely in love with watching Fawlty Towers on BBC One. Sybil was fantastic and the standout in this episode. RIP Prunella Scales.’

The reason Prunella featured so briefly in the chosen episode was because her character was meant to be on holiday.

News of Prunella’s death on Monday was announced by her sons Samuel and Joseph, who revealed that she had actually watched Fawlty Towers the day before she passed away.

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News of Prunella’s death on Monday was announced by her sons Samuel and Joseph, who revealed that she had actually watched Fawlty Towers the day before she passed away

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The actress is best known for her portrayal of Sybil Fawlty in the classic sitcom – a role she occupied from 1975 to 1979

Jon Petrie, the BBC Director of Comedy said: ‘All of us at BBC Comedy are so sorry to hear of Prunella Scales’ passing. She was a national treasure whose brilliance as Sybil Fawlty lit up screens and still makes us laugh today. We send our love and condolences to her family and friends.’

Prunella’s sons said in a statement: ‘Our darling mother Prunella Scales died peacefully at home in London yesterday. She was 93.

‘Although dementia forced her retirement from a remarkable acting career of nearly 70 years, she continued to live at home.

‘She was watching Fawlty Towers the day before she died.

‘Pru was married to Timothy West for 61 years. He died in November 2024.

‘She is survived by two sons and one stepdaughter, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

‘We would like to thank all those who gave Pru such wonderful care at the end of her life: her last days were comfortable, contented and surrounded by love.’