Samuel West, the son of Prunella Scales and Timothy West, has said he is very sad that his parents will not be able to watch him perform Malvolio in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Twelfth Night at the Barbican this Christmas. Scales, best known for her role as Sybil in Fawlty Towers, died aged 93 on 27 October, almost a year after her husband’s death.

West said in an interview that he is due to open as Malvolio in the RSC production and that neither parent will see it. He recalled that the first staging followed his father’s death and that he performed it for him, but now they will not be able to see it. He added that while people suggested the couple would be reunited in heaven, he thought they would likely be touring an agitprop play instead.

West spoke about his parents’ long collaboration on Great Canal Journeys, and about Scales’ dementia diagnosis. He said his mother died the day after what would have been her 62nd wedding anniversary. Last Word will be broadcast at 16:00 on Friday 31 October 2025 and again at 20:30 on Sunday 2 November 2025.