Prunella Scales and Timothy West’s 60-year love story from low-key wedding to health diagnosis

Here, Prunella is seen as Kate Starling opposite Richard Briers as her on-screen husband George in the BBC sitcom, Marriage Lines, which would be her breakthrough television role.

Though it’s not known where or when exactly Prunella met Timothy, it’s likely they met in the industry around the time she was appearing in the show. 

Timothy had already begun working as a theatre actor by the time Prunella landed her part on the BBC comedy.

Having met at some point in the early 1960s, Timothy and Prunella made it official in 1963 and wed at Chelsea Registry Office.

We love how unconventional and low-key the affair looked. The couple are dressed smartly for the affair, though notably, Prunella opted away from wearing a traditional bridal white gown, instead wearing a beautifully tailored houndstooth coat with black gloves, black bag and black heels.

The actress polished off the seriously chic look with a fur hat and her hair perfectly coiffed. Timothy, meanwhile, opted for a simple smart suit with a plain black tie and white shirt.

By the time the 1970s came around, both Prunella and Timothy had made impressive trajectories in the acting world. 

Prunella became a household name when she landed the part of Sybil Fawlty, the often fed-up wife of Basil Fawlty, played by John Cleese.

The show is considered an institution when it comes to British sitcoms.

In addition to their individual careers, Prunella and Timothy often mixed business with pleasure and acted together. 

This photo from 1984 shows the husband and wife on stage at the Old Vic Theatre in London in a production of Big In Brazil.

In 1966, three years after they became husband and wife. They welcomed their first child, Samuel West.

Samuel has gone on to become an actor like his parents and these days is best known for his role in Channel 5’s All Creatures Great and Small.

They also have a younger son named Joseph who has joined his famous parents on their programme, Great Canal Journeys.

Here, the actress is seen with her two sons at their home in Wandsworth in the 1970s.

This photo, taken in 1984, shows Samuel accompanying his parents to Buckingham Palace where Timothy picked up his CBE for services to drama. 

All three look thrilled with the royal achievement!  

Prunella and Timothy were joined by Samuel and his partner, Laura Wade, at the after-party for the production of The Lover/The Collection.

Samuel and his partner are both in the industry as actors and playwrights so we bet the foursome have enjoyed plenty of evenings out watching plays in London’s West End.

In 2014, Prunella was diagnosed with vascular dementia but generally keeps her health private. However, the actress did speak about her memory in an interview with The Times last month.

“In response to being asked about her memory, the Fawlty Towers actress retorts: “Well, as one gets older, one’s memory and living from minute to minute changes, doesn’t it? You get less efficient.

“My memory is less good. I mean, I forget to do things and, that’s age, the same as everybody else. Oh, don’t go on asking me about things like that.”

Meanwhile, Samuel appeared on Lorraine last month and was asked how his parents were doing. “They’re fine, they’re fine. My mother went on a cruise the other day, I’m not sure if she knew where she was but she enjoyed getting there.”

The 58-year-old added that his mother’s attitude to life amid her ongoing health is about enjoying life as a journey. 

Samuel explained: “She said: ‘I don’t always know where I’m going but I enjoy getting there’ and I thought if that is her philosophy, that might have to be mine as well.”