Prunella Scales health update as Fawlty Towers legend loses husband Timothy West

Samuel West, who is best known for his role in All Creatures Great and Small, opened up about his mother Prunella Scales’ ongoing battle with dementia during a recent TV appearance

Samuel West, famed for his role in All Creatures Great and Small, gave a heartfelt update on his mum Prunella Scales’ battle with vascular dementia on Lorraine ahead of the sad news that his father, actor Timothy West, passed away at 90 on Tuesday (November 12).

Prunella, the 92 year old actress known for portraying Sybil Fawlty on Fawlty Towers and Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett’s A Question of Attribution, has been living with the condition since 2014. When asked about Prunella’s health, Samuel shared her positive outlook, which she expressed after a recent trip: “My mother went on a cruise the other day, I’m not sure if she knew where she was but she enjoyed getting there. 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.”

**Samuel gave an update on his mum after the sad passing of his dad, Timothy** (Image: (Image: (Image: Getty)))

Despite her age, Prunella remains engaged in acting. Speaking with The Times, she opened up about how ageing has affected her memory and daily functions, saying: “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,” as reported by MyLondon. “I mean, I do forget things and that’s age, the same as everybody else.”

Despite her health challenges, she’s determined to keep working in TV and theatre, as reported by the Express. Her late husband Timothy, famous for his roles in Coronation Street, EastEnders, and the sitcom Not Going Out, also kept up an active career until his death, reports the Express.

Recently, Prunella has been busy recording new voiceovers for a production at the Tabard Studio Theatre in West London. Scales first took on the role of Queen Victoria over forty years ago, starring in An Evening with Queen Victoria which premiered in London and toured globally until 2007.

**Samuel West gave an update on his mother’s health after his dad’s passing** (Image: (Image: (Image: Getty)))

Prunella and Timothy enjoyed a marriage of 61 years and have two sons, Samuel, 58, and Joseph, as well as a step-daughter, Juliet, from Timothy’s previous marriage. In a 2023 interview, Prunella expressed her gratitude towards her husband for ‘sticking by (me) for so long’.

Timothy passed away ‘peacefully in his sleep’ while ‘surrounded by family’ on Tuesday, November 12. The family announced his passing with a statement that read: “After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old.

“Tim was with friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly. We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and at Avery Wandsworth for their loving care during his last days.”