Basil Fawlty, the world’s rudest and most anarchic hotelier, returns to Holmfirth Civic Hall for the second time from May 18 to 21... and provides a new challenge for local author Jack Dunnill.

The Turn Again Theatre group will begin their 2011-2012 season with more favourite episodes from the nation’s favourite TV comedy in Fawlty Towers 2.

The original production in October 2007 is still the most-successful in the Holmfirth group’s 24-year history.

Neil Stacey (Basil), Loretta Skelton (Sybil), Richard Skelton (Manuel) and Gwen Parr (Polly) will reprise their roles and Beryl Dunnill will again direct. Jack co-directed the original show but refused a part.

"I really thought I had hung up my scripts or my ego, or whatever it is thespians hang up when they quit, after playing Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing four years ago, but my wife asked me to play Major Gowen. She said I would be right for the part.

"When I looked up the character notes ... an old befuddled, somewhat senile ex-soldier permanently resident in the hotel ... I realised she wasn't exactly doing me any favours."

 Beryl, who also directed the highly-successful Bouncers and Shakers last year, said: “We have had so many requests to stage Fawlty Towers again that we finally gave in, provided the original team were willing. They certainly were.”

Tickets £6 adults and £4 concessions are now available in person or by phone from Holmfirth Information Office, Huddersfield Road. Tel: 01484 683183. Or email Turn Again Theatre at: turnagaintheatre@yahoo.co.uk

TAKE IT FROM TOM!

He should know!

I think I was the first person to take your book "Dancing with the Captain" of the library.

It was absolutely delightful.

I have been a musician on many, many cruise liners and I thought you caught the ambience absolutely superbly. A first class yarn, too. Your book is truly outstanding.

Among others I have played on the Iberia, the Aurora, the Oriana and the QE2.

From Tom Carlile, an unsolicited testimonial from a professional cruise musician

Read it! See what the critics say

There is civility, decency and grace about Dancing With The Captain and I feel I can recommend it to readers of all ages including my 93-year-old mother-in-law. But while there is nothing vulgar or offensive in this novel, it is not at all twee or pious either. A neat trick.  To sum up, this is a terrific holiday book. Read it on the aeroplane, on the beach and most of all, of course, on a cruise ship!

Reader Kay Buckley says: I found this book a real page turner. I know that I am enjoying a book when I feel myself looking forward to picking it up again and that was the case with this yarn. It was a fast-paced tale and I got so involved that I had to tell myself to slow down or I would have missed bits.  There are some well-drawn characters although not all, of course, are as they would have us believe. They are, however, no match for our hero, Alan Hale, and his supporters both on and off the ship. His ability to keep focused on the job in hand was quite admirable, given the temptation(s) on board. The mystery was well crafted and I didn’t have a clue what was going on until all was revealed. I’m a lazy reader in that I let the author entertain me instead of working hard to try and guess the outcome. I couldn’t even try with this one. I couldn’t help feeling sorry for all the people who booked future cruises on the strength of the exciting news streaming from the White Satin’s maiden cruise – beautiful dancing girls, colourful costumes, exotic romance – but we can all dream. I might even book a cruise myself after this. I’d end up at the bar with Billy the drunk. A new author, Jack Dunnill has much to offer. I’m hoping his next book will be out very soon. Click to read Richard Skelton's professional review

	It's great holiday reading! Can you judge a book by its cover? Publishers Austin& Macauley's graphics' team have devised this brilliant cover for Jack Dunnill's new novel. Do the contents match up? Read Rebecca Harris's review
	INSPIRING STORY Author Jack Dunnill is featured in the Bookbite website, a new project of Booktrust, an independent national charity which encourages people of all ages and cultures to discover and enjoy reading. Bookbite is specifically designed to encourage older people to take up creative writing. You can read Jack's story by clicking Bookbite. Website editor Linda Konradsson said: "Thank you so much for your inspirational story." Jack says: "I am delighted to become the first new author to feature in Bookbite. Good luck to everyone who feels encouraged by my story."
	JACK DUNNILL achieved his boyhood dream of working in Fleet Street at the age of 25 and spent more than 30 years as a Daily Mail reporter. He has finally found time to write "that first novel". He had previously written plays and sketches, not for publication, but for performance by a local award-winning drama group, of which he was a founder member 23 years ago and is currently publicity officer. Football fan, moderate golfer, hard-rock enthusiast and critic, he is a long time traveller but a relative newcomer to the delights of cruising. Married with two daughters, Jack has lived most of his adult life in the "Summer Wine" town of Holmfirth. He describes his wife Beryl, paradoxically, as "my biggest critic and supporter". Read Karen Malcolm's interview
PUBLISHERS' PRESS RELEASE	Jack Dunnill treats the readers of his new novel “Dancing With The Captain” to the delights of the maiden voyage of the White Satin, the gleaming new £500 million cruise ship. The ship holds many attractions in the form of beautiful dancing girls, romance and comedy, plus plenty of action with sabotage and crime. His hero Alan Hale, an award-winning news reporter, pulls out all the stops in his quest. Each day presents him with another enigma and Alan goes beyond the call of duty to provide us with a titillating story which encourages the reader to turn the next page. We cruise along with the passengers as they embark on their tour and visit exotic parts of the world, each port holding out its own mystery for Jack’s central character and his lovely companions.
	The book is available NOW, price £9.99, direct from:  amazon.co.uk amazon.com Waterstone, WH Smith's and all leading bookstores Austin & Maculey, the publishers (Tel: 0207 038 8212)   All pictures on this site are copyright Jack and Beryl Dunnill