Prunella Scales Has "Sort Of Alzheimer's," But Fawlty Towers Star Lives Life To The Full

Actress Prunella Scales and her husband Timothy West have revealed that the Fawlty Towers star is suffering with a condition similar to Alzheimer's. The acting couple have narrated and starred in an upcoming documentary about the canals of Britain, navigating the waterways on a narrowboat and sharing one of their big passions with More 4 viewers.

Scales was also pragmatic about her mental state but vowed not to deliberately slow down. "I certainly do enjoy life, and I can still perform my duties as crew," she said onboard the boat. Comparing herself to her husband, the 81 year-old said she has "probably got a bit more energy than he has," as a result of the fitness regimes and training she undertook when she was a young actress.

West agreed whilst watching his wife go about her canal boat duties. "It's easy to forget Pru is the age she is, when she's so agile leaping about the locks," he marvels. "She's just growing older and in a certain area more quickly that either of us would like. We're very lucky, really," the EastEnders star lamented.

The couple have fostered their passion for canals since the '70s when they borrowed a friends boat for a fortnight and intend to continue as long as they are able. Luckily, the laidback lifestyle the meandering canal offers is conducive to a stress-free existence. "She can't remember things very well but you don't have to remember things on the canal," West says before Scales adds sunnily, "Well it can be a nuisance sometimes but it doesn't stop me being able to open a lock gate or make the skipper a cup of tea."

Speaking to the Radio Times, Scales revealed that she would like to eventually "die on the eighth curtain call," explaining "Eight will mean the show's been rather a success. I just hope I'm somewhere near the middle and have been reasonably good in the part."

Grand Canal Journeys will be broadcast on More 4 on March 10, 2014, at 9pm.