Pru and Me: The Amazing Marriage of Prunella Scales and Timothy West

by Timothy West

After first meeting over sixty years ago while filming a costume drama for the BBC, Prunella Scales and Timothy West have enjoyed a partnership like no other; from appearing together in hit sitcoms to bringing up two children, they have chalked up an almost endless list of professional triumphs.

In this book, Tim traces their united steps through life professionally and personally, and covers the highs and lows of caring for Pru since her dementia diagnosis, twenty years ago. As with all things in life, she and Tim have tackled it together, often with a glass of wine in hand and almost always with a smile.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, Memoir

337 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2023

About the author

Timothy Lancaster West was an English actor and presenter. He appeared frequently on stage and television, including stints in both Coronation Street (as Eric Babbage) and EastEnders (as Stan Carter), and Not Going Out, as the original Geoffrey Adams. He was married to the actress Prunella Scales. From 2014 to 2024, they travelled together on UK and overseas canals in the Channel 4 series Great Canal Journeys.

Reviews

[Rowan MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the pandemic, I discovered the TV series, Great Canal Journeys. It became a favourite, an antidote to the chaos of life, form of travel without leaving home. I loved spending time with Timothy West and Prunella Scales; their humour and chemistry a wonderful part of it.

Pru and Me is just as charming as the show. It was easy to hear their voices across these pages. It’s a heartwarming joint memoir that follows each of their lives, including their remarkable love story. It’s wholesome reading. Perfect for fans of them or romantics at heart.

It's refreshingly non-chronological, and quintessentially English – it even touches on Pru doing Tetley tea adverts. The included pictures (which Pru enjoyed choosing) were great also, and reinforced the full lives they have enjoyed.

For me, the highlights were the letters Pru and Tim wrote to each other. They were great to read, and while a reflection of the busy (often separate) lives of working actors, they also showcased their love and hilarious sense of humour.

“Boys are well, Sam does a macabre adagio dance ending up under the bed, very impressive, and Joseph eats a good deal of eggshells, like an old hen, I suppose it’s calcium deficiency.”

It occasionally grew tiresome reading about each role in their acting careers – Tim even jokes about putting the reader to sleep. But such moments are forgiven by the likes of Pru’s iconic Sybil in Fawlty Towers.

“Pru’s characterisation of Sybil Fawlty is based partly on somebody she used to know and it made her feel rather guilty.”

I loved the behind the scenes feel of those sections, including the final chapters, depicting their time on Great Canal Journeys. It made me smile, just like the show, and felt like I was watching it again.

“Everything you see and hear on that show is genuine - apart from the illusion that there are only ever two people on the boat at any one time, of course. There could be as many as eight!”

Tim perhaps leaves one of his most emotive performances for this book. He’s not afraid to acknowledge his own faults or shortcomings, particularly in regards to his daughter, Juliet. Such honesty is throughout - an essential ingredient to any memoir. The section detailing Pru’s dementia was both touching and real, and for someone like me, who has a parent (and previously grandparent) with dementia, all quite relatable.

Pru and Me is an enjoyable read and great reminder to embrace the present moment, keep moving, and to do the things that make you happiest.

“We have resolved to keep on moving as best we can and enjoy life to the full.”

Update, Nov 2024 : I was saddened to learn of Tim's passing on November 12th, aged 90. My thoughts are with Pru, Juliet, Samuel, Joseph and families. Along with a remarkable body of acting work, this book makes a wonderful legacy to a life well-lived. Thanks for a great read, Tim. Rest in peace, mate.

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a heartwarming book about a happy marriage, family life, acting and, later anyway, dementia. For the most part is uplifting, funny, insightful. Beautifully read by Timothy West, with input from Pru. It feels difficult to review two lives, but I loved learning about them and their relationship. 💕

An article about the end of Great Canal Journeys:
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-ra...

A recent interview with the couple:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/aut...

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true love story written from the heart. I loved it. Sitting back and losing myself in a real life love story over the years was a delight. Two actors that have come in and out of my life over the years, with a genuine love for each other, their family and friends and their audience made this a very special read. Thank you Tim & Pru.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Timothy West traces the highs and lows of his sixty-year marriage to fellow actor, Prunella Scales. From recounting the years before they met, caring for his wife following her dementia diagnosis over twenty years ago, to recalling their Great Canal Journeys.

This is a heartwarming book and I don’t think I have ever listened to one where the love for another person shines through so dearly. This is one of the best books I have listened to in a long time.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly heartwarming, and a beacon.of light. It is impossible to overstress the romance, warmth and deep friendship that surface on every page to underpin the marriage of Tim & Pru. The sensitivity with which Tim writes about Pru's dementia and how to keep living a rewarding life together whilst sharing it with a viewing public is a powerful testimony to their indomitable spirit, sense of fun, and refusal to hide away.

[Fiona Friend · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely account of a lovely couple of national treasures (I can almost forgive Tim his frequent misuse of 'I' & 'Me')

[Mick Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book,the sort that if you read it at a younger age it would differently to now.it resonates more as you get older,failing health,but still staying together regardless of faults.you can almost heat tim and prus voices as you read each chapter.told with sincerity.lovely book do give it a read.

[Carol Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really feel-good book, lifts your heart, such a wonderful couple

[David Stimpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

A very enjoyable and easy read about a loving Couple Who found Fame in the Theatres and on TV .

[Jaynie Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely read

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed listening to Tim telling his and Pru's life stories. It was funny, heartwarming and very moving and honest, especially when he talks about Pru's dementia.
I only watched a couple of episodes of Great Canal Journeys, I'm going to watch them all now!

[Graham O'mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story of two and boats.

A very well written memoire of the life of Pru and Timothy, seen from the twilight of their acting lives.

Two people well met.

And their personal cast.

[Tracey Sessions · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved watching Tim and Pru on Great Canal Journeys and I could hear their voices as I read. It was heart warming and touching, a great love story.

[Jim Cumming · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read. I thoroughly recommended

[Rachel N · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really beautiful book chronicling the long and happy marriage of Timothy West and Prunella Scales. The use of their letters to each other through the years really made everything so much more intimate - memory can always play tricks so it was lovely to hear the actual words from the time and really brought across their personalities so well. The book is obviously written mostly by Timothy West as Prunella Scales is sadly now diagnosed with dementia, but it never feels one sided as Prunella's letters are used throughout and his love for her is evident in every word. It's so interesting to hear about their lives, their rise to fame through talent and hard work, their loving (and slightly eccentric) family life and the humour throughout is wonderful. The recent years of Pru's dementia and how difficult it is to be a carer as you age yourself is evident but there is no self pity, just continuing love and it's beautiful to see.

If you can, I thoroughly recommend listening to the audiobook version too. it's narrated by Timothy West himself, with Pru reading her own letters, and it's every bit as good as that sounds. I've listened to West doing audiobooks before (particularly Trollope) and he's predictably good at it, but hearing their own voices telling the stories lifts this even higher. Timothy West telling funny anecdotes, such as leaving his younger son alone at a US airport, makes you remember the great raconteurs like Peter Ustinov - he can really tell a story - but it's also very intimate to hear him talking of coping in recent years.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's everything an autobiography should be and a wonderful tribute to a truly lovely couple.

[Giles Burrows · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Timothy West who has sadly died recently. This is a joint memoir of him and his wife Prunella Scales. Pru has dementia now, so he recounts both his own life and hers, often backed through the use of letters sent by Pru at the time which she reads out in the audio book. It's a wonderful story of a life together. It's always interesting to hear how such people started out, how they made their big breaks, etc. Tim is very honest in his failings as a father to his daughter by his first wife. The latter part of the book concerns itself mostly with the canal journey documentaries that they did together, which I wasn't so interested in, mostly since I'd already read his earlier book specifically on that topic.

[Linda Amos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly Tim has passed away, but he left this legacy of his life with Prunella Scales (Mrs Basil Fawlty). It sounds like they had a wonderful life together and there are lots of funny and touchy stories shared with us. There is obvious love shining through the story. His patience with her deafness and dementia is awesome and familiar to many. People who care for others are unsung heroes, and deserve far better than they get. They have both left us a few characters on TV, film and stage that we will remember them for.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of two British actors who were married for a very long time as well as being the best of friends. A lovely tale of their lives and very funny as well. Their last work was together on the Canal Boat series. Sadly, Pru now has dementia and Timohy died recently. I am glad the book was written and enjoyed it a lot.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will be bucking the review trend here. Timothy loved Prue and they have been successful.

Some Autobiographies are compulsive reading eg The Moon's a Balloon. There needs to be that extra literary spark. It is absent here.

[Emma Brooks]

Fantastic really interesting

[Mrs A Townend · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pru and me

I would have given more stars but the infuriating misuse of 'I' and 'me' drove me mad. Amazing couple and I wish the more happy years together.

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful love story of 2 very nice people. Their journey together through life is enviable.

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect ‘loo’ book: can pick up and read straight away: no angst, sweet stories and all lovey-dovey. Either have a saccharine overdose or sit back and enjoy!

[Sue Hickling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

[Mrs E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, moving a lovely telling of their love for each other and the life they have lived. Even more moving as Tim has passed away now.

[Celina Marscham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and knowing that Tim has passed but is not forgotten is wonderful.Such a rich life they both have lived and are living.Thankyou for a wonderful book

[Pamela Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked a lot more about Fawlty Towers. Too much about their theatre work which I would not have got to see.

[Katherine Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

So VERY touching!! They are so very lucky to have each other for 60 years.

[christine nicholls · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sweetest love story. I loved watching them live life on their longboat journeys. This book just continued to warm my heart. Delightful!

[Sara Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet.