Fawlty Towers' Manuel actor Andrew Sachs: I prefer watching wildlife programmes these days

The actor gives his favourite TV, film, books and music picks

Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs, who originally played Manuel in the series (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Books

I am currently reading London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew and My Childhood by Maxim Gorky, out loud to my wife, Melody. This is something I have always done when we go away on holiday, and I have started it again recently. She has been looking after me while I recover from a knee operation, and is knitting herself a jumper while I read. She loves me reading to her, and I enjoy putting voices to all the characters.

Television

We love watching wildlife programmes and documentaries, in particular anything by David Attenborough. We have recently been watching a documentary about London Zoo, and what the animals get up to during the night.

Films

We recently watched Amour by Michael Haneke, which was the winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012. It is an amazing story of two old people who want to stay together, and their families are trying to separate them. Last night we watched Schindler’s List, which is one of our favourite films.

Music

I love all classical music, especially Beethoven and Mozart. One of my favourite pieces is Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll.

Andrew Sachs talks to David Cohen about his autobiography, ‘I Know Nothing’, charting his journey from Berlin childhood to ‘Fawlty Towers’, at the National Theatre, London SE1, 27 March, 6pm (nationaltheatre.org.uk).