Fawlty Towers "Communication Problems" episode. Who does Basil think Winnie is?

Cafe Society
1

In the Fawlty Towers episode “Communication Problems,” (the brilliant Torquay-hotel-window episode) there’s an exchange in this scene (starting at 0:39)

Major: I went to the theater of course with Winnie Atwood (sp).
Basil: Winnie Atholl (sp)?
Major: Marjorie Atwood. I used to call her Winnie because she looks like Winnie.
Basil: She’s not black!
Major: Black? Churchill wasn’t black.

The only black Winnie I know of is Winnie Mandela, but I don’t know if she was that famous in 1979. I had no luck finding anyone famous named Winnie Atwood or Atholl.

2

Winifred Atwell, I’m assuming.

3

Thanks. That’s been bugging me for years.

I’d never heard of her before, but then I’m not a big music aficionado. It looks like racism kept hers from becoming a household name in the U.S. That’s a shame.