The Brittas Empire
The Brittas Empire

The Brittas Empire

1991 7 Seasons 50 Episodes ⭐ 6.6 Comedy

The Brittas Empire is a British sitcom created and originally written by Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen. Chris Barrie plays Gordon Brittas, the well-meaning but incompetent manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre. The show ran for seven series and 53 episodes — including two Christmas specials — from 1991 to 1997 on BBC1. Norriss and Fegen wrote the first five series, after which they left the show. The Brittas Empire enjoyed a long and successful run throughout the 1990s, and gained itself large mainstream audiences. In 2004 the show came 47th on the BBC's Britain's Best Sitcom poll, and all series have been released on DVD. The creators Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen often combine farce with either surreal or dramatic elements in episodes. For example in the first series, the leisure centre prepares for a royal visit, only for the doors to seal, the boiler room to flood and a visitor to become electrocuted. Unlike the traditional sitcom, deaths were quite common in The Brittas Empire.

The Brittas Empire is a British sitcom created and originally written by Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen. Chris Barrie plays Gordon Brittas, the well-meaning but incompetent manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre. The show ran for seven series and 53 episodes — including two Christmas specials — from 1991 to 1997 on BBC1. Norriss and Fegen wrote the first five series, after which they left the show. The Brittas Empire enjoyed a long and successful run throughout the 1990s, and gained itself large mainstream audiences. In 2004 the show came 47th on the BBC's Britain's Best Sitcom poll, and all series have been released on DVD. The creators Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen often combine farce with either surreal or dramatic elements in episodes. For example in the first series, the leisure centre prepares for a royal visit, only for the doors to seal, the boiler room to flood and a visitor to become electrocuted. Unlike the traditional sitcom, deaths were quite common in The Brittas Empire.

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Seasons & Episodes

EP 1

Laying the Foundations

Gordon Brittas is the manager at Whitbury Leisure Centre. Builders are working in the car-park but Gordon is very rude t

EP 2

Opening Day

It's Opening Day at Whitbury Leisure Centre and Gordon is getting ready to meet the Duchess of Kent. But things are goin

EP 3

Bye Bye Baby

Carole has heard that her husband Derek is coming back, after abandoning her. After all these years she will not have to

EP 4

Underwater Wedding

While doing an interview with Beverly, Gordon realises that the best man at the underwater wedding taking place in the p

EP 5

Stop Thief!

Things have gone missing and Gordon has closed the centre for the day. He explains that there could be a thief about and

EP 6

Assassin

Someone is out to kill Gordon, injuring Helen by accident after sabotaging Gordon's brakes, and wants Gavin to help him

EP 1

Back from the Dead

Gordon is away at a conference in Bulgaria. Meanwhile the Leisure Centre is low on visitors, then news spreads that Gord

EP 2

Temple of the Body

Gordon explains to the staff about worshipping other people's temples - his euphemism for the human body. He then finds

EP 3

An Inspector Calls

An inspector is coming over and Gordon wants everything to be as good as gold for when he gets to the Leisure Centre. Ho

EP 4

Set in Concrete

An argument with the Rotary Club results in them setting Gordon's feet in concrete. After frequent arguments break out,

EP 5

Mums and Dads

A concert is to be held at Whitbury Leisure Centre. Also, Gordon's dad Jim has come to the centre with a piano. But Gord

EP 6

Safety First

Gordon is running a practice fire drill and makes it more complicated than ever. Meanwhile, Helen is planning a picnic i

EP 7

New Generations

A pregnant cow loose in the centre eats some of Colin's leaves, which speed up labour. It gives birth on the squash cour

EP 1

The Trial

One of Gordon's enemies is coating random items with glue, and shady characters repeatedly appear in the centre. This le

EP 2

That Creeping Feeling

Offended by Gordon's "individual figure and fitness targets", the staff refuse to speak to him; his diplomatic response

EP 3

Laura's Leaving

Laura has an interview for manager of a leisure centre in London. Helen is worried that without Laura, she'll be unable

EP 4

Two Little Boys

Gordon's brother, Reverend Horatio Brittas, visits for the centre's anniversary celebrations, and 36 staff from a Guildf

EP 5

Sex, Lies and Red Tape

Laura's estranged husband, Michael T. Farrell, arrives at the centre two and a half years after the couple split up. He

EP 6

The Stuff of Dreams

Troubled by dreams about his own mortality and his legacy, Gordon is pushing age awareness and disguises himself as an e

EP 1

Not a Good Day...

It's Life Cycle Week at Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre and Sebastian Coe MP has come to broadcast the news. Then troubl

EP 2

The Christening

Gordon and Helen are having their twins baptised. The rehearsal goes wrong and Carole ruins the christening cake - but c

EP 3

Biggles Tells a Lie

It's Gordon's day off and Colin has dressed like Brittas, pretending to be manager. Colin's daughter Stephanie is coming

EP 4

Mr Brittas Changes Trains

Things are getting rather strange at Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre. Carole seems to be croaking a lot while talking, L

EP 5

Playing With Fire

Gordon is doing a survey on how much electricity is being used and prepares a lot of forms for the staff. Colin meanwhil

EP 6

Shall We Dance?

Gordon seems to be spending a lot of time with Laura while Helen and the children are on holiday. Everyone thinks that t

EP 7

The Chop

Gordon is teaching the staff how to play 'Game of Life'. Councillor Drugget arrives and tells Gordon he is going to be s

EP 8

High Noon

Laura sees Gordon working at a petrol station, causing more trouble then ever and holding up the traffic. The centre's n

EP 1

The Old, Old Story

After the centre was destroyed by a large fire, Gordon is now back as manager. 'Songs of Praise' is going to be held in

EP 2

Blind Devotion

Gordon is thinking of going to Brussels as European Commissioner for Sport. Colin gets blinded when his garden explodes,

EP 3

Brussels Calling

Gordon is in Brussels being interviewed for European Commissioner for Sport. He keeps calling to check on the centre, al

EP 4

The Lies Have It

Gordon is explaining safety at the building site for a new room. Michael T. Farrell comes for a job which Gordon isn't k

EP 5

The Boss

Gordon explains that Gavin will be taking over as trial manager for the day. Gavin is keen but Gordon sticks with him an

EP 6

Pregnant!

Gordon has done staff urine tests which show all the women in the centre are pregnant - as well as Tim! Carole is shocke

EP 7

UXB

Colin discovers an unexploded bomb in the basement and tries to warn Gordon, who doesn't listen and tells Colin to sort

EP 8

The Last Day

Could Gordon be calling off Brussels after Germany reduces its financial contribution to European Union funding? An emer

EP 1

Back with a Bang

After being crushed to death Gordon Brittas has been returned to earth by St. Peter and rebuilt at a Swiss clinic. He re

EP 2

Body Language

Gordon tries to explain benefits of matching and mirroring body language. Colin suspects alien invasion when a green blo

EP 3

At the Double

Gordon invites members of the Ruthenian State Circus to perform at the center. A group of US evangelists want to baptize

EP 4

A Walk on the Wild Side

Brittas proves he's not always a walking disaster when his new campaign becomes a European Directive

EP 5

We All Fall Down

Whitbury is celebrating World Peace and Hunger Day, Helen plans revenge on a nappy co that didn't use her children in a

EP 6

Mr. Brittas Falls in Love

Tonight Mr. Brittas falls in love. He believes that swimming with a dolphin at the leisure center will bring peace, rela

EP 7

Snap Happy

When Brittas tries to organize a simple staff photograph, what can possibly go wrong? Last in present series.

EP 1

The Elephant's Child

Situation comedy. Brittas organizes a sponsored bungee jump and expects his staff to take part. Helen Brittas plans a bu

EP 2

Reviewing the Situation

Sitcom based in a leisure center with a manic manager, Gordon Brittas. He initiates a staff review which causes some ant

EP 3

http://etc.

The center enters the 21st century as Brittas has everything computerized, which causes huge problems. Drugget is convin

EP 4

Wake Up the Lion Within

Brittas returns from a course which teaches executives how to release inner powers by roaring like a lion. He encourages

EP 5

The Disappearing Act

The staff at the leisure center compete for Employee of the Month award though Brittas is not convinced of the wisdom of

EP 6

Gavin Featherly RIP

Comedy set in a leisure center. Gavin is feeling depressed and is receiving therapy from Helen Brittas. He joins the res

EP 7

Exposed

Investigative journalist, Roger Ferguson, is preparing to make a television expose of the goings on at Whitbury Leisure

EP 8

Curse of the Tiger Women

Brittas prepares to celebrate seven wonderful years since the center opened, but Druggett tells him he has been chosen f

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