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Series · 1991 – 1997 · Comedy

The Brittas Empire

★6.6 1991 – 1997 7 Seasons Andrew Norriss TV-MA

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.

Seasons & episodes

7 seasons · 50 episodes

Laying the Foundations

Episode 01

Laying the Foundations

Jan 3, 1991 · 30 min

Gordon Brittas is the manager at Whitbury Leisure Centre. Builders are working in the car-park but Gordon is very rude to one of them and they go on strike. He causes more trouble when he upsets one of the staff and he's in for it when he is having a meeting with the staff.

Opening Day

Episode 02

Opening Day

Jan 10, 1991 · 30 min

It's Opening Day at Whitbury Leisure Centre and Gordon is getting ready to meet the Duchess of Kent. But things are going wrong when the electric doors aren't working properly and the water from the swimming pool is disappearing and the temperature rises. Will Gordon sort it all out before the Duchess of Kent arrives?

Bye Bye Baby

Episode 03

Bye Bye Baby

Jan 24, 1991 · 30 min

Carole has heard that her husband Derek is coming back, after abandoning her. After all these years she will not have to work, Ben will have a father and she will feel much better. Meanwhile her baby goes missing and reception is getting crowded. Gordon tells Colin to find the baby and return it. Unfortunately Colin ends up returning the wrong baby. Then Gordon thinks he's helping a man who has suffered from stress. Will everything go right?

Underwater Wedding

Episode 04

Underwater Wedding

Jan 31, 1991 · 30 min

While doing an interview with Beverly, Gordon realises that the best man at the underwater wedding taking place in the pool is in trouble. Gavin is asked to help and then a drunk disabled man in an electric wheelchair is on the loose causing havoc. Gordon is ready to stop the drunkard but ends up sending Gavin to hospital.

Stop Thief!

Episode 05

Stop Thief!

Feb 7, 1991 · 30 min

Things have gone missing and Gordon has closed the centre for the day. He explains that there could be a thief about and sets a trap to catch him. The plan is to hide in a locker and see who takes the bait (his wallet). Meanwhile Helen is suffering more stress then ever and takes Gordon to see the doctor, leaving Colin to hide in the locker. As long as Gordon remembers he's left Colin in there!

Assassin

Episode 06

Assassin

Feb 14, 1991 · 30 min

Someone is out to kill Gordon, injuring Helen by accident after sabotaging Gordon's brakes, and wants Gavin to help him with the foul deed. Gordon and a few others are taken to the hospital's intensive care unit, badly injured by a lorry hitting Gordon as he walked across a zebra crossing.

About the series

The Brittas Empire poster
Audience score
★ 6.6 /10

based on 48 votes

Synopsis

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.

Comedy

Cast

8 principal cast

Chris Barrie

Chris Barrie

Gordon Brittas

Michael Burns

Michael Burns

Colin

Julia St. John

Julia St. John

Laura

Pippa Haywood

Pippa Haywood

Helen Brittas

Tim Marriott

Gavin

Harriet Thorpe

Harriet Thorpe

Carole

Russell Porter

Tim

Judy Flynn

Judy Flynn

Julie

Where to watch The Brittas Empire

The Brittas Empire is available to stream on Flicksy via 6 verified sources, aggregated from publicly available embed providers. The comedy from Andrew Norriss has 7 seasons and 50 total episodes, rated 6.6/10 by 48 viewers.

Frequently asked

How many seasons does The Brittas Empire have?

The Brittas Empire has 7 seasons with 50 episodes in total.

Is The Brittas Empire still on the air?

The Brittas Empire has ended and is no longer in production.

What network airs The Brittas Empire?

The Brittas Empire airs on BBC One.

When did The Brittas Empire first air?

The Brittas Empire first aired on January 3, 1991.

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