About this season
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.
Episodes (8)
1. Not a Good Day...
Aired 10 January 1994 • 30 min
It's Life Cycle Week at Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre and Sebastian Coe MP has come to broadcast the news. Then trouble ensues when a cyclist dies, naturally upsetting his wife; and young Ben makes his way into the vents, with Carole and Helen trying to get him out. Then a centurion has a fight with Gordon because his son has been arrested, which escalates to the Classical War Society starting war against the entire centre.
2. The Christening
Aired 17 January 1994 • 30 min
Gordon and Helen are having their twins baptised. The rehearsal goes wrong and Carole ruins the christening cake - but can she disguise it? Meanwhile Horatio tells Gordon he's in love with a girl he has met, then the babies go missing. Will the christening go as planned?
3. Biggles Tells a Lie
Aired 24 January 1994 • 30 min
It's Gordon's day off and Colin has dressed like Brittas, pretending to be manager. Colin's daughter Stephanie is coming to see her father. Everyone agrees to play along and soon everything is running well - until Gordon turns up!
4. Mr Brittas Changes Trains
Aired 31 January 1994 • 30 min
Things are getting rather strange at Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre. Carole seems to be croaking a lot while talking, Linda does nothing but bark about a lot and keeps talking in dog language and Colin keeps telling everyone that he loves them and keeps taking his trousers off. All of this is making Gordon very cross so he decides to call the hypnotist and put everyone back to normal. This then gets Laura thinking.
5. Playing With Fire
Aired 7 February 1994 • 30 min
Gordon is doing a survey on how much electricity is being used and prepares a lot of forms for the staff. Colin meanwhile does an experiment which involves using the lavatories. Then Gavin gets a big shock when his old girlfriend Jenny comes to the centre to see him - then realises that she came from a clinic.
6. Shall We Dance?
Aired 14 February 1994 • 30 min
Gordon seems to be spending a lot of time with Laura while Helen and the children are on holiday. Everyone thinks that there is something going on. Gordon is planning to take Laura to the dance at the centre. Then Laura's husband Michael unexpectedly turns up to see her. And Carole's boyfriend intends to propose, though getting his arm stuck in the suggestion box is just the beginning.
7. The Chop
Aired 28 February 1994 • 30 min
Gordon is teaching the staff how to play 'Game of Life'. Councillor Drugget arrives and tells Gordon he is going to be sacked. Gordon is cross and ignores him, then Councillor Drugget finds out that Helen borrowed £300 for a dog that then fowls in the pool. Now Gordon has to choose: either he quits his job or Helen goes to jail.
8. High Noon
Aired 7 March 1994 • 30 min
Laura sees Gordon working at a petrol station, causing more trouble then ever and holding up the traffic. The centre's new manager Alan Digby is having trouble when Gordon gets on his nerves. Then a gas leak is found and there's a large explosion which brings the entire centre down. Everyone is clear but Gordon is nowhere to be seen. Could this be the last of Gordon Brittas?