The Brittas Empire (1991–1997)

Gordon Brittas is the manager of the Whitbury-Newtown Leisure Centre. Despite his ambition and good intentions, everything seems to go wrong when he's around, despite the best efforts of ... See full summary »

Creators:

Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss

Stars:

Chris Barrie, Harriet Thorpe, Michael Burns

Cast

Series cast summary:
Chris Barrie	...	Gordon Brittas (52 episodes, 1991-1997)
Harriet Thorpe	...	Carole (52 episodes, 1991-1997)
Michael Burns	...	Colin (52 episodes, 1991-1997)
Tim Marriott	...	Gavin (52 episodes, 1991-1997)
Russell Porter	...	Tim (52 episodes, 1991-1997)
Pippa Haywood	...	Helen Brittas (51 episodes, 1991-1997)
Jill Greenacre	...	Linda (50 episodes, 1991-1997)
Judy Flynn	...	Julie (45 episodes, 1992-1997)
Julia St. John	...	Laura (36 episodes, 1991-1994)

Storyline

Gordon Brittas is the manager of the Whitbury-Newtown Leisure Centre. Despite his ambition and good intentions, everything seems to go wrong when he's around, despite the best efforts of the leisure centre staff and his long-suffering wife, Helen.

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Plot Keywords:

colleague | gay | homosexual | surprise ending

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 January 1991 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Ringwood Recreation Centre, Ringwood, Hampshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (52 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Brittas Empire was filmed mostly in a studio, but also, the leisure centre used was Ringwood Recreation Centre in Hampshire. Quite a few of the other outside shots were also filmed in Ringwood town itself.

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Quotes

Julie: I'd rather be somewhere decent with clean clothes and a stiff drink.

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Connections

Referenced in Vic & Bob's Afternoon Delights: Bob Meets George (2011)

User Reviews

one of the funniest British comedy series - 4 real!

Mr Gordon Brittas is chief of Whitbury Newtown Leisure center. He thinks he's brilliant, but in fact everything he does turns into a disaster. The only person in his staff who thinks he's brilliant too, Colin, who's cleaning toilets all the time, is an absolute failure. Brittas's wife is depressed all the time - guess why. No one's coming to the leisure center - guess why. Gordon Brittas has a dream, but it never quite turns out the way he planned it. THE BRITTAS EMPIRE does have its surrealist moments (Carol "Whitbury Newtown Leisure Center how may I help you?" is keeping her children in drawers), it has its "thrilling" moments (like when Santa Claus tries to kill the whole staff during a survival course)... but everything is always funny, like Gordon Brittas when he tells his own dad "don't you SON me" -- or when he tells his wife about a "magical moment" he spent with her but she doesn't know what he's talking about....or the Christian fundamentalists from the U.S. who pronounce Brittas's name as "bright-ass" and want to re-baptize him... THE BRITTAS EMPIRE is, as the man himself, Gordon Brittas, would say, "eeeeeexcellent"....