The Brittas Empire (TV Series) Opening Day (1991) User Reviews

The Centre prepares for a grand opening, and it's a disaster.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 7 July 2019]

The Duchess of Kent is set to arrive at The Leisure Centre for the grand opening, but when Mr Brittas takes charge of the proceedings, things naturally take a turn for the worse.

So much less pc then I remember, it's loaded with jokes, innuendo and of course some visually funny moments, including the flooded boiler room.

Chris Barry is hilarious in the role, he was bad enough in the first episode, but the overpowering tyranny of Gordon Brittas begins in earnest here. He's truly a character worthy of the status of Hyacinth Bouquet and Victor Meldrew.

Bonkers fun. 8/10

Opening Day

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 30 September 2021]

Even in the second episode, the Dad's Army comparison are apt. Brittas makes Captain Mainwaring more likeable.

His wife even tells Laura to run away at one point.

Whitbury Leisure Center is going to have a royal visitor, the Duchess of Kent.

However the swimming pool is leaking, the heating is not working and the sliding doors are defective.

Brittas displays his usual lack of tact but seems to get through Boilerman Barnes, an ex forces man who operates the heating.

There was some good physical comedy here.

I noticed in the first episode that there was a lack of ethnic minority staff in the leisure center. This episode makes note of it. Brittas looks for a token black person to meet and greet the Duchess.