The Brittas Empire

The story

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.

Cast

C Chris BarrieGordon Brittas M Michael BurnsColin J Julia St. JohnLaura P Pippa HaywoodHelen Brittas T Tim MarriottGavin H Harriet ThorpeCarole R Russell PorterTim J Judy FlynnJulie J Jill GreenacreLinda Perkins · Linda A Andrée BernardAngie D David CreanMichael T. Farrell III · Michael T. Farrell · Michael T Farrell J Jo KendallMrs Dapping

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R Richard BraineHoratio I Ian BleasdaleForeman F Frances LowPam R Roy AlonPlumber · Mr Appleby C Colin PinneyVicar · Minister S Stephen ChurchettCouncillor Jack Drugget A Al Hunter AshtonTanker Driver R Roger SlomanPete G Guy SinerPhilip Silverman P Perry FenwickEddie L Lucy BriersWendy J John D. CollinsMr Kitson D Damien ThomasPetrov D Derek BenfieldMr Franklin A Alan DavidMr Humphries R Rob Jarvis L Leslie SchofieldMr Donaldson P Pip TorrensJohn Rawlinson P Peter CleallMr. Trap S Sheila KeithMrs Heaton-Jones J John Pirkis L Luisa Bradshaw-White J Joanne HeywoodMandy R Ross McCallBoy Scout G George Sweeney D David RossPirate A Alexandra GilbreathReporter T Terry Kyan D Donald Pickering M Mark Lindsay ChapmanFireman H Hugh Walters T Tony SteedmanSt. Peter F Felix BownessWorkman T Terrence HardimanProsecutor T Tim PooleSquash Player K Kim Hartman M Michael Fenton Stevens D Declan MulhollandBoilerman Barnes B Bruce AlexanderAlan Digby Z Zander WardPam's Son M Mark ChapmanFireman V Veronica DoranMrs Philips G Gary WhitakerNeil R Rory MurrayDamien R Ruth SilvestreMrs Delgado D David WebberElectrician D Davidson KnightMichael D David DexterPeter Philips M Maureen MorrisWoman in Queue T Tony MillanKen Owen J Jo MartinMrs Walsh B Brian StephensDerrick T Tony KirwoodRev. Philips K Karan BidmeadBeverley G Geoffrey BanksVicar R Richard LumsdenGroom C Charlotte KasnerTeacher J Jake AbrahamDanny S Steve EdwinDr Grey M Mike CarnellLarry A Andrew BradleyGerry D David DelveSteve P Phoebe GilpinBaby Ben D David ThorpeJohn B Brenda CavendishWoman K Karl MoffattMan M Martino LazzeriLad G Geoffrey DrewReporter