The Brittas Empire, 1991
Combining farce with surreal and dramatic elements (deaths were not uncommon in this sitcom) The Brittas Empire was the hit BBC comedy centering around a well-meaning but incompetent manager of the fictional Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre.
The show ran for seven series between 1991 and 1997 clocking up fifty three episodes, including three Christmas Specials.
The show was to have ended after series five when it’s original creators left, killing off Brittas by crushing him to death under a falling water tank. However, such was the popularity of the show the BBC brought in a team of new writers and resurrected Brittas to run for another two series.
Summary
Meet Gordon Brittas, the well-meaning but incompetent manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre.
Full of half baked ideas, annoying and completely without tact, Brittas is frequently upsetting his staff, public, and his frazzled wife Helen, often bringing confusion and chaos into their lives.
The series follows the day to day goings on and disasters at the Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre. Never a day goes by without some half baked idea causing chaos.
Clips
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Cast
Chris Barrie
Pippa Haywood
Julia St. John
Mike Burns
Russell Porter
Tim Marriott
Harriet Thorpe
Judy Flynn
Andree Bernard
Anouschka Menzies
Jill Greenacre
Stephen Churchett
John Carrigan
Details
Channel: BBC1
Created and Written By:
Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen (Series 1-5)
Paul Smith, Terry Kyan, Tony Millan, Mike Walling, Ian Davidson and Peter Vincent (Series 6&7)
Produced and Directed By: Mike Stephens
Original Transmission Dates: 3rd January 1991 – 24th February 1997
Collectors Corner
A complete series 1 – 7 box set was released but has now been deleted, these box sets have become collectors items and have been known to attract prices of up to £70
On Television
The Brittas Empire is one of the shows to attract repeat showings on Digital/Satellite channel GOLD. You can also find it on streaming service britbox