The Brittas Empire
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.
Insights
Plot Summary
Set in the fictional 'Leisure Centre' in Whitbury, the series follows the disastrously inept and self-important manager, Gordon Brittas. Brittas's well-intentioned but utterly incompetent attempts to manage the center and its staff invariably lead to chaos, accidents, and profound embarrassment for everyone involved. The show humorously depicts the everyday struggles and interpersonal dynamics of the center's employees as they try to navigate Brittas's management style.
Critical Reception
The Brittas Empire was a popular sitcom in the UK, known for its broad, often slapstick humor and its central character's unique brand of incompetence. While it garnered a significant following and ran for several seasons, critical reviews often highlighted its reliance on the comedic misfortunes of its protagonist, with some finding the humor repetitive or overly reliant on Brittas's character. Despite this, it remains a fondly remembered show from the era.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its consistent slapstick humor and the memorable central performance of Chris Barrie as Gordon Brittas.
- Some viewers found the character of Brittas and the show's comedic situations to be repetitive over its run.
- Considered a quintessential British sitcom of the 1990s, offering lighthearted and often farcical entertainment.
Google audience: Audience reception for The Brittas Empire is generally positive, with viewers appreciating the show's unique brand of British comedy and the endearing, albeit infuriating, character of Gordon Brittas. Many recall it as a staple of weekend television, fondly remembering the recurring gags and the ensemble cast's chemistry in dealing with Brittas's latest scheme.
Fun Fact
The show's premise was inspired by a real-life leisure centre manager that creator Chris Barrie knew, who was described as someone who always tried his best but often made things worse.
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