The Brittas Empire

Meet one painfully enthusiastic leisure centre manager

Comedy

90s sitcom starring Chris Barrie as an enthusiastic leisure centre manager. His long-suffering wife and staff try to keep things running smoothly, despite the chaos he causes.

the-brittas-empire

Brittas prepares for his first day in his new job at Whitbury-Newtown Leisure Centre.

The New Manager

It's Gordon's first day as the manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre and he arrives just in time to find the builders adding the finishing touches.

The Duchess of Kent is attending the opening of the leisure centre.

The Royal Opening

It's the day of the official opening of the leisure centre by the Duchess of Kent. Unfortunately, the reception doors keep jamming, the heating isn't working, and the swimming pool has sprung a leak. With Gordon in charge things can only get worse.

Brittas mans the reception desk, and leads a relaxation lecturer to the end of his tether.

Carole's Husband

When Carole's baby goes missing from the drawer she has been keeping him in, Gordon steps in to man the reception desk.

Brittas has to cope with an underwater wedding and a drunken customer.

Happy and Fulfilled

When the leisure centre swimming pool is used by the Scuba Club for a wedding, the best man drops the ring and gets stuck at the bottle of the pool.

Brittas is convinced there is a thief among the staff.

Staff Pilfering

The Leisure Centre is closed again following a spate of bizarre disappearances. When Carole loses a GBP5 note, Gordon is convinced that one of the staff is a petty thief and becomes intent on flushing out the culprit.

Helen believes someone is out to murder Brittas.

Murder!

Visitor numbers at the Leisure Centre plummet to just 43 so Gordon introduces an employee recognition scheme, hoping that a boost in staff morale will turn things around.

Mrs Brittas informs the staff her husband has been crushed to death in Bulgaria.

Back from the Dead

Helen Brittas receives the tragic news that her husband has been crushed to death at a Bulgarian car factory. Soon the customers come flooding back to the leisure centre and, after coming to terms with her loss, Helen even plans to re-marry.

Brittas thinks hanky-panky has been going on in the leisure centre.

Temple of the Body

Carole is pregnant again but she doesn't know who the father is. It happened at Julie's New Year fancy dress party but she and Helen both went dressed as tigers. Could it be a case of mistaken identity?

An inspector is due to visit the leisure centre.

An Inspector Calls

Brittas is on tenterhooks awaiting a visit by the most feared leisure centre inspector in the Southern region. Despite all his meticulous preparations, it's just his luck that there is an incontinent pigeon in the gym.

Brittas finds his feet set in concrete after an incident with the Rotarians.

Set in Concrete

Gordon is unable to leave his office, his feet having been set in concrete after a misunderstanding with the Rotarians. Thinking that the centre is suffering from Sick Building Syndrome, he calls in a specialist.

The leisure centre is hosting a Russian piano recital, but the pianists don't turn up.

Mums and Dads

A concert piano is being delivered to the leisure centre for an evening charity recital by the distinguished Russian pianist Vladimir Petrov.

Brittas trains his staff on how to cope with emergencies.

Safety First

The centre is closed again; the staff are having a fire drill, Brittas style. On the first attempt, they suffer 82% casualties, so he makes them repeat it again.

Colin's herbal remedies put both Carole and a prize cow into advanced labour.

New Generations

Colin's herbal remedies cause havoc at the centre when some labour-inducing figwort meant for Carole is eaten by a farmer's heavily pregnant prize-winning cow.

Brittas stands accused of murder, before someone comes to the rescue.

The Trial

Gordon finds himself on trial for the murder of seven men, the possession of class A drugs and causing grevious bodily harm to a group of old ladies. He pleads his innocence but the mounting evidence seems to suggest otherwise.

Brittas creates personal fitness programmes for all staff members.

That Creeping Feeling

The staff are giving Gordon the silent treatment when he receives a mysterious parcel from South America. Could it be another attempt to assassinate Brittas?

Brittas prepares to host a conference to spread his dream.

Laura's Leaving

Laura is away at a job interview for the day, causing Helen to panic that she might be leaving. Meanwhile, the pentacostal baptism taking place in the swimming pool goes horribly wrong when Colin turns up for work with concussion.

The centre is celebrating its birthday with some special events to mark the occasion.

Two Little Boys

As Whitbury Leisure Centre celebrates its second anniversary, Gordon's twin brother Horatio visits before taking up his new church posting. He is having doubts about his vocation and is looking for a sign.

Brittas wants to raise funds for a second trampoline for the leisure centre.

Sex, Lies and Red Tape

All the leisure centre staff are raising money for a second trampoline. Gordon is doing a sponsored silence, as suggested by his secretary Julie, and Colin is attempting a marathon juggling act.

Helen's twins are due and she wants Laura to drive her to hospital.

The Stuff of Dreams

Gordon prepares for the centre's forthcoming Elderly Week, but he's troubled by the realisation that he must pass on the onerous task of running the place when he himself passes on.

Olympic champion Sebastian Coe visits the leisure centre to promote Life Cycle Week.

Not a Good Day

Olympic champion Sebastian Coe OBE, MP is at the leisure centre to help promote Life Cycle Week, while the local civil re-enactment society are staging a mock-battle on the playing fields. At first, all seems to be going well.

Gordon tries to arrange the christening of his twins by his brother Horatio.

The Christening

Gordon takes the day off work to go sailing with Helen and Colin pretends to be manager.

Biggles Tells a Lie

It's Gordon's day off, and the staff are amazed to see Colin has smartened up for work. Surely Gordon hasn't left him in charge? That is only one reason to panic though, as Gordon pops in to the Centre and discovers the boiler is on the blink.

Helen has lockjaw, so Gordon needs a partner for his dinner with potential new bosses.

Mr Brittas Changes Trains

Gordon is applying for a new job on the European Leisure Industry Standards Committee and needs to made a good impression at dinner with the European Management Board. Meanwhile, the staff are behaving strangely after watching a hypnotist's show.

Helen has taken the children away for a holiday, leaving Gordon at home on his own.

Playing with Fire

Tim and Gavin get a surprise when Gavin's fiancée Jenny turns up after spending five years in an asylum. Could it be Gordon that causes Jenny to suffer a relapse, or is it the effect of Colin's methane generator built for Energy Conservation Week?

The Centre closes early so staff can attend Southern Area Leisure Centres' Staff Ball.

Shall We Dance?

The staff are looking forward to the Southern Area Leisure Centres Gala Staff Ball. It promises to be a glittering occasion, but almost everyone seems to be having trouble finding a partner.

Gordon devises a board game for his Plan for the Future fortnight.

The Chop

Gordon devises a complicated new board game as part of his 'Plan For The Future' fortnight, but the game is interrupted by a visit from Councillor Jack Drugget, who has some interesting news on Brittas's own future.

Brittas, sacked as manager of the Leisure Centre, has managed to get a job in a garage.

High Noon

Songs of Praise is to be presented from the newly-rebuilt Whitbury Leisure Centre.

The Old Old Story

Gordon is looking forward to a recording of the television series Songs of Praise at the newly rebuilt Whitbury Leisure Centre until a dangerous intruder disrupts the rehearsals.

Colin temporarily loses his sight when his garden explodes.

Blind Devotion

Promotion is on the cards for one of the staff at Whitbury Leisure Centre but unfortunately it means that someone else has to go. Could it be that it's just not Colin's lucky day?

Brittas is interviewed for a new job as European Commissioner for Sport.

Brussels Calling

Gordon is in Brussels being interviewed for a new job as the European Commissioner for Sport. Meanwhile, back at the centre, there's an infestation of rats and Helen is in trouble with the police. It's almost as if he's still there.

Laura's wealthy American husband applies for a job at Whitbury Leisure Centre.

The Lies Have It

Carol has an imaginary birthday party to provide Helen with an alibi and the builders contracted to rebuild part of the leisure centre suffer mysterious burns.

Gordon decides to test Gavin's managerial potential.

The Boss

Gordon decides to test Gavin's managerial potential with a series of challenging scenarios, including an outbreak of suspected smallpox in the swimming pool. Meanwhile, Helen needs £5000 to have a tattoo removed.

Brittas insists on urine drug tests for all staff - but the results are a shock.

Pregnant!

The Leisure Centre's routine compulsory drugs tests reveal that several of the staff are pregnant but the news comes as quite a shock to all of them.

Colin discovers a Second World War unexploded bomb in the Leisure Centre basement.

Colin discovers a Second World War unexploded bomb in the Leisure Centre basement and Helen decides that she doesn't want to accompany Gordon when he leaves for his new post in Brussels.

Brittas prepares for his departure, but also decides to install an emergency water tank.

The Last Day

All the staff are preparing for Gordon's last day as he heads off to Brussels, but when he arranges for an emergency water tank to be installed at the Centre, it seems that he might not be going to Brussels after all.

It's time for the annual tribute to the man who gave them everything

In the Beginning

Christmas Eve, 2019. The former staff of Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre are gathering at Colin's Scottish castle for their annual tribute to the man who gave them everything.

The Brittas Empire

The Brittas Empire

Series 1

1. The New Manager

1. The New Manager

2. The Royal Opening

2. The Royal Opening

3. Carole's Husband

3. Carole's Husband

4. Happy and Fulfilled

4. Happy and Fulfilled

5. Staff Pilfering

5. Staff Pilfering

6. Murder!

6. Murder!