Meet one painfully enthusiastic leisure centre manager

The Brittas Empire

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 New Manager

The Brittas Empire - Series 1 - Episode 1

1. The New Manager

the-brittas-empire

EPISODE

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.

The Royal Opening

The Brittas Empire - Series 1 - Episode 2

2. The Royal Opening

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

Carole's Husband

The Brittas Empire - Series 1 - Episode 3

3. Carole's Husband

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.

Happy and Fulfilled

The Brittas Empire - Series 1 - Episode 4

4. Happy and Fulfilled

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.

Staff Pilfering

The Brittas Empire - Series 1 - Episode 5

5. Staff Pilfering

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.

Murder!

The Brittas Empire - Series 1 - Episode 6

6. Murder!

Series 1

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.

Back from the Dead

The Brittas Empire - Series 2 - Episode 1

1. Back from the Dead

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?

Temple of the Body

The Brittas Empire - Series 2 - Episode 2

2. Temple of the Body

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.

An Inspector Calls

The Brittas Empire - Series 2 - Episode 3

3. An Inspector Calls

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.

Set in Concrete

The Brittas Empire - Series 2 - Episode 4

4. Set in Concrete

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

Mums and Dads

The Brittas Empire - Series 2 - Episode 5

5. Mums and Dads

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.

Safety First

The Brittas Empire - Series 2 - Episode 6

6. Safety First

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.

New Generations

The Brittas Empire - Series 2 - Episode 7

7. New Generations

Series 2

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.

The Trial

The Brittas Empire - Series 3 - Episode 1

1. The Trial

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?

That Creeping Feeling

The Brittas Empire - Series 3 - Episode 2

2. That Creeping Feeling

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.

Laura's Leaving

The Brittas Empire - Series 3 - Episode 3

3. Laura's Leaving

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.

Two Little Boys

The Brittas Empire - Series 3 - Episode 4

4. Two Little Boys

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.

Sex, Lies and Red Tape

The Brittas Empire - Series 3 - Episode 5

5. Sex, Lies and Red Tape

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.

The Stuff of Dreams

The Brittas Empire - Series 3 - Episode 6

6. The Stuff of Dreams

Series 3

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.

Not a Good Day

The Brittas Empire - Series 4 - Episode 1

1. Not a Good Day

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

The Christening

The Brittas Empire - Series 4 - Episode 2

2. The Christening

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.

Biggles Tells a Lie

The Brittas Empire - Series 4 - Episode 3

3. Biggles Tells a Lie

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.

Mr Brittas Changes Trains

The Brittas Empire - Series 4 - Episode 4

4. Mr Brittas Changes Trains

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?

Playing with Fire

The Brittas Empire - Series 4 - Episode 5

5. Playing with Fire

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.

Shall We Dance?

The Brittas Empire - Series 4 - Episode 6

6. Shall We Dance?

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.

The Chop

The Brittas Empire - Series 4 - Episode 7

7. The Chop

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

High Noon

The Brittas Empire - Series 4 - Episode 8

8. High Noon

Series 4

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.

The Old Old Story

The Brittas Empire - Series 5 - Episode 1

1. The Old Old Story

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?

Blind Devotion

The Brittas Empire - Series 5 - Episode 2

2. Blind Devotion

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.

Brussels Calling

The Brittas Empire - Series 5 - Episode 3

3. Brussels Calling

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.

The Lies Have It

The Brittas Empire - Series 5 - Episode 4

4. The Lies Have It

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.

The Boss

The Brittas Empire - Series 5 - Episode 5

5. The Boss

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.

Pregnant!

The Brittas Empire - Series 5 - Episode 6

6. Pregnant!

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.

The Brittas Empire - Series 5 - Episode 7

7. UXB

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.

The Last Day

The Brittas Empire - Series 5 - Episode 8

8. The Last Day

It's Christmas Eve, 2019, and 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.