The Brittas Empire | British sitcom

Author: Leandro Alegsa Creation date: November 13, 2022

The Brittas Empire is a British sitcom created by Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen.

Chris Barrie plays Gordon Brittas. He is the well-meaning but incompetent manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre.

The show ran for seven series and 52 episodes — including two Christmas specials — from 1991 to 1997 on BBC1. Norriss and Fegen wrote the first five series.

The Brittas Empire had large audiences. In 2004 the show came 47th on the BBC's Britain's Best Sitcom poll.

The show combined farce with surreal dramatic elements. 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 be electrocuted. Unlike the traditional sitcom, deaths were quite common in The Brittas Empire.

Questions and Answers

Q: What is The Brittas Empire?

A: The Brittas Empire is a British sitcom created by Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen. It follows the story of Gordon Brittas, an incompetent manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre, played by Chris Barrie.

Q: How many series and episodes were there?

A: The show ran for seven series and 52 episodes - including two Christmas specials - from 1991 to 1997 on BBC1.

Q: Who wrote the first five series?

A: Norriss and Fegen wrote the first five series.

Q: How popular was the show?

A: The Brittas Empire had large audiences and in 2004 it came 47th on the BBC's Britain's Best Sitcom poll.

Q: What elements did it combine?

A: The show combined farce with surreal dramatic elements.

Q: What happened during the first series?

A: 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 be electrocuted.

Q: Were deaths common in this show?

A: Unlike traditional sitcoms, deaths were quite common in The Brittas Empire.