The Brittas Empire

I think there is one line that sums up this fantastic Brittish show: "Last year we had 600 people visit this centre and I am proud to say that 500 went home uninjured"- Mr Brittas During the Episode "Exposed".

Mr Gordon Brittas is chief of Whitbury Newtown Leisure center. He thinks he's brilliant, but in fact everything he does turns into a disaster. The only person in his staff who thinks he's brilliant too, Colin, who's cleaning toilets all the time, is an absolute failure. Brittas's wife is depressed all the time - guess why. No one's coming to the leisure center - guess why. Gordon Brittas has a dream, but it never quite turns out the way he planned it. THE BRITTAS EMPIRE does have its surrealist moments (Carol "Whitbury Newtown Leisure Center how may I help you?" is keeping her children in drawers), it has its "thrilling" moments (like when Santa Claus tries to kill the whole staff during a survival course)... but everything is always funny, like Gordon Brittas when he tells his own dad "don't you SON me" -- or when he tells his wife about a "magical moment" he spent with her but she doesn't know what he's talking about....or the Christian fundamentalists from the U.S. who pronounce Brittas's name as "bright-ass" and want to re-baptize him... THE BRITTAS EMPIRE is, as the man himself, Gordon Brittas, would say, "eeeeeexcellent"....

First of all, I find it hard to believe that this launched way back in 1991. Apart from the cars and clothes, it hasn't dated, the humour has remained raucous, relevant and divinely silly. Politically things have of course changed, and the thought of a Leisure Centre actually opening is almost now unthinkable.

Made during a time where the abiilty to create big characters was very much there, and whilst you can perhaps argue that Gordon Brittas wasn't as big as say Victor Meldrew, for many he was.

Chris Barrie was terrific as the majestically annoying Brittas, he had to ability to make you laugh, and feel utterly irritated in unison. Incredibly well written, it was hugely funny, with big characters, Carole and Colin in particular.

Watching it now, it stands up to the test of time. It is very funny indeed. 8/10

I've only recently discovered this gem on PBS. This has got to be one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. I haven't laughed so hard in quite awhile. I've never seen anyone as clueless as Brittas. I didn't start until the epi where they believe he's dead. I hope that this wonderful show continues on American TV.

Gordon Brittas, the manager of Whitbury leisure centre, has a lot in common with the legendary Basil Fawlty of "Fawlty Towers". He lacks any sensitivity to anyone else, never listens to anyone and always knows best what should be done. Of course, the results of his actions are usually similar to the ones Basil gets. Each and every episode ends in some kind of a catastrophe, or to put it in Gordon's words: "I'm proud to say that in the entire history of Whitbury leisure centre, only 23 people were killed and none of them was a staff member" (quoted from memory).