The Brittas Empire

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).

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".

This is one of the funniest British comedies I've ever seen, besides The New Statesman. Mr. Brittas and Carol have got to be the funniest characters in this serial. Mrs Brittas also provides some humour, and each episode guarantees a few laughs. Definitely worth watching!!

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"....

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.