The Best Episodes of The Brittas Empire
Every episode of The Brittas Empire ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Brittas Empire!
The Brittas Empire is a British sitcom created and originally written by Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen. Chris Barrie plays Gordon Brittas, the well-meaning but incompetent manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre. The show ran for seven series and 53 episodes — including two Christmas specials — from 1991 to 1997 on BBC1. Norriss and Fegen wrote the first five series, after which they left the show. The Brittas Empire enjoyed a long and successful run throughout the 1990s, and gained itself large mainstream audiences. In 2004 the show came 47th on the BBC's Britain's Best Sitcom poll, and all series have been released on DVD. The creators Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen often combine farce with either surreal or dramatic elements in episodes. 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 become electrocuted. Unlike the traditional sitcom, deaths were quite common in The Brittas Empire.
Top Episode Ratings Summary
The best episode of "The Brittas Empire" is "The Trial", rated 8.3/10 from 77 user votes. It was directed by Mike Stephens and written by Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss. "The Trial" aired on 1/7/1993 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Set in Concrete".
8.3/10 77 votes#1 - The Trial
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 1/7/1993
The staff of Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre have sent Gordon to Coventry because Gordon is on trial for murdering strange people. The prosecutor explains that there is someone in the Centre who doesn't like Gordon and will stick glue to anything he touches. Two cases of money have been found in a locker and locker keys end up behind the toilets. When Gordon switches on the chainsaw he is sure to be guilty not until Eddie comes to the rescue.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.2/10 79 votes#2 - Set in Concrete
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 1/23/1992
Gordon is having a visitor coming round, a Graham Hansom who is going to see what makes people angry. Meanwhile Laura realises that Gordon has got his feet stuck in solid concrete in a cardboard box. The reason for this was when Gordon upset someone at a party the night before. The problem is that Gordon doesn't listen. The visit however goes wrong when Graham's things get wrecked and add to that Gordon upsets him a lot which causes the alarm to sound. Laura gives Gordon a telling off because Gordon just doesn't understand.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.2/10 73 votes#3 - Not a Good Day ...
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 1/10/1994
It's Life Cycle Week at Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre and Sebastian Coe MP has come to the centre to broadcast the news on this occasion. Then there's a shock when a cyclist dies and the cyclist's wife gets very upset. Meanwhile Ben manages to make his way to the vents and Carole and Helen try to get him out of there. Then a centurion has a fight with Gordon because his son has be arrested. Then the centurion and the 'Classical War Society' start a war which brings disaster to the centre.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.2/10 66 votes#4 - Mr Brittas Changes Trains
Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 1/31/1994
Things are getting rather strange at Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre. Carole seems to be croaking a lot while talking, Linda does nothing but bark about a lot and keeps talking in dog language and Colin keeps telling everyone that he loves everyone and keeps taking his trousers off. All of this is making Gordon very cross so he decides to call the hypnotist and put everyone back to normal. This then gets Laura thinking.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.2/10 68 votes#5 - High Noon
Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 3/7/1994
One day Laura arrives at a gas station and discovers that Gordon is now working there. He is causing more trouble then ever and is holding up lots of people. Meanwhile the new manager Alan Digby is having trouble when Gordon gets on his nerves. Gordon has brought a present for the staff, a clock which came all the way from Italy. Then a gas leak is found and then there's a large explosion which brings the entire centre down. Everyone is clear but Gordon is no where to be seen, Could this be the last of Gordon Brittas?
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.2/10 68 votes#6 - Blind Devotion
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 11/7/1994
Gordon Brittas is thinking of going to Brussels for European Commissioner. Colin gets blinded when his garden explodes and starts causing trouble when he can't see where he is going. Gordon is thinking of giving Colin the sack because of his ways. Then he kills Colin's pet bird and tells Tim to get another one. It turns out that it's also Colin's birthday and that the saddest thing is that his aunt died. Gordon decides not to give Colin the sack and promotes him to deputy manager.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.2/10 66 votes#7 - Pregnant!
Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 12/5/1994
Gordon Brittas is doing Urine tests on his staff. He thinks that the women in the centre are pregnant. Everyone is shocked and surprised especially Carole when she can't believe what she has heard. Gordon tells her that she may have to marry Colin if he's the father of Carole's child. Then disaster strikes when Gordon tells Tim that he might be pregnant. Tim is shocked and denies that he isn't a women. Gavin rescues Tim and punches Gordon in the nose. Meanwhile Julie is feeling very happy when she finds someone that she loves, but then she gets the blame when it turns out the urine samples were dropped and disarranged.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.1/10 68 votes#8 - The Lies Have It
Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 11/21/1994
Gordon Brittas is explaining about safety at the building site where a new room is being made. Michael T. Farrell comes to Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre for a job which is advertised in the newspaper. Gordon is not at all pleased but gives Michael an application form for the job. Carole is upset because no one remembered her birthday, Michael starts to make lies about her party and everyone agrees but Colin tells the truth from his point of view. Gordon is confused and soon realises what's been going on.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.1/10 65 votes#9 - The Last Day
Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 12/19/1994
Gordon is ready to leave for Brussels but Helen isn't to keen on going. Then she sees Gordon's pictures and the hotel and decides to go with him. Gordon offers his Management to Laura but she is going to America for he baby to be raised. Everyone is excited but Gordon then says that due to an unreplied message he won't be going. An emergency water tank is installed and then makes the ceiling collapse. Carole is on trouble when she gets stuck in her toy car. Then Gordon pushes Carole but is too late to get himself clear. This then means the end for Gordon Brittas.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.0/10 88 votes#10 - Assassin
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 2/14/1991
Gordon is dealing with two problems today. He has heard that the centre is getting low on visitors and that someone is trying to kill him. All over the centre the killer is still trying to kill Gordon, but each time it goes wrong. Then the most dangerous attempt is going to be made. Who is the killer and what will happen to Gordon?
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.0/10 76 votes#11 - Back from the Dead
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 1/2/1992
Gordon is away at a conference in Bulgaria. Meanwhile the Leisure Centre is low on visitors, then news spreads that Gordon is dead. Everyone is happy and the centre is pouring with visitors. All goes well until Gordon comes back which gives everyone a shock especially Carole who thinks that Gordon is back from the dead.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.0/10 69 votes#12 - Laura's Leaving
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 1/21/1993
Laura is going for a job interview and Helen is not happy about it. She is worried because what is Laura is takes the job and has to resign. Gordon is busy because people from Church are going the do a baptism session. A customer is trying to get a cup of coffee but has a problem every time. Meanwhile Colin feels different somehow and ends up causing a very disastrous situation by electrocuting the people from Church. Colin is given his punishment then Carole gets fired and everyone is very cross with Gordon. Then a surprise comes when Laura comes back.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.0/10 70 votes#13 - Two Little Boys
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 1/28/1993
It's Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre's Birthday today and Gordon has done some birthday specials for the centre although some of them have gone wrong. Meanwhile the oil which has been delivered 3 weeks ago has disappeared. It turns out that there's a hole in the tank, Gordon tells Colin to put the oil somewhere safe which turns out to be a very small cupboard. A group from another leisure centre to do the activities so they can have some fun. Horatio talks to Gordon that he doesn't want to go to his new job, Gordon however tells him that it's important until a nasty explosion causes everyone to be injured.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.0/10 68 votes#14 - The Christening
Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 1/17/1994
Gordon and Helen are having their children being baptised on their big day. The practicing somehow goes wrong and then Carol has a problem with the Christening cake, getting dirty water on it. Meanwhile Heratio comes to see Gordon and tells him that he is in love with a girl he has meet. Gordon is very proud and then there's a shock when the babies go missing. Will the Christening go well?
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.0/10 68 votes#15 - Brussels Calling
Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 11/14/1994
Gordon Brittas is in Brussels being interviewed for European Commissioner of Sport. He keeps calling Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre to see how things are going. Laura is in charge and things aren't going well. A children's birthday party goes wrong and Tim is very upset. Then a load of mice turn up and Gordon tells Gavin on the telephone that he must throw the ingredients away. Meanwhile Helen is being accussed of attacking Mr Furber, one of her child's school teachers. Will things turn out well at the centre?
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
8.0/10 65 votes#16 - UXB
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 12/12/1994
Colin discovers an unexploded missile in the basement and tries to warn Gordon but he takes no notice and tells him to sort out his problems on his own. While doing this on his own Gordon is packing his things away for his departure for Brussels. Then Colin gets hit on the head by a croquet ball by Gavin and Tim and Colin ends up being rushed to hospital. Then no one knows but Colin had put the missile in the racket box and tries to warn everyone but everyone is having a party for their new futures.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
7.9/10 78 votes#17 - An Inspector Calls
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 1/16/1992
An inspector is coming over and Gordon wants everything to be as good as gold for when he gets to the Leisure Centre. However Gordon then has to deal with a problem when a pigeon gets into the gymnasium. It gets worser and worser when their idea's go wrong. Later it's Helen's birthday and Gordon has brought her a moped and she is very upset. When the inspector arrives what will happen when he makes his inspection?
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
7.9/10 71 votes#18 - New Generations
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 2/20/1992
Gordon tells Carole about a very sensible diet and discovers a bunch of leaves which Colin says are very healthy. Later Gordon has to deal with a crisis when a cow is on the loose and is about to give birth to a baby calf. Then Laura realises that the leaves can causes a pregnant woman or animal to give birth earlier than expected. This gets out of hand when Carole appears to have eaten some of the leaves. Then Helen has some surprising news for Gordon.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
7.9/10 67 votes#19 - The Stuff of Dreams
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 2/11/1993
Gordon spends the day by pretending to be an old man Mr Derek Didcot. Laura discovers him straight away and Gordon tells her that what will happen when he gets old and has to retire and all about the dream he had last night. Colin is taken by surprise when he discovers that Mr Didcot is accually Gordon. Gordon has an interview with Linda and then the time has come when Helen goes into labour. Gordon has trouble getting to the hospital and then gets stuck in traffic. What will happen to Helen and her babies?
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
7.9/10 71 votes#20 - Biggles Tells a Lie
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 1/24/1994
It's Gordon's day off and Colin puts on a suit, but it looks like he is the manager of the centre. This is because Colin's daughter Stephanie is coming to Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre so she can see her father. He wants everyone to think that he is the manager for just one day. Everyone agrees and soon everything is running well, that is until Gordon turns up and then things go from right to wrong. Soon everyone learns that telling lies is the wrong thing to do.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
7.9/10 68 votes#21 - Playing With Fire
Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 2/7/1994
Gordon is doing a survey on how much electricity is being used and writes out a lot of forms for the staff. Colin meanwhile does an experiment which involves using the lavatories. Then Gavin gets a big shock when his old girlfriend Jenny comes to the centre to see him, but it comes as a surprise to Gordon which really upsets Tim a lot. Then Gavin tells the secret to Laura and to everyone and then realises that she came from a clinic. It also comes to a shock when he finds out she isn't cured. Then Gordon gets things out of control when he makes Jenny very angry.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
7.9/10 69 votes#22 - The Chop
Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 2/28/1994
Gordon is teaching the staff how to play the 'Game of Life' which actually is a real game. Then Councillor Drugget arrives to the centre and tells Gordon that he is going to be given the sack. Gordon is cross and ignores him, then Councillor Drugget finds out that Helen borrowed £300 pounds for a dog that then causes trouble around the centre. Now Gordon has to choose: either he quits his job or Helen goes to jail.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
7.8/10 92 votes#23 - Bye Bye Baby
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 1/24/1991
Carole has heard that her husband Derek is coming back, after what happened a long time ago. After all these years she will not have to work, Ben will have a father and she will feel much better. Meanwhile her baby goes missing and reception is getting crowded. Gordon tries to help tells Colin to find the baby and return it. Unfortunately Colin ends up returning the wrong baby. Then Gordon sorts out a man who has escaped a lot of stress. Will everything go right?
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
7.8/10 77 votes#24 - Temple of the Body
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 1/9/1992
Gordon explains to the staff about worshipping other peoples temples which he prefers to be another word for the human body. He then finds that a flat cupboard is being used when he finds a red bed duvet cover sticking out, then Gavin's hat turns up. Gordon tells Tim what he has found and gets very cross when he thinks that Gavin is sleeping in the centre with someone. Gordon decides to find out what Gavin is up to and lays a bug in Linda's top so he can hear what she is saying. Then Gordon gets a shock at who is using the cupboard.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss
7.8/10 73 votes#25 - Safety First
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 2/13/1992
Gordon is practicing a fire drill and makes it more complicating then ever. Meanwhile Helen is planning a picnic in Gordon's office and wants Gordon to be at the picnic. But Gordon seems to be very busy which makes Helen very upset. Mrs Dapping has come and Gordon tells her about the faulty fire exit. Mrs Dapping takes no notice until a fire erupts from the Lost Property cupboard which causes disaster.
Director: Mike Stephens
Writer: Richard Fegen, Andrew Norriss