The Brittas Empire (Season 4)

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.

Not a Good Day... (Episode 1)
Writer: Andrew Norriss
Air date: 1994-01-10
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: It's Life Cycle Week at Whitbury Newtown Leisure Centre and Sebastian Coe MP has come to broadcast the news. Then trouble ensues when a cyclist dies, naturally upsetting his wife; and young Ben makes his way into the vents, with Carole and Helen trying to get him out. Then a centurion has a fight with Gordon because his son has been arrested, which escalates to the Classical War Society starting war against the entire centre.
The Christening (Episode 2)
Writer: Andrew Norriss
Air date: 1994-01-17
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Gordon and Helen are having their twins baptised. The rehearsal goes wrong and Carole ruins the christening cake - but can she disguise it? Meanwhile Horatio tells Gordon he's in love with a girl he has met, then the babies go missing. Will the christening go as planned?
Biggles Tells a Lie (Episode 3)
Writer: Andrew Norriss
Air date: 1994-01-24
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: It's Gordon's day off and Colin has dressed like Brittas, pretending to be manager. Colin's daughter Stephanie is coming to see her father. Everyone agrees to play along and soon everything is running well - until Gordon turns up!
Mr Brittas Changes Trains (Episode 4)
Writer: Andrew Norriss
Air date: 1994-01-31
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: 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 them 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.
Playing With Fire (Episode 5)
Writer: Andrew Norriss
Air date: 1994-02-07
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: 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.
Shall We Dance? (Episode 6)
Writer: Andrew Norriss
Air date: 1994-02-14
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Gordon seems to be spending a lot of time with Laura while Helen and the children are on holiday. Everyone thinks that there is something going on between Gordon and Laura. Gordon is planning to take Laura to the dance which is being held at the centre. Then Laura's ex-husband Michael unexpectedly turns up and it looks like he wants to see Laura. Gordon gets very cross and thinks that things might go wrong with his plans. What will happen?
The Chop (Episode 7)
Writer: Andrew Norriss
Air date: 1994-02-28
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: 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.
High Noon (Episode 8)
Writer: Andrew Norriss
Air date: 1994-03-07
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: 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?