List of The Brittas Empire characters

Main Characters of The Brittas Empire (left to right): Julie Porter (Judy Flynn), Linda Perkin (Jill Greenacre), Gavin Featherly (Tim Marriott), Gordon Brittas (Chris Barrie), Helen Brittas (Pippa Haywood), Laura Lancing (Julia St. John), Carole Parkinson (Harriet Thorpe), Colin Wetherby (Michael Burn), Tim Whistler (Russell Porter)

This is a list of characters for the 1990s BBC British Television sitcom The Brittas Empire, a British television sitcom that aired on BBC 1 in the 1990s.

Gordon Brittas

Gordon Brittas
First appearance	Series one, episode one: Laying the Foundations (1991)
Last appearance	Series seven, episode eight: Curse of the Tiger Women (1997)
Created by	Richard Fegen & Andrew Norris
Portrayed by	Chris Barrie
Information
Gender	Male
Occupation	Manager

Gordon Wellesley Brittas is the Manager of the ill-fated Whitbury Leisure Centre.

Brittas is extremely dedicated to his job and cares dearly for everyone around him, including his unstable wife Helen. He has grand ambitions of making the world a better place, and aims to fulfill his dream of bringing people together through sport. Despite his noble and well-meant intentions, however, Brittas's management only ever causes disaster and chaos, resulting in pathetically low attendance rates, catastrophic fires and floods and even customer deaths on several occasions. In typical bureaucratic style, he is obsessed with paperwork and forces his staff and customers to fill in thousands of different forms for the most banal of things, such as lost property claims. Throughout the entire show, he remains blissfully unaware of his total incompetence as a manager and the negative effect he has on everybody around him.

An example of Brittas's tactlessness is in series two, where he suspects someone is having sex in the centre, telling Carole she has nothing to worry about, because whatever is happening is only with "the younger and more attractive women".^[1]

Brittas is also extremely petty, insisting on over-complicated forms at reception, and ridiculous rules on what not to wear in the centre, only serving to frustrate potential customers and centre staff. In series seven, Brittas rigs up a computer system to control every aspect of the centre, which over-complicates even the simple task of distributing floats by the swimming pools, and results in someone drowning.

Brittas is also accident-prone, and will make careless mistakes with fatal consequences. For example, in the third series, Brittas tugs at a wire which drops a live electric heater into the main swimming pool.^[2] This electrocutes a group of Pentecostal Christians performing a baptism ceremony in the water. Alternatively, if a small problem does develop without his doing, Brittas will try to solve it, thus creating a much larger problem. Helen points out in the second episode that "once Gordon starts dealing with little problems, they don't away; you just get bigger ones" and then in series three, that the disasters in the centre always start with something trivial going wrong.^[2]

Gordon has a fraternal twin brother, Horatio Brittas, a priest who shares his dream of bringing communities together. He has two twin children with Helen, a trait which apparently runs throughout his side of the family. Unknown to him until the very last episode of the series, Carole's twins are also his - the result of a boozy mix-up at Julie's New Year's Eve party, where Carole and Helen both happened to dress in identical tiger costumes, leading to Gordon's mistake.

Brittas can in many respects be considered a forerunner to David Brent of The Office. His lack of self awareness and ability to alienate and offend his staff despite his genuine good intentions are examples of commonality between the characters.

Writers of the show Fegen and Norriss decided to make series five the final series, thus Brittas is "killed" by a falling water tank. However Chris Barrie returned to play Brittas for a further two series, as the BBC wanted the popular show to continue. New writers were brought on to replace the show's creators. The show's actual ending was in 1997, when Brittas, at the end of series seven, wakes up on a train heading for Whitbury. According to this ending, the entire series was a dream.^[3]

Helen Brittas

Helen Brittas
First appearance	Series one, episode one: Laying the Foundations (1991)
Last appearance	Series seven, episode eight: Curse of the Tiger Women (1997)
Created by	Richard Fegen & Andrew Norris
Portrayed by	Pippa Haywood
Information
Gender	Female
Occupation	Counsellor (as of series seven)

Helen Brittas is the long-suffering wife of Gordon Brittas.

Helen starts out as a marginally depressed housewife, disillusioned and agitated by her oblivious husband and his grand schemes. Throughout the course of the show, she becomes gradually more neurotic and insane, to the point of forgetting how many children she has.

She often requires support from Brittas's subordinate Laura Lancing, and frequently pours her heart out to Laura, telling her the stress Gordon is causing her, and about her latest affairs or stupid mistakes. Helen relies on other people to lie for her, to cover up her addictive shoplifting^[4] and her constant cheating on Gordon with other men. Helen's erratic and often illegal behaviour do make life difficult for Gordon on a number of occasions. For example, when Helen takes money from the centre's petty cash tin for personal expenses, which forces Brittas to resign, albeit temporarily.^[5]

She has also plotted several times to get rid of Brittas, including arranging for him to be assassinated while on holiday in Bulgaria. Despite this, however, Helen loves Gordon very much, and her affection for him grows as the series has progressed.

As for the latter, at one stage Helen tries to kill her son's teacher by reversing into his classroom for giving him a "D" in English (Helen completed the work herself, and so the teacher had actually given her a "D"). Helen casually states to Laura how he wasn't hurt and "swung up on a light fitting".^[6]

Helen appears in all episodes, apart from two in series four when she "accidentally" books the family holiday to Cornwall on the wrong week, thus leaving Gordon unable to attend; a mistake which she also made the previous year.^[7]

Helen has four children - two from a previous marriage, and two twins with Gordon, whom she gives birth to in the middle of Whitbury High Street after a comedy-of-errors which results in their car being blocked in.

Laura Farrell

Laura Farrell
First appearance	Series one, episode one, Laying the Foundations (1991)
Last appearance	Christmas special (1994)
Portrayed by	Julia St. John
Information
Gender	Female
Occupation	Deputy Manager Dry

Laura Farrell (née Lancing) is the Deputy Manager Dry of Whitbury Leisure Centre.

Laura is calm and extremely efficient at management, often bringing normality back to the centre after a disaster has escalated. She's also the voice of reason, talking sense into those around her. At times, Laura seems stern and austere, but she is usually warm and understanding, and has peoples' best interests at heart.

She understands that however much chaos her boss Gordon Brittas causes with his half-baked ideas, he means well, so she will occasionally defend him from criticism by staff, councillors and even Brittas's unhinged wife, Helen. Laura is often seen lending support to Helen, who goes into states of shock and panic whenever Laura is away or planning to leave. Helen is convinced the centre won't cope without Laura, with no-one there to "pick up the pieces" after Brittas has caused another disaster.

Brittas is seen to be very fond of Laura, perhaps because of her kind, helpful nature and his lack of close friends in his personal life. In later series, hints are dropped at a possible romance between Brittas and Laura. In one episode of series 3, she spontaneously kisses Brittas in a flurry of emotion, leaving him in a state of shock. No more is said about it, but in the next series, when Helen deliberately books a holiday that she knows Brittas can't attend, Laura proves very supportive towards him, and the two bond further. A scene in series 5 shows Laura finally confessing her feelings for Brittas and passionately kissing him, although this turns out to be Brittas fantasising.

Laura is legally married to Michael T. Farrell III, the son of an American billionaire. However, she has been estranged from him for over two years and uses her maiden name, Lancing, in everyday life until he appears one day, searching for her at the centre. Despite the best efforts of a jealous Brittas, Laura gradually reconciles with Farrell again, and becomes pregnant with his child. Because of this, she turns down the opportunity to take over from Gordon as manager of the leisure centre, and moves to Chicago, USA to start a new life with Farrell at the end of series 5.

Colin Weatherby

Colin Weatherby
First appearance	Series one, episode one: Laying the Foundations (1991)
Last appearance	Series seven, episode eight: Curse of the Tiger Women (1997)
Created by	Richard Fegen and Andrew Norris
Portrayed by	Michael Burns
Information
Gender	Male
Occupation	Deputy Manager Wet, later Manager of Building Fabric

Colin Weatherby is a Deputy Manager and janitor of Whitbury Leisure Centre.

Colin is a gentle, loyal and friendly character who is popular with all of his fellow colleagues. However, he is also forgetful, disorganized, highly incompetent and appears constantly dishevelled and filthy. He is a skilled carpenter and engineer and also has an impressive knowledge of biology, natural foods and healthy lifestyles. Despite this, he often suffers from unpleasant medical symptoms, and often has cuts, bruises and boils, and suffers seborrhea. One of his hands is also septic and infected throughout most of the series. Colin is accident-prone, and is frequently late or absent because of receiving medical attention for injuries he has sustained. He hails from Sunderland and, like Julie, speaks with a distinctly northern English accent, in contrast to everyone else at the centre.

Colin is the only member of staff who respects and reveres Gordon Brittas as a role model. However, while Gordon appreciates Colin's loyal nature, he is well aware throughout the show of Colin's incompetence as a manager and comes very close to firing him on several occasions. Gordon describes Colin as "chocolate teapot" in the very first episode, and almost always prefers working with Laura or Gavin, rarely delegating jobs or responsibilities to Colin. Brittas also tries to keep Colin as hidden from the public as possible, afraid that he may present a bad image of the centre.

From series 1 to halfway through series 5, he serves alongside fellow manager Laura as Deputy Manager Wet, "Wet" referring to his pool duties. Brittas then promotes Gavin to Acting Deputy Manager with the intention of sacking Colin due to his incompetence, but Laura eventually forces Brittas to "promote" him to "Manager of Building Fabric" - essentially a glorified janitor's position - and gives him a new uniform and an 'office' in the basement. Colin is immensely happy with his new position and goes on to create many dangerous, crackpot inventions in the basement, ranging from waste recycling devices to Morris Minor-powered baby cradles.

Colin later clashes with Gavin after his promotion to Acting Deputy Manager out of jealousy. However, Brittas later reveals that Colin was never actually terminated as Deputy Manager Wet and is still technically Gavin's superior, much to Colin's delight and Gavin's chagrin.

In series 4, it is revealed that Colin has an illegitimate daughter, Stephanie, who lives in Tasmania, Australia. He also has a relationship with a transvestite milkman, Pauline.

Carole Parkinson

Carole Parkinson
First appearance	Series one, episode one: Laying the Foundations (1991)
Last appearance	Series Seven, episode eight: Curse of the Tiger Women (1997)
Portrayed by	Harriet Thorpe
Information
Gender	Female
Occupation	Receptionist, later Manageress of the Creche

Carole Parkinson is Brittas's unfortunate and often tearful receptionist.

She is a loving mother to her children, whom she keeps in the drawers and cupboards in the reception area, where she also lives. She is unfortunate in the sense nothing ever seems to go right for her, and despite having creative talents, her ambitions as a pianist^[8] and author never work out, nor does she ever have any happy romantic relationships. Early in the series, and her husband (who appears once in series one) ran off to Spain with her best friend.

Brittas tries to help Carole, however his tactless advice only ever manages to upset her further. Brittas also inexplicably sees Carole as aging and unattractive, and commonly makes remarks along these lines. Unbeknownst to Brittas, however, he is the father to Carole's twin children. This is hinted at several times in the second series and finally confirmed to the characters and viewers in the final episode of that series.^[9] Carole's parenting standards are a humorous subplot in the series - for example, she often stores her young children in desk drawers or cupboards to either hide them or keep them well-behaved.

It is thought that Carole finally finds happiness in series five when she moves away with an Austrian man named Von Trapp, however he also has an affair; the excuse given to return Carole to Whitbury Leisure Centre for an unexpected sixth series.

Carole appears in all episodes of the series. Her questionable methods of looking after her children and her frazzled and tearful nature are her most memorable characteristics.^[9] She is fired by Brittas in series 3 after repeated warnings not to keep her children in the reception desk, but after Laura puts a word in, is accepted back into the Centre with a new job title, "Manageress of the Creche."

Gavin Featherly

Gavin Featherly
First appearance	Series one, episode one: Laying the Foundations (1991)
Last appearance	Series seven, episode eight: Curse of the Tiger Women (1997)
Created by	Richard Fegen and Andrew Norris
Portrayed by	Tim Marriott
Information
Gender	Male
Occupation	Pool attendant, later Acting Deputy Manager

Gavin Featherly is a pool attendant, and later Acting Deputy Manager of the leisure centre.

Gavin is gentle and caring, and gets on with his job under Brittas. He later develops a certain arrogance when being promoted to deputy manager. After this promotion, he occasionally clashes with the previous Deputy Manager "Wet", Colin Weatherby, claiming he only "cleans toilets".

The promotion causes a rift in his relationship with boyfriend and co-worker Tim Whistler, and also causes him to pick up some of his boss's mannerisms, in the form of what he says and hand gestures. Gavin falls out with his boyfriend on many occasions, because of either keeping secrets from him or the jealousy and jumping to conclusions on Tim's part.

The relationship between Gavin and Tim provides a humorous subplot, because Brittas, who is unable to detect the subtle communication between the two, remains unaware that Gavin is homosexual^[10] and that the two are in a relationship. In the last episode of the first series, Brittas even asks Gavin to keep on eye on Tim, because Brittas suspects that Tim is homosexual.

Gavin is the only Deputy Manager who wears a tie and blazer, just like Brittas, showing just how seriously he takes his career in leisure management.

Linda Perkin

Linda Perkin (played by Jill Greenacre) teaches and trains people in different sports and is also a pool attendant. Linda also controls reception when Carole is absent.

Linda is optimistic, loyal and enthusiastic, despite being easily suggestible and slightly naive. She usually carries on diligently with whatever tasks Brittas and her co-workers assign to her, no matter how strange or illogical they may seem. She feels strongly about animal cruelty, evident in series six when she stages a protest against Brittas's dolphin day.^[11]

Linda is in most episodes of the show, except for two in series one. She is one of the smaller main characters in the series, but her role is significantly larger from the second series onwards.

Tim Whistler

Tim Whistler
First appearance	Series one, episode one: Laying the Foundations (1991)
Last appearance	Series seven, episode eight: Curse of the Tiger Women (1997)
Created by	Richard Fegen and Andrew Norris
Portrayed by	Russell Porter
Information
Gender	Male
Occupation	Pool attendant

Tim Whistler (played by Russell Porter) is a lifeguard and chef. He is homosexual, and unknown to Gordon Brittas, is in a secret relationship with fellow pool attendant Gavin Featherly, with whom he shares an apartment. Like most of his colleagues, Tim despises his manager Brittas and is often found complaining or scheming to disrupt the centre to get at Brittas, through activities such as planning strikes and protests.

Although a lively, confident worker, Tim is slightly mentally troubled and has regular appointments with psychiatrists. He has mood swings and gets jealous over Gavin easily, and he finds it unbearable to see Gavin giving attention to anyone but himself. His unbalanced, emotional persona makes his relationship with Gavin increasingly more strained as the series progresses, and causes a further rift between them when Gavin becomes a deputy manager. Tim and Gavin remain an item despite this tension, but Tim occasionally snipes at Gavin, and is disappointed in him for sucking up to Brittas.

Although Tim doesn't appear to have many aspirations within the leisure centre, he is briefly excited at the prospect of becoming a deputy manager when Brittas leaves for the European Union and puts Gavin in charge in series 5. However, this fails to eventuate after Brittas is "killed" at the end of series 5. He carries on as a pool attendant, oblivious to the fact that he is earning the lowest wages of anyone in the centre. He eventually discovers this, which causes him to revolt and hold Gavin, Linda and Colin hostage in the staff room.

It later emerges that Tim's real name is Tim Göbbels, that he was born in East Germany and that he illegally changed his name to "Whistler" out of shame. Gordon refuses to recognize Tim as a legal entity after this revelation and opens up a vacancy for Tim's position, allowing Tim to re-apply to the centre only by using his real name. However, Tim finally receives a large pay-rise afterwards, when Brittas categorizes him as an imported "EU Acquisition" because of his German nationality.

Julie Porter

Julie Porter is Gordon Brittas's secretary and first appears in series 2, replacing Angie.

As Julie was born and raised in Rotherham, she immediately sticks out from her colleagues with her strong northern accent and fiery personality. She is an outspoken and insubordinate character who often blatantly refuses to do menial tasks that Gordon asks her to do. Whenever collective staff action against Brittas occurs, such as strikes or protests, Julie often joins in with great enthusiasm, and is often the instigator. She dislikes Brittas more than any of her colleagues, and genuinely hopes for him to be replaced by someone more capable. Gordon, however, almost never notices her animosity towards him.

She later becomes pregnant to her boyfriend, and gives birth in Colin's basement office, during a bungled night-time burglary attempt which she and Helen take part in. Julie names the child Gordon Colin Porter, in appreciation of Gordon's and Colin's efforts to deliver the baby.

Recurring characters in the show

Angie

Angie (played by Andree Bernard) is Gordon Brittas's first secretary when the leisure centre opens, and appears throughout the first series.

She is a caring and relatively calm character who is very similar in personality to Laura. Despite her obedient nature, she does portray a nastier, more reactionary streak at times, similar to Julie, her later replacement. She is good friends with Carole and is often seen lending her support through her emotionally dark times. Angie also defends Carole against criticism from Brittas, even going so far as to tip three cups of coffee on the reception floor in protest.

Angie appears very similar to Julie - both have blonde hair and wear classy female office clothes. However, Julie has a far more blunt and aggressive nature than Angie. Julie appears from series two onwards, and Angie's disappearance and replacement is never actually explained in any episode of the show.

Pam Shields

Pam is portrayed by actress Frances Low, and is Helen and Gordon Brittas's new neighbour. In series one, Pam is Helen's friend, a minor, friendly character who Helen can talk to. She is used to exploit Gordon Brittas's character, hence how Helen explains to her what her husband is like, and the chaos he's caused in previous jobs.

Pam is replaced with Laura as Helen's supportive willing-to-listen friend in series two (who shares a more distant relationship with Helen in series one), this being the obvious reason why Pam wasn't in any further series as she was no longer needed.^[9]

Councillor Dapping

This character is portrayed by actress Jo Kendall, and is the character responsible for putting Brittas in charge of the new sports centre in Whitbury New Town. In the first episode, when, within minutes of arrival Brittas is already upsetting staff and causing strikes, Dapping quickly regrets who she has put in charge.

Councillor Dapping only appears in the very first episode, and the series two episode "Safety First"; in the latter she falls from a fire escape and injures herself, and is replaced by the harsher Councillor Drugett.^[9]

Councillor Druggett

Stephen Churchett played Councillor Druggett, a more determined character to remove Brittas than Councillor Dapping was. Druggett first appears at the end of series four, in the episode "The Chop". He succeeds is sacking Brittas as manager of the leisure centre, and also sacks Carole as receptionist after seeing her children kept in office drawers. However, in the following episode Brittas once again inadvetantly manages to burn down the building, but in the process saves three children. He is crowned a local hero and with the backing from the press, he returns to manage the newly rebuilt centre in series five.

Druggett's second attempt to remove Brittas then comes at the beginning of series five, when leaving a paper in the centre for Brittas, advertising a job in Brussels. Although Brittas accepts this, he is crushed to death by a falling water tank, thus his career move is ended. Brittas is then re-built and brought back from the dead. Druggett tries on several occasions after this to remove Gordon from management, such as in Wake Up The Lion Within, where he conspires with Carol to allow her to replace Brittas as manager. However all of these attempts fail.

Druggett's final appearance is in the final episode, where he dies after eating biscuits Brittas has cooked.^[9]

Horatio Brittas

The Reverend Horatio Brittas (played by Richard Braine) is the fraternal twin brother of Gordon Brittas. He shares the same "dream" for world peace and social unity that Gordon does, and it is revealed that as children, the two brothers came to an agreement - for Gordon to fulfill the physical part of the dream, while Horatio took care of the spiritual part, as a Christian vicar.

Horatio is a gentle character, and in terms of his voice and mannerisms, appears very similar to Gordon. Like Gordon, while trying to do the right thing, he unintentionally brings chaos and destruction into the lives of those around him. However, unlike Gordon, during the third series he has a crisis of faith when he realizes that his spiritual and peacekeeping interventions have been mostly unsuccessful, and lacks Gordon's unbreakable motivation and self-confidence.^[12]

Horatio returns to the centre early in series four to baptise Gordon's young twins.^[13] Unfortunately, however, Horatio brings his new girlfriend, Philippa, who turns out to have a similar personality to that of Gordon. She annoys Gordon intensely and gets into a fight with Helen, which disrupts the proceedings.

Michael T. Farrell III

David Crean portrays Laura's handsome, billionaire but deceptive husband Michael. Hailing from America, Michael first shows up at the centre in an attempt to win Laura back, which fails.^[4] His second attempt in the next series, however, succeeds, but he continues to be deceitful. Nevertheless, it seems he genuinely loves Laura in series five, willing to start work at the sports centre to try and please her. But when Laura Lancing falls pregnant, he instead decides he wants the baby to be brought up in America, to which Laura agrees. An episode set in the future reveals that they name their son Barney.

Brittas hates Farrell, seeing him nothing more than a liar and a cheat. In series four, Farrell turns up for the staff ball, thus preventing Brittas from taking Laura as his dancing partner, making Brittas particularly bitter.^[9]

Penny Bidmead

Penny is portrayed by actress Anouschka Menzies, is introduced in Series 6 and operates the leisure centre's "newly privatised" in Brittas's absence, sauna beauty department.

She's an attractive blonde, with an air of arrogance about her, which leads to her frequently clashing with other members of staff. However, she does get on well with Helen, and seems to take over Laura's role of Helen's supportive friend. However Penny was removed for the final series, apparently due to the actress having other filming commitments.

Appearances

This is an Episode count for the characters that appeared in more than one episode. This list excludes the 'Children in Need' Special as the full cast is not confirmed.

Character	First Appearance	Last Appearance	Episode Count
Gordon Brittas	Laying the Foundations	Curse of the Tiger Woman	52
Helen Brittas	Laying the Foundations	Curse of the Tiger Woman	50
Laura Lancing	Laying the Foundations	In the Beginning	36
Colin Weatherby	Laying the Foundations	Curse of the Tiger Woman	52
Carole Parkinson	Laying the Foundations	Curse of the Tiger Woman	52
Gavin Featherly	Laying the Foundations	Curse of the Tiger Woman	52
Linda Perkin	Laying the Foundations	Curse of the Tiger Woman	50
Tim Whistler	Laying the Foundations	Curse of the Tiger Woman	52
Julie Porter	Back from the Dead	Curse of the Tiger Woman	46
Angie	Laying the Foundations	Stop Thief and Assassin	6
Pam	Laying the Foundations	Underwater Wedding	3
Councillor Dapping	Laying the Foundations	Safety First	2
Councillor Druggett	The Chop	Curse of the Tiger Woman	6
Horatio Brittas	Two Little Boys	The Christening	2
Michael T. Farrell III	Sex, Lies and Red Tape	The Lies have it	3
Penny Bidmead	Back with a Bang	Snap Happy	7

References

1. ^ Brittas Empire, Series 2, Episode 2 - "Temple of the Body"
2. ^ ^{a b} Brittas Empire, Series 3, Episode 3 - "Laura's Leaving"
3. ^ Brittas Empire, Series 7, Episode 8 - "Curse of the Tiger Women"
4. ^ ^{a b} Brittas Empire, Series 3, Episode 5 - "Sex, Lies and Red Tape"
5. ^ Brittas Empire, Series 4, Episode 7 - "The Chop"
6. ^ Brittas Empire, Series 5, Episode 3 - "Brussels Calling"
7. ^ Brittas Empire, Series 4, Episode 5 - "Playing with Fire"
8. ^ Brittas Empire, Series 2, Episode 5 - "Mums and Dads"
9. ^ ^{a b c d e f} The Brittas Empire DVDs, where evidence in episodes can support what has been stated above. DVDs published by Eureka Video
10. ^ Brittas Empire, Series 4, Episode 3 - "Biggles Tells A Lie"
11. ^ Brittas Empire, Series 6, Episode 6 - "Mr. Brittas Falls in Love"
12. ^ Brittas Empire, Series 3, Episode 4 - "Two Little Boys"
13. ^ Brittas Empire, Series 4, Episode 2 - "The Christening"