

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.
Where to watch The Brittas Empire in United States
Click a service to open The Brittas Empire there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Brittas Empire streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Britbox Apple TV Channel | — |
| Canada | Britbox Apple TV Channel | — |
About The Brittas Empire
The Brittas Empire is a 1991 English-language comedy series created by Andrew Norriss. The cast is led by Chris Barrie, Michael Burns, Julia St. John. It spans 7 seasons and 50 episodes and has concluded. In United States, it is currently streaming on Britbox Apple TV Channel .
It was first aired on January 3, 1991, and carries a PG certification.
- Created by
- Andrew Norriss
- First aired
- January 3, 1991
- Last aired
- February 24, 1997
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 7 (50 episodes)
- Network
- BBC One
The Brittas Empire cast & crew
The Brittas Empire was created by Andrew Norriss.
The cast features Chris Barrie as Gordon Brittas, Michael Burns as Colin, Julia St. John as Laura, Pippa Haywood as Helen Brittas, Tim Marriott as Gavin, and Harriet Thorpe as Carole.
Behind the camera, it was produced by Mike Stephens.
Is The Brittas Empire worth watching?
With 7 seasons and 50 episodes, it's a long-haul binge.
If you enjoy comedy, The Brittas Empire is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Brittas Empire
In United States, you can stream The Brittas Empire on Britbox Apple TV Channel . Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of The Brittas Empire

Chris Barrie
Gordon Brittas

Michael Burns
Colin

Julia St. John
Laura

Pippa Haywood
Helen Brittas
Tim Marriott
Gavin

Harriet Thorpe
Carole
Russell Porter
Tim
The Brittas Empire — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Brittas Empire in United States?
The Brittas Empire is streaming on Britbox Apple TV Channel in United States.
▸Is The Brittas Empire on Britbox Apple TV Channel ?
Yes — The Brittas Empire is currently available on Britbox Apple TV Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Brittas Empire in?
The Brittas Empire is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How many seasons of The Brittas Empire are there?
The Brittas Empire has 7 seasons with 50 episodes in total.
▸What is The Brittas Empire rated?
The Brittas Empire is rated PG. It holds a 6.6/10 audience score from 44 ratings.











