Other characters in The Brittas Empire

Below is a list of various other characters in The Brittas Empire, a British television sitcom that aired on BBC 1 in the 1990s. For information on the rest of the show's characters and any other information, visit: The Brittas Empire, where specific articles for characters can be accessed by clicking on hyperlinked names.

Gavin

Gavin is a fictional character portrayed by Tim Marriott in the British television sitcom, The Brittas Empire, that aired on BBC 1 between 1991 and 1997. He is a pool attendant (and later deputy manager) of Whitbury Leisure Centre, the fictional disaster-bound sports centre run by the chaos-causing manager Gordon Brittas.

Gavin is gentle and caring, and gets on with his job under Brittas, however develops a certain arrogance when being promoted to deputy manager. After this promotion, he occasionally clashes with Colin Weatherby, another if detached deputy manager, claiming he only "cleans toilets". The promotion causes a rift in his relationship with boyfriend Tim Whistler, and also causes him to pick up some of his boss's quirks, in the form of what he says and hand gestures.Gavin falls out with his boyfriend on many occasions, due to either keeping secrets from him or the jealousy and jumping to conclusions on Tim's part.

The relationship between Gavin and Tim provides a subplot, but also some humour, because Brittas, unable to pick up on subtle aspects of human beings, is always unaware the pair are homosexuals. [Information gathered from The Brittas Empire DVDs published by Eureka Video. Evidence in episodes can support all information stated above.]

Linda

Linda is portrayed by Jill Greenacre, and she teaches and trains people in different sports, and is also a pool attendant. Linda also controls reception when Carole is absent.

Linda is co-operative, lively and enthusiastic, getting on with her job and obeying her boss's commands. She feels strongly about animal cruelty, evident in series six when she is against Brittas's dolphin day, thus staging a protest.

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, however her role is significantly larger after the first series. [Information gathered from The Brittas Empire DVDs published by Eureka Video. Evidence in episodes can support all information stated above.]

Tim

Tim is portrayed by Russell Porter, and he is also a pool attendant at Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre. Although a lively, confident worker, Tim is slightly troubled mentally, hence the psychiatrist reference in series five. He has mood swings and gets jealous easily, and finds Gavin giving attention to anyone but himself unbearable. His slightly neurotic persona makes his relationship difficult with Gavin, and he is outraged when learning Gavin is working towards management at the centre. The most extreme example of Tim's personality is in series six, when he holds the staff hostage in the rest room until he gets paid the same. Colin tries to escape, so Tim hits him with a baseball bat.

Like most staff members, Tim despises Brittas, however shows this more than most. Tim is in all episode of the series. [Information gathered from The Brittas Empire DVDs published by Eureka Video. Evidence in episodes can support all information stated above.]

Julie

Julie is portrayed by Judy Flynn, and replaces character Angie as Brittas's secretary.Julie is a loud-mouthed character, refusing to do any work, and insisting to tell her boss exactly what she thinks of him. Julie dislikes Brittas more than anyone else at the sports complex, and when he asks her to do work, she moans the catchphrase "I'm busy!". She gets involved with criminal boyfriends and has contacts in the underworld.

Julie's fiery tongue provides some of the show's humour, and she is completely different in personality to Angie, the secretary in the first series, who didn't add much comedy to the show. Julie is in all episodes series two onwards, apart from the 1997 christmas special. [Information gathered from The Brittas Empire DVDs published by Eureka Video. Evidence in episodes can support all information stated above.]

Recurring characters in the show

Angie

Angie is portrayed by actress Andree Bernard, and is Brittas's original secretary. Angie is a caring character, and lends support to a tearful Carole in the first episode of series one. She remains calm even when disasters escalate in the centre, and gets on with her job.Angie's persona contrasts with her replacement "Julie", played by Judy Flynn, who refuses to do any work and regularly shows hatred for her boss. It is likely that the reason for Angie only appearing in the first series, is due to the fact Julie's character provides more humour. [Information gathered from The Brittas Empire DVDs published by Eureka Video. Evidence in episodes can support all information stated above.]

Pam

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-she was no longer needed. [Information gathered from The Brittas Empire DVDs published by Eureka Video. Evidence in episodes can support all information stated above.]

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 is only in the very first episode, and the series two episode "Safety First"; in the latter she falls from a fire escape, and is replaced with the harsher Councillor Drugett. [Information gathered from The Brittas Empire DVDs published by Eureka Video. Evidence in episodes can support all information stated above.]

Councillor Druggett

Stephen Churchett played Councillor Druggett, a more determined character to remove Brittas than Councillor Dapping was. Drugett 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. However, in the following episode Brittas once again burns down the building, but in the process saves three children, thus crowned local hero and with the backing from the press he returns to manage the newly rebuilt centre in series five.

Drugett'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. Drugett gives up after this point, and accepts Brittas will only ever manage the centre.

Drugett's final appearance is in the final episode, where he dies after eating biscuits Brittas has cooked. [Information gathered from The Brittas Empire DVDs published by Eureka Video. Evidence in episodes can support all information stated above.]

Horatio Brittas

Horatio is Brittas's twin brother, played by Richard Braine. He is a vicar, and christens Brittas's children in series four. Horatio is a gentle character, and in terms of his voice and mannerisms, is similar to Brittas. Like Brittas, while trying to do the right thing he brings chaos into the lives of those around him.He and his brother agreed, that Gordon Brittas would look after the physical side of the world, and Horatio the spiritual. Horatio visits the centre in series three, when fireworks are launched into the centre's weights room where oil is being kept, causing an explosion. He appears once more in series four for "the Christening". [Information gathered from The Brittas Empire DVDs published by Eureka Video. Evidence in episodes can support all information stated above.]

Michael T Farrell III

David Crean portrays Laura's handsome, billionaire but deceptive husband Michael. He has cheated on Laura, and turns up at the centre when he either has no money, or when his fortune is under threat. Nevertheless, it seems he genuinely loves Laura in series five, willing to start work at the sports centre to please her. Thus, Laura Lancing decides to move to America with her husband. 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. [Information gathered from The Brittas Empire DVDs published by Eureka Video. Evidence in episodes can support all information stated above.]

Penny Bidmead

Penny is portrayed by actress Anouschka Menzies, 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 and clashes with Brittas, who dislikes her. It's possible Penny was introduced in series six, to replace Laura Lancing portrayed by Julia St. John. Similar to Laura, Penny becomes Helen's friend who she talks to, however Penny was axed for the final series. [Information gathered from The Brittas Empire DVDs published by Eureka Video. Evidence in episodes can support all information stated above.]

References

References