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{{Infobox Television
'''Matthew Scully''' (born [[March 30]], [[1959]], in [[Casper, Wyoming]]) is an American author, journalist, and speechwriter. He has worked as a speechwriter for President [[George W. Bush]], [[Dan Quayle]], [[Dick Cheney]], the late Governor [[Robert P. Casey]] of Pennsylvania, and vice presidential nominee Governor [[Sarah Palin]] of Alaska.
| show_name = The Brittas Empire
| image = [[Image:brittasEmpire3.jpg]]
| caption = Shot of "The Brittas Empire" opening credits
| format = [[live action]]/[[sitcom]]
| camera =
| runtime = 30 mins
| creator = [[Richard Fegen]]<br>[[Andrew Norriss]]
|director= [[Mike Stephens]], [[Christine Gernon]]
|producer = Mike Stephens
| executive_producer = [[Mike Stephens]]
| starring = [[Chris Barrie]]<br>[[Pippa Haywood]]<br>[[Julia St. John]]<br>[[Michael Burns (actor)|Mike Burns]]<br>[[Russell Porter (actor)|Russell Porter]]<br>[[Tim Marriott]]<br>[[Harriet Thorpe]]<br>[[Judy Flynn]]
| theme_music_composer = [[Frank Renton]]
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| network = [[BBC One]]
| first_aired = [[3 January]] [[1991]]
| last_aired = [[24 February]] [[1997]]
| num_series = 7
| num_episodes = 53
| list_episodes = List of The Brittas Empire episodes
| website = http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/thebrittasempire/
| imdb_id = 0101054
| tv_com_id = 2598
}}


'''''The Brittas Empire''''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[sitcom]]--created & written by [[Richard Fergan]] and [[Andrew Norriss]]-- about the well-meaning but disastrous manager Gordon Brittas, [[Chris Barrie]], of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre. The exterior shots of the building were filmed at [[Ringwood]] Leisure Centre, [[Hampshire]].
==Speechwriting career==
Scully worked as a speechwriter in the 2000 presidential campaign, and served as a special assistant and senior speechwriter for President [[George W. Bush]] from January 2001 to August 2004. He has also written speeches for vice-presidents [[Dan Quayle]] and [[Dick Cheney]], Governor [[Robert P. Casey]] of Pennsylvania, and [[Bob Dole]].<ref name= "muse">{{cite web |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/10/AR2007081002403_pf.html |title= Bush's Muse Stands Accused |accessdate=2008-10-04 |last= Baker |first= Peter |coauthors= |date= [[2007-09-11]] |work= |publisher= [[Washington Post]]}}</ref> Most recently, he was the primary consultant and writer for [[Sarah Palin]]'s acceptance speech at the 2008 Republican convention.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/03/palin.speech/?iref=mpstoryview |title= Palin to slam Obama in convention speech |accessdate=2008-09-04 |last= Bash |first= Dana|coauthors= |date= [[2008-09-03]] |work= |publisher= [[CNN]] }}</ref>


The show's seven series and 52 episodes, two of which are Christmas specials, aired between [[1991]] and [[1997]] on [[BBC 1]], and it enjoyed a long and successful run throughout the 1990s, gaining large mainstream audiences. Since then it has been released on DVD, in the UK and Australia, and has appeared on many fan and tribute websites. In [[2004]], the show came 47th on the BBC's ''[[Britain's Best Sitcom]]'' poll.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sitcom.co.uk/list_top.shtml |title=The Top 50 British Sitcoms |publisher=British Sitcom Guide |accessdate=2008-04-15}}</ref>.
In an article in ''[[The Atlantic Monthly]]'', Scully accused former White House chief speechwriter [[Michael Gerson]] of wrongfully taking credit for speeches allegedly written by Scully and other members of President George W. Bush's speechwriting team.<ref name="muse" />


Additionally, the show is known in Poland "Imperium Brittasa" <ref>The Brittas Empire Complete Series 1, DVD extras, by Eureka Video</ref>.
==Literary career==
Scully is the author of ''Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy'' (2002), described by ''The New York Times'' as a "horrible, wonderful, important book," in large measure "because the author, an avowed conservative Republican and former speechwriter for George W. Bush, is an unexpected defender of the animals against the depredations of profit driven corporations, swaggering, gun-loving hunters, proponents of renewed 'harvesting' of whales and elephants and others who insist that all of nature is humanity's romper room, to play with, rearrange, and plunder at will.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0DE2DE153DF934A15753C1A9649C8B63 |title= The Most Compassionate Conservative |accessdate=2008-09-04 |last= Angier |first= Natalie |coauthors= |date= [[2002-10-27]] |work= |publisher= [[New York Times]] }}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' wrote that ''Dominion'' is "destined to become a classic defense of mercy."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.matthewscully.com/reviews.htm |title= Book Reviews |accessdate=2008-09-04 |work= |publisher= Matthew Scully.com |date= }}</ref>
==Cast and characters==


===Main cast===
Scully has also served as literary editor of ''National Review'' magazine,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nationalreview.com/script/printpage.p?ref=/flashback/scully200310241040.asp |title= Exploring “Dominion” |accessdate=2008-10-04 |last= Lopez |first= Kathryn Jean |coauthors= |date= [[2003-10-24]] |work= |publisher= [[national Review]]}}</ref> and has written for ''[[The New York Times]]'', ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', ''[[The Washington Post]]'', ''[[The Los Angeles Times]]'', and ''[[The Atlantic Monthly]]''.
*[[Chris Barrie]] - [[Gordon Brittas]]
*[[Pippa Haywood]] - [[Helen Brittas]]
*[[Julia St. John]] - [[Laura Lancing]] (series 1-5)
*[[Michael Burns (actor)|Michael Burns]] - [[Colin Weatherby]]
*[[Harriet Thorpe]] - [[Carole Parkinson]]
''For more information on one of the following characters, please see: [[Other characters in The Brittas Empire]].''


*[[Tim Marriott]] - Gavin Featherly
==Works==
*[[Russell Porter (actor)|Russell Porter]] - Tim Whistler
*''Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy'', St. Martin's Griffin, 2003 (paperback), ISBN 0-312-31973-8-BCO
*[[Jill Greenacre]] - Linda Perkin
*[[Judy Flynn]] - Julie Porter (series 2-7)


*[[Andrée Bernard]] - Angie (series 1)
*[[Frances Low]] - Pam series 1)
*[[Jo Kendall]] - Councillor Dapping (series 1-2)
*[[Richard Braine]] - Horatio Brittas (series 3-4)
*[[David Crean]] - Michael T Farrell III (series 3-5)
*[[Stephen Churchett]] - Councillor Drugget (series 4-7)
*[[Anouschka Menzies]] - Penny Bidmead (series 6)

==Plot==
Gordon Brittas is the well-meaning but disastrous manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre, a job that involves working with people, something he's all too bad at. His dream of achieving world peace through sport is deemed impossible with his talent for creating recipes for total disaster, unintentionally bringing death, destruction and chaos into the lives of those around him. Brittas is forever rubbing up people the wrong way, dishing out tactless advice and over-complicated schemes, all serving to upset and drive his staff, public, and neurotic wife Helen critically insane.

[[Image:Brittascustomer.jpg‎|left|thumb|250px| Maniac manager Gordon Brittas hopelessly dealing with a customer]]

Helen Brittas might love her husband, but she rarely shows any affection towards him, using an array of pills and affairs with other men to cope with Brittas. Helen pours her heart out to friend Laura Lancing, Brittas’s calm & efficient deputy. Laura supports Helen, and also picks up the pieces after her boss's efforts have caused disaster at the centre. Brittas is particularly fond of Laura, and when he plans to move to Brussels in series five, he offers her his job. Laura refuses it to move to [[United States|America]] with wealthy once-a-cheat husband Michael.

Another deputy manager of the centre is the gentle-hearted but unfit Colin Weatherby, who has an infected hand and several skin [[allergies]]. Allergic to water, his [[swimming pool|pool]] duties are somewhat limited. Colin admires Brittas and is willing to do whatever to please him.

Carole is the unfortunate and often tearful receptionist, who keeps her three children in the drawers of reception. Brittas is the unknowing father to Carole's twin-children. Despite her dreams and aims in life crashing down around her, Carole puts on a brave face to greet the public.

Amongst other members of the staff is no-nonsense Julie, the fiery-tongued secretary who hates her boss, always snapping “I’m busy!” when asked to do any work. A more co-operative member of the team is the lively Linda Perkins, who's always wearing a smile. Gavin Featherly is initially a pool attendant, and although gentle at heart, develops a certain arrogance when promoted to deputy manager. He leads an unstable relationship with the jealous and emotional Tim Whistler--who has occasional mood swings.

Outside the staff is the man of authority Councillor Jack Drugett. Despite numerous attempts at removing Brittas as manager, he and the council fail, thus Whitbury Leisure Centre remains a disaster-zone free from customers. Although the centre appears more successful in the final two series, inevitably where Brittas is concerned, mayhem always manages to persist.

==Episodes==
{{main|List of The Brittas Empire episodes}}

''The Brittas Empire'' was broadcast for fifty two episodes, including two Christmas Specials, and one short episode for [[Children in Need]]. Beginning in 1991, it ended in 1997. The cast also performed in the 1996 [[Royal Variety performance]] - in character, and Chris Barrie played Gordon again in the short fitness series spin-off, ''Get Fit with Brittas''.

For the first five series, the show's creators Richard Fegen and Andrew Norriss together co-wrote the show. The final episode of series five was the initial ending of the series, where Brittas is crushed to death by a falling water tank. However, due to the show's popularity, the BBC decided to resurrect Brittas and brought on a team of new writers, who carried the show on for a further two series, including one further Christmas special. The new writers were: [[Paul Smith (writer)|Paul Smith]], [[Terry Kyan]], [[Tony Millan]], [[Mike Walling]], [[Ian Davidson (writer)|Ian Davidson]] and [[Peter Vincent]].

The actual ending for the show was in the ''Curse of the Tiger Women''; the final episode of series seven. It is revealed that all seven series were part of a dream that Gordon was having on his way to the job interview for manager of the leisure centre. This ending is panned by many critics and viewers, possibly for a number of reasons. It might seem far-fetched in believing that Brittas's dream covered seven years, and a dream that consists of murder, electrocution, and mayhem, that contradicts Brittas's actual dream of achieving world peace through sport. The 1994 Christmas special is also set in the 21st century, showing what happened to Brittas and his staff post-Whitbury.

==DVD and VHS releases==
The show has enjoyed an international success; all seven series have been released on DVD in the United Kingdom by [[Eureka Video]], and also in Australia by the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]. Before the show was brought to DVD, the BBC brought episodes to VHS.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! VHS title
! Release date
! Episodes included:
|-
| The Brittas Empire- The Stuff of Dreams
| 7 August 1995
| “The Christening” and “The stuff of dreams”, “Not a Good Day”.
|-
| “The Brittas Empire”- Laying the Foundations
| 2 April 1997
| “Laying the Foundations”, “Back from the dead”, “Set in Concrete”, “An Inspector Calls”, “The Trial”.
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! DVD title (UK releases)
! Release date

|-
| “The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series one
| |[[21 July]] 2003 <ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brittas-Empire-Complete-BBC-1-7/dp/B000A3OOQ8/ref=pd_sbs_d_h__title_1 Amazon.co.uk: The Brittas Empire: Complete BBC Series 1-7 Box Set [1991&#93;: Tony Arunah Abbey, Stephen Churchett, Julia St. John, Mike Stephens: DVD<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|-
| “The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Two
| |[[20 October]] 2003
|-
| “The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Three
| |[[29 January]] 2004
|-
| “The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Four
| |[[29 July]] 2004
|-
| “The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Five
| |[[4 October]] 2004
|-
| “The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Six
| |[[21 February]] 2005
|-
| “The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Seven
| |[[23 May]] 2005
|-
| “The Brittas Empire”- Complete series one-seven
| |[[8 October]] 2007
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|1}}
{{Reflist}}
General
* {{cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brittas-Empire-Complete-BBC-1-7/dp/B000A3OOQ8/ref=pd_sbs_d_h__title_1l |title=product details|publisher=Amazon |accessdate=2008-04-22}}
*{{cite web |url=http://valdefierro.com/brittas01.html|title=valdefierro episode guide|publisher=valdefierro|accessdate=2008-04-22}}
*{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/thebrittasempire/ |title= show information |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2008-04-22}}

;Specific
<references />


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/thebrittasempire/ ''The Brittas Empire''] at [[bbc.co.uk]]
*[http://www.matthewscully.com/matthew.htm Biography from Scully's website]
*{{imdb title|id=0101054|title=The Brittas Empire}}
*[http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200709/michael-gerson Article in ''Atlantic Monthly''] on [[Michael Gerson]], his [[White House]] speechwriting companion
*[http://www.sitcom.co.uk/brittas_empire/ ''The Brittas Empire''] at Sitcom.co.uk
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/liveonline/advertisers/viewpoint_aspca082504.htm?nav=archive "Animal Cruelty and Need for Reform"], online discussion with Matthew Scully, ''Washington Post'', August 25, 2004

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brittas Empire, The}}
[[Category:BBC television sitcoms]]
[[Category:1990s British television series]]
[[Category:1991 television series debuts]]
[[Category:1997 television series endings]]


[[nl:The Brittas Empire]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scully, Matthew}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Animal welfare]]
[[Category:American political writers]]
[[Category:American speechwriters]]
[[Category:American vegetarians]]
[[Category:People from Casper, Wyoming]]

Revision as of 21:33, 12 October 2008

The Brittas Empire
Shot of "The Brittas Empire" opening credits
Created byRichard Fegen
Andrew Norriss
Directed byMike Stephens, Christine Gernon
StarringChris Barrie
Pippa Haywood
Julia St. John
Mike Burns
Russell Porter
Tim Marriott
Harriet Thorpe
Judy Flynn
Theme music composerFrank Renton
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of series7
No. of episodes53 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerMike Stephens
ProducerMike Stephens
Running time30 mins
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release3 January 1991 –
24 February 1997

The Brittas Empire is a British sitcom--created & written by Richard Fergan and Andrew Norriss-- about the well-meaning but disastrous manager Gordon Brittas, Chris Barrie, of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre. The exterior shots of the building were filmed at Ringwood Leisure Centre, Hampshire.

The show's seven series and 52 episodes, two of which are Christmas specials, aired between 1991 and 1997 on BBC 1, and it enjoyed a long and successful run throughout the 1990s, gaining large mainstream audiences. Since then it has been released on DVD, in the UK and Australia, and has appeared on many fan and tribute websites. In 2004, the show came 47th on the BBC's Britain's Best Sitcom poll.[1].

Additionally, the show is known in Poland "Imperium Brittasa" [2].

Cast and characters

Main cast

For more information on one of the following characters, please see: Other characters in The Brittas Empire.


Plot

Gordon Brittas is the well-meaning but disastrous manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre, a job that involves working with people, something he's all too bad at. His dream of achieving world peace through sport is deemed impossible with his talent for creating recipes for total disaster, unintentionally bringing death, destruction and chaos into the lives of those around him. Brittas is forever rubbing up people the wrong way, dishing out tactless advice and over-complicated schemes, all serving to upset and drive his staff, public, and neurotic wife Helen critically insane.

File:Brittascustomer.jpg
Maniac manager Gordon Brittas hopelessly dealing with a customer

Helen Brittas might love her husband, but she rarely shows any affection towards him, using an array of pills and affairs with other men to cope with Brittas. Helen pours her heart out to friend Laura Lancing, Brittas’s calm & efficient deputy. Laura supports Helen, and also picks up the pieces after her boss's efforts have caused disaster at the centre. Brittas is particularly fond of Laura, and when he plans to move to Brussels in series five, he offers her his job. Laura refuses it to move to America with wealthy once-a-cheat husband Michael.

Another deputy manager of the centre is the gentle-hearted but unfit Colin Weatherby, who has an infected hand and several skin allergies. Allergic to water, his pool duties are somewhat limited. Colin admires Brittas and is willing to do whatever to please him.

Carole is the unfortunate and often tearful receptionist, who keeps her three children in the drawers of reception. Brittas is the unknowing father to Carole's twin-children. Despite her dreams and aims in life crashing down around her, Carole puts on a brave face to greet the public.

Amongst other members of the staff is no-nonsense Julie, the fiery-tongued secretary who hates her boss, always snapping “I’m busy!” when asked to do any work. A more co-operative member of the team is the lively Linda Perkins, who's always wearing a smile. Gavin Featherly is initially a pool attendant, and although gentle at heart, develops a certain arrogance when promoted to deputy manager. He leads an unstable relationship with the jealous and emotional Tim Whistler--who has occasional mood swings.

Outside the staff is the man of authority Councillor Jack Drugett. Despite numerous attempts at removing Brittas as manager, he and the council fail, thus Whitbury Leisure Centre remains a disaster-zone free from customers. Although the centre appears more successful in the final two series, inevitably where Brittas is concerned, mayhem always manages to persist.

Episodes

Main article: List of The Brittas Empire episodes

The Brittas Empire was broadcast for fifty two episodes, including two Christmas Specials, and one short episode for Children in Need. Beginning in 1991, it ended in 1997. The cast also performed in the 1996 Royal Variety performance - in character, and Chris Barrie played Gordon again in the short fitness series spin-off, Get Fit with Brittas.

For the first five series, the show's creators Richard Fegen and Andrew Norriss together co-wrote the show. The final episode of series five was the initial ending of the series, where Brittas is crushed to death by a falling water tank. However, due to the show's popularity, the BBC decided to resurrect Brittas and brought on a team of new writers, who carried the show on for a further two series, including one further Christmas special. The new writers were: Paul Smith, Terry Kyan, Tony Millan, Mike Walling, Ian Davidson and Peter Vincent.

The actual ending for the show was in the Curse of the Tiger Women; the final episode of series seven. It is revealed that all seven series were part of a dream that Gordon was having on his way to the job interview for manager of the leisure centre. This ending is panned by many critics and viewers, possibly for a number of reasons. It might seem far-fetched in believing that Brittas's dream covered seven years, and a dream that consists of murder, electrocution, and mayhem, that contradicts Brittas's actual dream of achieving world peace through sport. The 1994 Christmas special is also set in the 21st century, showing what happened to Brittas and his staff post-Whitbury.

DVD and VHS releases

The show has enjoyed an international success; all seven series have been released on DVD in the United Kingdom by Eureka Video, and also in Australia by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Before the show was brought to DVD, the BBC brought episodes to VHS.

VHS title Release date Episodes included:
The Brittas Empire- The Stuff of Dreams 7 August 1995 “The Christening” and “The stuff of dreams”, “Not a Good Day”.
“The Brittas Empire”- Laying the Foundations 2 April 1997 “Laying the Foundations”, “Back from the dead”, “Set in Concrete”, “An Inspector Calls”, “The Trial”.
DVD title (UK releases) Release date
“The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series one 21 July 2003 [3]
“The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Two 20 October 2003
“The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Three 29 January 2004
“The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Four 29 July 2004
“The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Five 4 October 2004
“The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Six 21 February 2005
“The Brittas Empire”- Complete Series Seven 23 May 2005
“The Brittas Empire”- Complete series one-seven 8 October 2007

References

  1. ^ "The Top 50 British Sitcoms". British Sitcom Guide. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  2. ^ The Brittas Empire Complete Series 1, DVD extras, by Eureka Video
  3. ^ Amazon.co.uk: The Brittas Empire: Complete BBC Series 1-7 Box Set [1991]: Tony Arunah Abbey, Stephen Churchett, Julia St. John, Mike Stephens: DVD

General

Specific


External links

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