The Brittas Empire was axed in 1997 when the BBC brought in a new boss – but what have the cast of the popular sitcom been getting up to in the nearly-three decades since?
It was celebrated as the Fawlty Towers of the 90s, and it’s now been over three decades since the ambitious yet perpetually doomed Gordon Brittas first graced our screens in The Brittas Empire. The sitcom, which aired from 1991 to 1997 on BBC1, reached a peak of 10 million viewers and ran for five series with two Christmas specials, until it was eventually killed off.
The show revolved around the fictional Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre, reports Nottinghamshire Live, with well-meaning but incapable Gordon Brittas (Chris Barrie) running the venue, assisted by deputy managers Laura Lancing (Julia St John) and Colin Weatherby (Mike Burns). Meanwhile, Pippa Haywood appeared as Helen, Gordon’s long-suffering on-screen wife – not forgetting Carole (Harriet Thorpe) the often-tearful receptionist who unbelievably keeps her three children in the drawers of reception.
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The cast reunited for a gathering on Facebook in early 2021 and expressed interest in reviving the show, but admitted they had yet to find the right broadcaster to take it on. So what have the cast of The Brittas Empire have been doing since the show concluded?
Chris Barrie (Gordon)
Gordon Brittas was prone to disasters and had to contend with everything from OAP squash-court massacres to outbreaks of deadly diseases, electrocution of children, chainsaw decapitation and the chaining up of Sebastian Coe.
He was even crushed to death by a water tank at the end of series five, which was supposed to be the sitcom’s final episode. However, due to its popularity, it was brought back for two more series.
The eventual conclusion of The Brittas Empire – which disclosed that all the events of the show had been a Dallas-style dream – was criticised. After it ended, Barrie starred in the unsuccessful comedy A Prince Among Men, portraying a former footballer turned entrepreneur.
However, he is most recognised for his role as the arrogant hologram Arnold Rimmer in Red Dwarf, a character he portrayed since the show’s inception in 1988. The series was revived by Dave TV channel in 2009 and even saw a film adaptation in 2020.
In addition to this, he starred as a butler in the Tomb Raider films alongside Angelina Jolie and has hosted a documentary series about impressive machinery. In 2014, he briefly reprised his Brittas role for an appearance in Little Mix’s Word Up! video for Sport Relief.
A lover of vintage motorbikes and speedy cars, the now-65 year old actor has been married twice and is a father to two sons.
Julia St John (Laura)
As the calm, reliable, and efficient deputy manager Laura, she was everything Brittas was not.
St John later collaborated with Harry Enfield on his show, Harry Enfield and Chums, as well as his subsequent series, Brand Spanking New Show. The 69 year old actress also made regular appearances on A Touch of Frost and Casualty. However, her most recent role was in a 2012 Bollywood film.
Pippa Haywood (Helen)
Haywood portrayed Brittas’ long-suffering and nervous wife Helen, who managed her annoying husband through medication and extramarital affairs. Since then, she has featured in numerous popular TV series including Green Wing, Jonathan Creek, Silent Witness, Mr Selfridge and Scott and Bailey.
In 2018, she took on the role of top cop Lorraine Craddock in the hit drama Bodyguard and also portrayed the Duke of Hastings’ housekeeper, Mrs Colson, in Netflix’s popular series Bridgerton. The 63 year old mother of two also featured in the 2020 dementia drama Supernova alongside Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci.
Harriet Thorpe (Carole)
Thorpe is best remembered for her portrayal of neurotic receptionist Carole, who was notorious for confining her three children to drawers and cupboards in the leisure centre foyer. The 67 year old actress has since appeared as the clueless magazine editor Fleur in the highly successful sitcom Absolutely Fabulous and its 2016 film adaptation.
She also starred in the Calendar Girls movie and has performed stage roles in Les Miserables, Mamma Mia and Wicked. Thorpe, is a mother of two.
Michael Burns (Colin)
Burns’ character Colin was known for his various skin conditions and questionable hygiene habits, but he never wavered in his loyalty to his boss. The actor went on to make appearances in popular TV shows including Emmerdale, Heartbeat, Casualty and Hollyoaks. Burns, now 77, also had a one-off role on Doctors in 2017 when he played a drunk man in a bin.
Jill Greenacre (Linda)
Greenacre’s character, the enthusiastic and cheerful pool attendant Linda, held a deep admiration for Mr Brittas, despite his many shortcomings.
Actress Greenacre, 59, has primarily appeared in short and lesser-known films and on stage, but she’s also worked as a shiatsu masseuse charging £40 per treatment. She even offered shiatsu massage for horses at £50 a session.
Judy Flynn (Julie)
Flynn, known for her role as the fiery northern secretary Julie who despised her boss Brittas, went on to feature in a variety of roles in popular shows such as Heartbeat, Holby City, Hollyoaks, Ackley Bridge and Call The Midwife. She also lent her voice to characters on Peppa Pig from 2009 to 2017.
At 62, Flynn has been a regular face on the daytime soap Doctors, where she’s portrayed six different characters over the span of 13 years.
Russell Porter (Tim)
Porter’s stint as the pool attendant and chef Tim marked his only venture into television – he has since retired from the industry. However, he did make a brief return for the small cast reunion.