Laying the Foundations

Gordon Brittas shares elements of Captain Mainwaring. An officious attitude that masks many inadequacies.

The first episode sees Gordon Brittas starting his job as the manager of Whitby Leisure Centre.

His wife has adjusted to Gordon's peculiar ways. When he tells her that he plans to invite the Leisure Centre staff in the evening for nibbles. She knows they will not come round.

Once Gordon gets to his new place of work. He causes chaos with his lack of tact.

When he reveals his rota, even more staff are upset. By the time they have a team meeting, most of them have left. One of them gets rather violent with ping pong bats.

It soon becomes clear that Gordon Brittas is a well meaning man who has been overpromoted. He has been given good references so his previous employer can get rid off him.

Brittas is an acquired taste, I certainly did not find him likeable or even warm to him in the first episode. Then again neither did many of the people who encountered him.

The writers Richard Fegen and Andrew Norriss had experience with chaotic comedies in previous shows like Chance in a Million.