Chris Barrie has strongly hinted ‘The Brittas Empire’ could return to TV screens soon.
The 57-year-old actor portrayed incompetent leisure centre boss Gordon Brittas in the popular 90s sitcom between 1991 and 1997, and he looks set to reprise his role after revealing a cast and crew reunion will take place next month, which he hopes will be a catalyst for an eighth series.
He said: "There’s a lot of momentum for this among the fans who mainly come and see me for ‘Red Dwarf’.
"We’re having a reunion on October 2 which is part of re-launching the Ringwood Recreation Centre, where we filmed it, and a lot of the cast are coming down, the original writers are coming down, and I think we might use that as a bit of a platform to try and do something."
Chris was keen for ‘The Brittas Empire’ to return in 2015 and while the programme didn’t make it back on the small screen, he is hoping there is too much support for the series nowadays that producers simply cannot turn down the chance to bring it back to TV.
He told Metro: "They did nearly do it in 2015, but I think there’s so much momentum for it now’s the time."
Chris’ comments come two years after he teased a return of the show – which attracted 10 million viewers at its peak – admitting the original writers, Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen, were working on a new script.
Speaking in 2015, he said: "One of the original writers is behind it and, fingers crossed, it happens. The script stage is supposed to be done now."
‘The Brittas Empire’ was known for its farce and surrealism, with a number of character deaths, unlike a traditional sitcom.
It saw Gordon, the hapless manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre, often come up with unrealistic ideas, much to the annoyance of his staff.
Pippa Haywood played Chris’ on-screen wife Helen Brittas, while Michael Burns portrayed Gordon’s assistant Colin Weatherby, and Harriet Thorpe starred as emotional receptionist Carole.
Chris Barrie hints at The Brittas Empire comeback
