Ep 2. The Royal Opening

The Brittas Empire season 1 episode 2, titled "The Royal Opening," features Gordon Brittas, the dangerously incompetent manager of the Whitbury-Newtown Leisure Centre, preparing for a visit from the Duke of Edinburgh to officially open the newly-refurbished swimming pool.

As Brittas frantically tries to get everything in order for the royal visit, chaos and miscommunication ensue. He tasks his team with decorating the leisure centre with British flags, but instead receives various international flags. His attempt to use a forklift to erect a giant portrait of the Duke is an unmitigated disaster. And to top it all off, Brittas receives an accidental bump on the head, leading to some rather peculiar behavioral changes.

Meanwhile, the staff at the leisure centre are dealing with their own problems. Laura, Brittas's cheerful but clueless secretary, nervously tries to welcome the Duke while dealing with an unexpected personal issue. The pool's lifeguard, Gavin, struggles to keep up with the duties of his job, leading to some dangerous situations. And Carole, the health and safety officer, accidentally gets caught in a tanning booth, leaving her with a distinct orange glow.

Despite the chaos, the Duke eventually arrives, and Brittas conducts a disastrous tour of the leisure centre. He accidentally leads the Duke into the women's changing room, where he tries to retrieve a rubber duck left behind by a child. Elsewhere, Gavin ends up falling into the pool while trying to impress the Duke with his lifeguarding skills.

Overall, "The Royal Opening" is a hilarious episode that showcases the utter ineptitude of Gordon Brittas and his team. As always, the show's cast delivers top-notch comedic performances, making this episode a must-watch for fans of British sitcoms.