History Recap / TheBrittasEmpireS4E3BigglesTellsALie

Whilst Brittas is away on a sailing holiday, Carole finds a sight as rare as a unicorn. Colin...cleaned up and in a blazer.

* PlayboyParody: Gavin comes across a dirty magazine named "Plaything", which is clearly meant to be based on Playboy. HilarityEnsues when the magazine turns out to contain a naughty photo of Helen Brittas, which she tries to hide from her husband.

** Carole's cat is named after ''Literature/{{Biggles}}''.

** The episode (and the name of Carole's cat) is a reference to the ''Literature/{{Biggles}}'' series of books.

Whilst Brittas is away on a sailing holiday, Carole finds a sight as rare as a Unicorn. Colin...cleaned up and in a blazer.

* NotSoAboveItAll: Brittas may not believe that lies are good in any capacity, but when Stephanie reveals how much of an inspiration he is to both Colin and her, even he caves him and keeps the lie going.

As she is pondering the wonder, Gavin comes along with a copy of Plaything, an explicit magazine where people can send in their saucy photos. Carole has also gotten a kitten for Ben, believing it to be helpful for him. A young Blonde Tasmanian woman comes in looking for the Manager, who she believes to be Colin. Some prodding from Laura reveals that the girl is Colin's daughter, who she has never met. Apparently, Colin has been lying to her not only that he's the manager but that he's trained the British Ice Figure Skating Champions, invented the inflatable running shoe, presented a regular spot on Breakfast [=TV=] called ''Ask Colin'' and wrote a series of historical thrillers under the pseudonym "Ennis Peters", with the intention of wanting her to be proud of him. He thus wants Laura and the rest of the staff to MaintainTheLie.

** Stephanie uses a variation (taken from one of Colin's letters to her) of the famous line of UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy's inauguration speech ("Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country"), although modified to refer to leisure centres instead.

* OhCrap: Helen has this reaction upon realising that Brittas has her photo from ''Plaything''.

Attempting to impress his visiting daughter, Colin pretends to be the manager of the leisure centre while Brittas takes the day off; all goes well until Brittas unexpectedly turns up. Meanwhile, a 'magazine' featuring an explicit photo of Helen is found.

** Stephanie uses a variation of the famous line of UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy's inauguration speech ("Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country"), although modified to refer to leisure centres instead.

* ShoutOut: The episode (and the name of Carole's cat) is a reference to the ''Literature/{{Biggles}}'' series of books.

-->'''Julie''': I suppose he wants us to treat him the same way we would Mr Brittas.

* BlandNameProduct: ''Plaything'' is this to ''Playboy'', being a magazine were readers can send in sexually explicit photos.

* BlandNameProduct: "Plaything" is this to "Playboy", being a magazine were readers can send in sexually explicit photos.

* OhCrap: Helen has this reaction upon realising that Brittas has her photo from "Plaything".

* ShoutOut: The episode (and the name of Carole's cat) is a reference to the Literature/{{Biggles}} series of books.

* Date Aired: 24/01/1994

Attempting to impress his visiting daughter, Colin pretends to be the manager of the Leisure Centre while Brittas takes the day off; all goes well until Brittas unexpectedly turns up. Meanwhile, a 'magazine' featuring an explicit photo of Helen is found.

* BlandNameProduct: ''Plaything'' is this to ''Playboy'', being a magazine were readers can send in sexually explicit photos.
* ContinuityNod: One of the pictures that Colin has put up in Brittas' office is of him [[Recap/TheBrittasEmpireS1E2OpeningDay shaking the Duchess of Cambridge's hand]].

* OhCrap: Helen has this reaction upon realising that Gordon has her photo from "Plaything".
* OneShotCharacter: Stephanie, Biggles the Cat.

* AbsentAnimalCompanion: Carole gets a pet cat called Biggles in this episode. However, although Brittas has a change of heart and intends to give it back to her, it never appears again.

* {{Expy}}: ''Plaything'' is this to ''Playboy'', being a magazine were readers can send in sexually explicit photos.

* OneShotCharacter: Stephanie.

Attempting to impress his visiting daughter, Colin pretends to be manager of the Leisure Centre while Brittas takes the day off; all goes well until Brittas unexpectedly turns up. Meanwhile, a 'magazine' featuring an explicit photo of Helen is found.

* HeCleansUpRatherNicely: The usually {{Gonk}} Colin cleans up himself to maintain the lie that he is a leisure centre manager and actually looks rather decent this episode.

* OneShotCharacter: Stephanie