Black Books - Series Info

Information on the UK TV comedy series from Channel 4, Black Books

Black Books is an amazing, and fairly unknown, gem from Channel 4's Friday Night comedy line-up.

The Basil Fawlty of bookshops, Bernard Black demonstrates how now to run a bookshop, with the help of employee Manny and friend Fran from the shop next door. If you missed either of the first two series, watch out for the repeats on Channel 4, or better still, get hold of the video or DVD. Cutting comedy, well-produced and highly entertaining, especially if you like the surreal!

This site contains some useful information on Black Books, news on new series and upcoming video releases, a brief episode listing, and some useful links. Please visit our Black Books forum and get talking about the series.

Cast
Bernard Black - Dylan Moran
Manny Bianco - Bill Bailey
Fran Katzenjammer - Tamsin Greig

The Series

Series 1 (Sept 2000)	Series 1 ran from September 2000 on Friday nights on Channel 4. 1. Cooking the Books - Manny's fired, and Bernard's having problems with his tax return 2. Manny's First Day - After an unusual interview, Manny starts at the y shop 3. Grapes Of Wrath - Asked to house-sit, Bernard and Manny try their hand at wine making 4. The Blackout - An overdose of caffeine launches Manny's career in law enforcement 5. The Big Lockout - After installing a burglar alarm, Manny's locked in, and Bernard's the wrong side of the door. Only a fast food restaurant and some bees can save them 6. He's Leaving Home - Manny find a new friend and sets off to a new life as a model
Series 2(Feb 2002)	Series 2 ran from February 2002 on Friday nights on Channel 4. 1. The Entertainer - Fran starts piano lessons, Bernard starts dating, and Manny discovers a new talent 2. Fever - Manny's concerned about the rise in temperature, while Fran has a brush with the landlord 3. The Fixer - Fran starts a new job, while Bernard and Manny take up teaching 4. Blood- After starting to serve coffee instore, the team open a restaurant, and Fran finds family 5. Hello Sun - After some amateur psychology, bernard realises that Manny is, in fact, mad - off to the Psychiatrist 6. A Nice Change - Time for a change - the Internet reveals the cheapest flights for a break away from the shop
Series 3 (Mar 2004)	Recording of Series 3 started in November 2003 - See our report of the first episode recorded on 15th November in front of a studio audience on our Black Books forum. The last episode of the series was recorded on 20th December 2003 and ran from Thursday 11th March 2004, on Channel 4. 1. Manny Come Home - Manny's defected to Goliath Books, and Bernard can't fend for himself Features Simon Pegg (Tim from Spaced) 2. Elephants and Hens - While Fran's off on a hen night, Bernard and Manny set out to write a kids book 3. Moo-ma and Moo-pa - Manny's parents come to visit 4. Bernard gets hit by the gambling bug, and we see how adept Fran is at Poker 5. A famous (and charming) explorer stumbles across the shop, while Bernard has problems Mr Benson, the feline landlord upstairs... 6. Party - Manny's keen to get off to a friend's party so he can leave a thimble lying around casually, and Fran reveals some information on Bernard's not-so-ex-girlfriend.
Series 4	Rumour has it that there are no plans for a Series 4 (Source: BBC Radio 2 interview with Dylan Moran March 2004), but there are murmurings of a Black Books stage show. Anyone know more? Let us know...

Watch Black Books online

Black Books is available for on-demand viewing. Channel 4 has launched 4oD, an online video-on-demand service. many of their programmes are available for download to your PC. Watch recent shows and classic Channel 4 shows from your desktop.

Download the free player from www.channel4.com/4od. Shows are also available from www.apple.com/itunes

Videos / DVDs

Series 1 was released on DVD and video in the UK in March 2002. The DVD contains an excellent commentary soundtrack from the cast, and some great bloopers. You can order the Series 1 DVD or Series 1 VHS video from Amazon . See the Amazon reviews for more. (No information on a Region 1 version)
Series 2. The DVD and video were released on the 22nd March 2004. DVD available from Sendit (free p&p), Amazon, and also available with free P and P from Play.com.

Series 2 became available in March 2003 in Australia (See ABC Shop) as a Region 4 DVD, and on PAL format VHS video. Two site visitors have complained that the Australian DVD is only available in 1:1.33 ratio, and not widescreen (16:9) as with the Series 1 DVD, but another visitor reports that the Series 2 DVD is in fact widescreen, just wrongly labelled. Thanks to Gavin for reporting that the Australian release states it's a Region 0, which may be playable in other areas.
DVD Easter Egg: Extended/deleted scenes.
Series 3.The DVD and video were released on 4th October 2004. Sadly, no audio commentary this time around, but a good collection of outtakes, a sizable amount of deleted scenes, a rather odd item called "Bernard's Letter" about a response to a rejection, and a collection of trailers and scrolling images. Price is £12.99 from Sendit (free p&p), or £4.97 from the following link at Amazon.
The Box Set. A DVD box set of Series 1, 2 and 3 became available on 4th October 2004. Price is £17.99 from the following link at Amazon.

Black Books - Series 1

Black Books - Series 2

Black Books - Series 3

Black Books - Box Set

Black Books on TV

For details of when you can next see an episode of Black Books on a UK TV channel, give the DigiGuide TV listings service a try. For more on DigiGuide, see our Digiguide page.

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Black Books - Series Info

Information on the UK TV comedy series from Channel 4, Black Books

The Series

Videos / DVDs

Black Books on TV

Links