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. 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. 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. 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 |
| 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.
"Did your non-returnable outgoings for the first half of the year exceed your deductions for quarterly VAT returns?"
Links
- Black
Books forum - Discuss Black Books with other fans - Bernard would hate it
- Black
Books site -
The official Channel 4 Black Books site
- Cream.org
- A few clips from Black Books Series 1.
- The
Custard - The Black Books Series 1 and 2 Episode Guide
- Dylan
Moran forum - More discussion of Black Books in the Dylan Moran
forum
- Dylan
Moran Rules - It's true. See the Black Books page
- Black
Books Fan Site - Episode listings, character breakdowns and
a selection of quotes
- Black
Books/Dylan Moran
- Another fan site. Sad girls visit a bookshop?
- Black
Books Tribute page - With a great biog on the characters
- The
Little Book of Calm - You too can be as chilled as Manny in
Episode 1
- Black
Books Yahoo Group - Email discussion, plus a great archive of
clips and pics
Join our free mailing list to be kept up-to-date when we have more news. Click here
Pictured above, the shopfront used for the filming of Black Books - The 'Black Books' shop is actually the "Collinge & Clark" Bookshop, at 13 Leigh St, London WC1H 9EW
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