British Comedy Guide
Black Books. Image shows from L to R: Bernard Black (Dylan Moran), Manny Bianco (Bill Bailey), Fran Katzenjammer (Tamsin Greig). Copyright: Assembly Film And Television
Black Books

Black Books

  • TV sitcom
  • Channel 4
  • 2000 - 2004
  • 18 episodes (3 series)

Sitcom focusing on a foul tempered bookshop owner, his trusty assistant and the girl next door. Stars Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey and Tamsin Greig.

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Series 1, Episode 1 - Cooking The Books

Bookshop owner Bernard dreads the end of the financial year as his accounts beckon, Fran is an unlikely birth partner and accountant Manny swallows The Little Book of Calm.

Further details

In the opening episode, festering bookshop owner Bernard struggles to make sense of his accounts. When his dodgy accountant does an afternoon flit, a frustrated and clueless Bernard creates all manner of diversions from doing his tax returns.

Meanwhile Fran is distracted from her role as drunken birth partner by the arrival of mysterious spherical-shaped objects she must sell in her gift shop.

And stressed-out accountant Manny becomes submerged in chill-out zone - and unemployed - after he accidentally swallows the Little Book of Calm.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 29th September 2000
Time
9:30pm
Channel
Channel 4
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Dylan Moran Bernard Black
Bill Bailey Manny Bianco
Tamsin Greig Fran Katzenjammer
Guest cast
Martin Freeman Doctor
Rupert Vansittart Rich Guy
Tony Bluto Nick Voleur (Accountant)
Daisy Campbell Julie Williams
Michael Parkhouse Mr. Blackbelly
Stephen Boswell Actor
Dominic Carter Actor
Jeillo Edwards Actor
John Macneill Actor
Eamonn O'Neill Actor
James O'Neill Actor
Muriel Pavlow Actor
Jack Pierce Actor
Writing team
Dylan Moran Writer
Graham Linehan Writer
Production team
Nick Wood Director
Graham Linehan Director
Julian Meers Producer
Nira Park Producer
William Burdett-Coutts Executive Producer
Karen Beever Line Producer
Nick Ames Editor
Dennis De Groot Production Designer
Jane Davies Casting Director
John Connor Casting Director
Annie Hardinge Costume Designer
Claire Wilson Costume Designer
John Rosenberg Director of Photography
Jane Walker Make-up Designer
Jayne Buxton (as Jane Buxton) Make-up Designer
Rob Kitzmann Lighting Designer
Jonathan Whitehead Composer

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