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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Episode menu

Series 3, Episode 2 - Elephants And Hens

Fran is invited on a hen weekend leaving Bernard and Manny to write a best-selling children's book.

Further details

Fran heads off on a hen weekend with some old school pals, armed with plenty of alcohol and tapes of Bananarama.

Meanwhile, after hosting International Children's Book Week, Bernard and Manny are convinced they can write a children's book to challenge all others. £50 each-way is at stake as the duo bet Fran they can write a book before she returns and that her hen party will inevitably be a total shambles. Not least because someone forgot to arrange the strippers.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 18th March 2004
Time
10pm
Channel
Channel 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Wednesday 12th May 2010 9:40pm Dave
Sunday 16th May 2010 11:45pm More4
Monday 20th September 2010 12:05am More4
Saturday 15th January 2011 9:35pm Dave
Tuesday 5th April 2011 10:40pm Gold
Sunday 25th September 2011 11:50pm More4
Tuesday 25th October 2011 2:00am Gold
Wednesday 26th October 2011 12:45am Gold
Monday 5th December 2011 1:20am Gold
Friday 22nd August 2014 9:00pm London Live
Tuesday 16th December 2014 11:30pm London Live
Friday 19th December 2014 9:30pm London Live
Monday 22nd December 2014 12:30am London Live
Tuesday 20th January 2015 12:30am London Live
Saturday 21st February 2015 1:30am London Live
Friday 27th February 2015 12:30am London Live
Thursday 10th September 2015 1:15am London Live
Friday 11th September 2015 9:30pm London Live
Monday 14th September 2015 1:30am London Live
Tuesday 10th November 2015 9:30pm London Live
Wednesday 11th November 2015 2:00am London Live
Thursday 12th November 2015 12:45am London Live
Thursday 18th August 2016 9:30pm London Live
Sunday 21st August 2016 2:00am London Live
Sunday 25th December 2016 12:20am London Live
Wednesday 18th January 2017 1:15am London Live
Saturday 21st January 2017 2:30am London Live
Thursday 16th February 2017 4:30am London Live
Sunday 19th February 2017 2:45am London Live
Thursday 23rd February 2017 3:30am London Live
Thursday 2nd March 2017 2:00am London Live
Sunday 4th June 2017 12:05am Gold
Sunday 6th August 2017 12:55am Gold
Monday 5th March 2018 1:30am Gold
Saturday 21st September 2019 12:55am Gold
Saturday 21st September 2019 3:00am Gold
Sunday 26th January 2020 1:25am Gold
Sunday 2nd February 2020 1:15am Gold
Sunday 8th March 2020 12:55am Gold
Saturday 10th December 2022 1:20am C4

Cast & crew

Cast
Dylan Moran Bernard Black
Bill Bailey Manny Bianco
Tamsin Greig Fran Katzenjammer
Guest cast
Lucy Davis Becky
Olivia Colman Tanya
Pandora Colin Actor
Tony Bignell Actor
Oliver Golding Actor
Camilla Heaney Actor
Charlie Hicks Actor
Writing team
Dylan Moran Writer
Kevin Cecil Writer
Andy Riley Writer
Production team
Martin Dennis Director
Nira Park Producer
William Burdett-Coutts Executive Producer
Karen Beever Line Producer
Paul Machliss Editor
Dennis De Groot Production Designer
Jane Davies Casting Director
John Connor Casting Director
Annie Hardinge Costume Designer
Andy Hollis Director of Photography
Philip Lester (as Phil Lester) Costume Designer
Fiona Coutts Costume Designer
Lucy Cain Make-up Designer
Kate Roberts Make-up Designer
Martin Hawkins Lighting Designer
Jonathan Whitehead Composer
Lesley Noble (as Leslie Noble) Make-up Designer
Susie Liggat 1st Assistant Director
Edward Evennett 1st Assistant Director

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