Black Books

Name: Black Books
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2000-09-29
Cast: Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, Tamsin Greig

2000 –2004
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Ended
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TV-PG

Comedy

★ 8.1 TMDB Rating · 646 votes

Black Books centres around the foul tempered and wildly eccentric bookshop owner Bernard Black. Bernard’s devotion to the twin pleasures of drunkenness and wilful antagonism deepens and enriches both his life and that of Manny, his assistant. Bearded, sweet and good, Manny is everything that Bernard isn’t and is punished by Bernard relentlessly just for the crime of existing. They depend on each other for meaning as Fran, their oldest friend, depends on them for distraction. Black Books is a haven of books, wine and conversation, the only threat to the group’s peace and prosperity is their own limitless stupidity.

Created by: Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 18
Episode length: ~25m
First aired: Sep 29, 2000
Networks: Channel 4
Original language: English
Origin: United Kingdom

Cast of Black Books

Dylan Moran
Bernard
Bill Bailey
Manny
Tamsin Greig
Fran

Where to Stream Black Books by Country

United States: Streaming on fuboTV, Plex, Amazon Prime Video Free
United Kingdom: Streaming on Sky Go, Channel 4
India: No streaming offers listed right now
Canada: Streaming on Tubi, Pluto TV
Australia: Streaming on Prime Video

Availability data from JustWatch. Catalogues change often, so check the service before you press play.

Seasons

Specials

Apr 30, 2000

13 episodes
Season 1

Sep 29, 2000

6 episodes

Meet Bernard Black, a foul tempered and eccentric bookshop owner who loves his books but hates his customers. Manny is Bernard's long-suffering assistant and Fran is the owner of the gift shop next door to Black Books. Black Books explores Manny and Fran's efforts to ensure Bernard has some contact with the outside world and charts the comical consequences of their efforts.
Season 2

Mar 1, 2002

6 episodes

In season two, Bernard is convinced the Manny is mad; Manny worries about the reliability of his magic hot water bottle and uses his underworld connections to help find Fran a job. Fran struggles to find her inner karma in-between trying to find her cigarettes and making excuses to have another drink. Under the constant threat from the nasty, unfeeling outside world, Bernard, Manny and Fran attempt to maintain the heaven of the bookshop even as their own relentless stupidity pushes them towards mayhem.
Season 3

Mar 11, 2004

6 episodes

Bernard Black is back for a third season of his multi-award winning and critically acclaimed comedy. Black Books continues to explore the musing and time-wasting techniques of raddled proprietor Bernard Black, his shy, multi-challenged assistant Manny Bianco and their underachieving friend Fran Katzenjammer.