Black Books

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.

Black Books (2000-2004) is a British Channel 4 sitcom created by Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan. Moran plays Bernard Black, a foul-tempered, wildly eccentric bookshop owner in London who devotes himself to drinking and deliberately antagonising people. Bill Bailey plays Manny, his bearded, sweet-natured assistant, whom Bernard punishes relentlessly simply for existing, and Tamsin Greig plays Fran, their oldest friend, who depends on the pair for distraction. The engine of the show is small: a shop that barely trades, a steady supply of wine, and a stream of customers and schemes that the trio bungles through their own limitless stupidity. Each brisk twenty-five-minute episode is a self-contained comic mess, and the three series form a loose, comfortable run across three seasons of eighteen episodes in total. The tone is deadpan, irreverent and surreal, with an affectionate warmth underneath the cruelty. Fans of Father Ted, Fawlty Towers and The Office will find the same mix of misanthropic bosses and dysfunctional workplace absurdity here.

Audiences widely regard Black Books as a sharply written, acclaimed sitcom whose absurd bickering and central performances make it a cult favourite.

• Father Tedshared sardonic workplace absurdism and misanthropic lead, deadpan sitcom
• The Officeshared cringe-inducing misanthropic boss and dysfunctional small workplace comedy
• Fawlty Towersshared eccentric brilliant-but-abrasive lead with a loyal put-upon sidekick

Created by

Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

Release Date

2000-09-29

Episode runtime

25 min

Rating

8.4 / 10 (651)

What is Black Books about?

A foul-tempered bookshop owner and his long-suffering assistant bicker, drink and bungle their way through life in London.

What is Black Books like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Black Books as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Black Books violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Black Books.

What did critics think of Black Books?

Audiences widely regard Black Books as a sharply written, acclaimed sitcom whose absurd bickering and central performances make it a cult favourite.

Which shows are like Black Books?

Shows with a similar feel include Father Ted, The Office, and Fawlty Towers.

How long is Black Books?

Black Books: 3 seasons, 18 episodes.

Is Black Books still running?

No, Black Books has ended.

Where can I watch Black Books?

In United States, Black Books streams on fuboTV.