For other uses, see Black book

British sitcom

Black Books is a British sitcom created by Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan, and written by Moran, Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley, Linehan and Arthur Mathews. It was broadcast on Channel 4, running for three series from 2000 to 2004. Starring Moran, Bill Bailey and Tamsin Greig, the series is set in the eponymous London bookshop and follows the lives of its owner Bernard Black (Moran), his assistant Manny Bianco (Bailey) and their friend Fran Katzenjammer (Greig). The series was produced by Big Talk Productions,[1] in association with Channel 4.

The show was produced in a multiple-camera setup, and was primarily filmed at Teddington Studios in Teddington, London, with exterior scenes filmed on location on Leigh Street and the surrounding areas in Bloomsbury.[2][3] The first episode was broadcast on 29 September 2000 and a total of three series were made, the final episode airing on 15 April 2004.[4]

Black Books was a critical success, winning a number of awards, including two BAFTAs for Best Situation Comedy in 2001 and 2005 and a Bronze Rose at the Festival Rose d'Or.

Synopsis [ edit ]

Bernard Black is the owner of Black Books, a small bookshop. The series revolves around the lives of Bernard, Manny and Fran. A central theme is Bernard's persona of a grouchy and misanthropic shopkeeper who has a hatred of the outside world and all the people who inhabit it, except for his best friend, Fran, who initially ran a trendy bric-a-brac shop, Nifty Gifty, next-door to the shop.

Bernard displays little interest or knowledge in retail (or, indeed, anything outside drinking, smoking and reading) and actively avoids having to interact with anyone, even inside his shop, as he has a seething dislike towards his customers who treat his bookshop more like a personal library. It is suggested that Fran and Bernard once slept together, but now they remain content to be friends, sharing a love of smoking heavily and drinking to excess. Fran otherwise is a hopeless romantic.

Manny is introduced in the first episode as an angst-ridden accountant who enters the bookshop seeking The Little Book of Calm. During a drunken night out, Bernard offers him a job as a shop assistant and a room above the shop if he will do Bernard's accounts for him. Sobering up, Bernard realises Manny's optimistic nature is not suited to this "kind of operation". Fran, however, seeing that Manny is good for Bernard, forces Bernard to let him stay.

Many episodes are driven by Manny and Fran's attempts to force Bernard into a more socially acceptable lifestyle. Their efforts usually result in chaos, sucking them back into Bernard's cynical view of the world. The bookshop, which also doubles as Manny and Bernard's residence, is frequently depicted as being in an unlivable state of dirtiness and often inhabited by animals and other unidentified creatures, while disorder is a frequent aspect of the running of the shop. Manny's attempts to improve both the shop and the residence often fail.

Cast [ edit ]

The series revolves around the three main characters of Bernard Ludwig Black (Dylan Moran), Manny Bianco (Bill Bailey) and Fran Katzenjammer (Tamsin Greig), who all appeared in every episode. Supporting characters appear briefly in single episodes, while the show also featured several guest stars, such as actors Simon Pegg, Martin Freeman, and writer Graham Linehan.

Production [ edit ]

Collinge & Clark bookshop, used for exterior shots in the series

A pilot for the show was featured in the 1998 Channel 4 sitcom festival in Riverside Studios.[5] This early version was decidedly darker, revolving around Bernard's, and later Manny's, decision to commit suicide. It featured Manny (surname Zimmerman in reference to Bob Dylan) and the Fran character as Valerie, a philosophy lecturer.

The pilot was an original creation of Moran's and the series was his first creation as a writer for a television series. Linehan, co-writer of the earlier Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted, joined at the outset to co-write the series with Moran at the suggestion of producer William Burdett-Coutts after Linehan saw the pilot and had seen Moran performing in Dublin. The characters were Moran's original creation, created over a month-long process he calls "spitballing", which is talking spontaneously to each other in character.[5]

The concept of Bernard owning a bookshop came about because of Moran's view of bookshops as doomed enterprises. Moran said "Running a second-hand bookshop is a guaranteed commercial failure. It's a whole philosophy. There were bookshops that I frequented and I was always struck by the loneliness and doggedness of these men who piloted this death ship", while Linehan said his belligerent personality reflected a sign he once saw in a bookshop stating "Please put the books anywhere you like because we've got nothing better to do than put them back". Moran said of the series, "We just wanted to cram as much elaborate stupidity into a half-hour that could make it be coherent and that you would believe".[5]

The fictional address for the bookshop is Black Books, 13 Little Bevan Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1.[6] Manny also states the shop is located "just off Russell Square".[7] The exterior scenes of the bookshop were filmed outside a real bookshop, albeit a smaller one, called Collinge & Clark, located at 13 Leigh Street, Bloomsbury.

The audio commentary for Shaun of the Dead states that Black Books is considered by the producers to be a sister show of the 1999 Channel 4 sitcom Spaced, also produced by Nira Park. The show features several actors from Spaced, while in one episode Manny is heard speaking to Twist Morgan, a character from Spaced.[7] Simon Pegg guest-starred as Bill Bailey's boss in another episode, an inversion of their roles in Spaced; Nick Frost appeared at the beginning of the episode "The Big Lockout" to install a new security system for the shop, though lost Manny's attention when he spotted a Subbuteo player in his hair; Kevin Cecil, one of the Black Books writers, appeared in Spaced playing the character of Harris; Jessica Stevenson made an appearance as a friend of Fran's, who was trying to help her live a healthier lifestyle with attempts to change her diet and get her to exercise more; Peter Serafinowicz played a radio broadcaster whose dulcet tones reading the shipping forecast drove Fran wild with desire; Omid Djalili appeared in "He's Leaving Home" as an opportunistic photographer; Rob Brydon appeared in Season 2's episode "The Fixer". Both Lucy Davis (The Office, Shaun of the Dead) and Olivia Colman (Peep Show, Hot Fuzz) appeared in Season 3's episode "Elephants and Hens".

Episodes [ edit ]

Original unaired pilot [ edit ]

Title Original air date "Pilot Episode" Unaired The show's pilot was decidedly darker, revolving around Bernard's, and later Manny's, decision to commit suicide. It featured Manny (surname Zimmerman in reference to Bob Dylan) as a professional depression-o-gram, and the Fran character as Valerie, a philosophy lecturer. To date it remains unreleased in mainstream media.

Series 1 (2000) [ edit ]

Series 2 (2002) [ edit ]

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date 7 "The Entertainer" Martin Dennis Dylan Moran 1 March 2002 ( ) Fran decides to learn the piano and enlists the services of an elderly blind Russian tutor. His harsh methods and her inability to master the instrument quickly lead her to quit. Manny discovers he can play the piano purely on instinct, and against all odds Bernard gets a date with an attractive woman. As a result, Fran and Bernard bribe Manny to hide inside the piano, armed with only spoons, in an attempt to make themselves look good. Guest star: Nina Conti as Bernard's date. 8 "Fever" Martin Dennis Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley 8 March 2002 ( ) A heat wave sweeps London, causing Bernard to seek a "summer girlfriend", Fran to suffer from insomnia, and Manny to panic about his 'Dave's Syndrome', a condition that supposedly triggers at 88°F (31°C). Bernard tries to get Manny as hot as possible. Fran discovers the walls of her flat are literally closing in as her unscrupulous landlord creates another flat from the stolen space. Bernard pretends to be her lawyer in an attempt to rectify the situation but quickly falls for the new lodger, Alice. At the end of this episode, Bernard asks Fran when they will admit they are deeply attracted to each other. Fran will not 'Until at least one of us is dead'. The scene returns to Manny's condition having been triggered with disastrous consequences. Guest starring Johnny Vegas as Fran's landlord and Rose Keegan as Alice. 9 "The Fixer" Martin Dennis Dylan Moran & Arthur Mathews 15 March 2002 ( ) While Fran is in desperate need of a job, Manny gets a call from old friend Gus, a diminutive underworld figure. Gus agrees to get Fran a job working for a man named Nugent in exchange for the bookstore hosting a reading of his nephew Danny's new book. Danny is illiterate, and his ghostwritten autobiography describes the pain he has inflicted on many others in great detail. He threatens Bernard and Manny to force them to teach him to read within two days. Guest stars: Ricky Grover as Danny, Rob Brydon as B. Nugent, and Big Mick as Gus. 10 "Blood" Martin Dennis Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley & Dylan Moran 22 March 2002 ( ) Fran delves into genealogy to uncover her Eastern European roots, but upon meeting her newly discovered family, she soon wants to get rid of them. Meanwhile, Manny and Bernard try to re-invent the shop, firstly as a trendy upmarket café-bookshop, and then as an upscale restaurant. However, the shop is overrun by a horde of unseen creatures that Manny and Bernard must make an effort to destroy. Guest starring Mark Donovan as Cousin Gregor and Vincenzo Nicoli as Frederick. 11 "Hello Sun" Martin Dennis Dylan Moran 29 March 2002 ( ) Fran takes up Yoga with Eva (Jessica Hynes) and piously lectures everyone about how much better she feels. Meanwhile, Bernard discovers a copy of the complete works of Sigmund Freud and begins tormenting Manny by diagnosing his various neuroses. This leads to Manny gaining the confidence to finally stand up to him. 12 "A Nice Change" Martin Dennis Dylan Moran 5 April 2002 ( ) When around-the-clock building commences next door, Bernard, Manny and Fran decide to go on holiday. Manny wants adventure, Fran wants relaxation, and Bernard just wants somewhere exactly like the bookshop.

Series 3 (2004) [ edit ]

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date 13 "Manny Come Home" David McCarthy Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley & Dylan Moran 11 March 2004 ( ) Fran returns from a holiday in Cornwall to find Bernard living amongst mouldy books and dead badgers and Manny working next door at the glossy Goliath Books. Manny is out of place amongst creepy micromanager Evan and his staff, but resists Fran's self-serving attempts to drag him back to Bernard so that she has somewhere to hang out. Bernard's physical condition deteriorates rapidly without Manny's care. Guest star: Simon Pegg as Evan. 14 "Elephants and Hens" Martin Dennis Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley 18 March 2004 ( ) Fran leaves for the weekend to go to her friend Becky's hen party while Bernard and Manny, inspired by their latest children's-book event, decide to write and illustrate a book for children. Bernard's first effort comes to over 1,a92425 pages, covers Joseph Stalin, a lens grinder, a broken marriage, and a truth-seeking journalist. Meanwhile, Fran's hen party is a disaster. Guest stars: Lucy Davis as Becky, Olivia Colman as Tanya, Charlie Hicks as Timmy, and Oliver Golding as Young Customer. 15 "Moo-Ma and Moo-Pa" Martin Dennis Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley 25 March 2004 ( ) Manny's irritating parents unexpectedly come to stay after Bernard deletes Manny's answerphone messages. Bernard is infuriated by their quirks and songs, and it is revealed that Manny's letters home have greatly embellished his actual accomplishments in life. Guest stars: Annette Crosbie as Moo-Ma, Sam Kelly as Moo-Pa, and Nick Frost as an answerphone voice. 16 "A Little Flutter" Martin Dennis Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley 1 April 2004 ( ) After a small win on the Grand National, Bernard becomes addicted to gambling, leaving Fran and Manny in a bitter competition to sell as many books as possible. Soon horses are not enough and Bernard joins an illegal poker game against a group of ruthless, successful gamblers, including Dave 'Mouse Ear' Smith. Being hopeless at cards, Bernard (now nicknamed The Gold Mine) loses everything, and Fran and Manny need to hatch a plan to obtain the money before Bernard's debtors seek payment. Guest stars: Keith Allen as 'Mouse Ears' Smith and Craig Parkinson as Martin the Tout. 17 "Travel Writer" Martin Dennis Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley & Dylan Moran 8 April 2004 ( ) Manny organises a book launch party at the shop with charismatic but smug travel writer Jason, and everyone starts falling for him and his stories of far-away adventure. Meanwhile, Bernard's landlord has died and a small cat now owns the building. Driven to destroy the cat's burgeoning real-estate empire, he attempts to persuade an animal-loving pest exterminator to kill it. His attempts fail and cause the exterminator to commit suicide. When Bernard tries to finish the job, Manny is injured. Guest starring Julian Rhind-Tutt as Jason and Catherine Shepherd as Bridget. 18 "Party" Martin Dennis Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley & Dylan Moran 15 April 2004 ( ) On a slow night, Manny suggests that the gang go to a party which will be attended by Rowena, a girl he likes. Instantly jealous, Bernard overcomes his natural reluctance with curiosity to see what kind of woman could find Manny attractive. Manny arms himself with an array of items to strategically leave about the house to give him an excuse to call her. Bernard discovers that his ex-fiancee faked her own death to escape from their relationship.

Awards and reception [ edit ]

Black Books won the BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy in 2001 and 2005, and won a Bronze Rose at the Festival Rose d'Or of Montreux in 2001. It also received nominations for British Comedy Awards and the Irish Film and Television Awards.

According to Allan Brown, writing for The Times in August 2005, the show was "killed off after three hugely popular series".[8]

In Channel 4's "The World's Greatest Comedy Characters" poll, Bernard was voted 19th.[9] The show ranked 58th out of 100 in the BBC's Britain's Best Sitcom poll in 2004.

Legacy [ edit ]

When asked by Digital Spy in 2015 about the show possibly returning, Moran replied saying "No, no, no, no! No! Does that answer the question, no!" and stated that he'd rather focus on new projects. He also said that he'd never do another studio sitcom again.[10]

Notes [ edit ]