Black Books - Series 1 (DVD)

Originally shown on Channel 4 in 2000, Black Books had me in hysterics from the start. The comedy is dark and unmistakably British, which is what makes it such a fantastic programme. Written by Graham Lineham (creator of Father Ted) with Dylan Moran (who stars in the programme), this is in my opinion one of the greatest comedies (but seriously under-rated) ever made. I think either you'll love it or hate it! As our TV aerial blew off the roof over the weekend we spent a happy Monday evening watching series 1 of Black Books again! Black Books is based in a second-hand bookshop in London called (unsurprisingly!) "Black Books". It is owned ...  Read the complete review

The idea for Black books was originally thought of by Dylan Moran, the actor who plays Bernard Black and was first aired in 2000. Bernard owns the bookshop, and he is a moody chain smoker with an alcohol and attitude problem! His friend Fran owns the gift shop next door, called Nifty Gifty. Manny is an accountant who hates his very stressful job, he initially comes into Bernards shop to buy 'The Little Book Of Calm', however, Bernard decides to wind up Manny by offering him plenty of other books. Bernard is trying to get out of doing his taxes, and tries to get beaten up so he has a valid reason for having not completed them. Manny is being ...  Read the complete review

What do you get when you combine three great British comedy geniuses with the creator of possibly the best television comedy series that's ever existed? You get the quirky and slightly insane comic creation that is Black Books. The show ran for three series on Channel 4 in the early part of this decade, and won BAFTAs in 2001 and 2005 for Best Situation Comedy. Many of you will recognise Graham Linehan's name from the credits of the very popular Father Ted, and the three stars are no less famous: Dylan Moran is a stand-up who is more well-known in his native Ireland and has had small and large parts in other TV shows (and was in Shaun of the Dead); Bill Bailey is a more ...  Read the complete review

Black Books is a British comedy series broadcast on Channel Four and won the BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy in 2000 and 2005that ran for three series' between the years 2000 and 2004. == What is Black Books? == The series Black Books was named so because it was set in the eponymous "Black Books", which is a small, independent bookshop in central London. The series decpitcs the day to day although often surreal antics of is alcholic, chain-smoking and semeingly eccentirc owner Bernard, his well-meaing yet bumbling assistant Manny and life-long friend and fellow drinker Fran. Everything that happens wihtin the series ultimately ...  Read the complete review

Black Books is one of those series that I only caught a couple of times on the television, but having heard such good things about it, when it came up on sale on amazon, I immediately snapped it up. I do like alternative comedy, and although this isn't all that far from mainstream comedy, it has enough of an edge about it to keep me happy. And at just over a fiver, it really was a bargain. Bernard Black owns a bookshop just off Russell Square in London. The only problem is, he doesn't really like people and he makes a dreadful salesman. The owner of the shop next door, Fran, probably his only real friend, despairs of him and is delighted when Bernard finally ...  Read the complete review