Black Books (Channel 4 Sitcom, Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey)

In sitcom Black Books Bernard Black (Dylan Moran) runs his own bookshop even though he doesn’t much like people who buy books and hates having customers.

Next door to Bernard shop is the Nifty Gifty gift shop run by Fran (Tamsin Grieg), probably Bernard’s only friend in the world. Also working in the bookshop was Bernard’s assistant Manny (Bill Bailey).

The success of the series owed much to the chemistry between the three main characters and Dylan Moran was quick to point out at the time that the comedy is very much a three-hander between himself and his co-stars. “I never knew Tamsin before, but it was clear from the first that she was in charge of the part. I knew Bill from the comedy circuit, but had never actually worked with him. Like every other comedy performer in the country, I knew how good he was.”

Cast: DYLAN MORAN as Bernard Black; BILL BAILEY as Manny Blanco; TAMSIN GRIEG as Fran

Writers: Graham Linehan, Dylan Moran / Producers: Julian Meers, Nira Park / Executive Producers: William Burdett-Coutts / Directors: Graham Linehan, Nick Wood

UK / Channel 4-Assembly Film and TV /18×30 minute episodes / Broadcast 29 September 2000 – 15 April 2004