Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20158 in DVD
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over

Amazon.co.uk Review
How can the concept of a drunk owning a bookshop be surreally funny? Well, Black Books may be owned by Bernard Black on screen, but off screen it belongs to writer/director Graham Linehan of Father Ted fame, that’s how. His writing partnership with Dylan Moran (Black) produced the strangest situation comedy of 2001, fully deserving its BAFTA.

The almost blissfully vague plotline begins when stressed out office worker Manny Bianco (Bill Bailey) accidentally swallows The Little Book of Calm. Somehow his beard and Bernard's booze get on well enough for them to work together in the shop. They're ably assisted/distracted/confused by the hormonal interruptions of neighbouring storeowner Fran (Tamsin Greig). And that’s about it. But across six episodes this first year crammed in an enormous amount of insanity and sight gags.

Definite highlights include Fran's over-the-radio seduction by Shipping News broadcaster Howell Granger, a good cop/bad cop Sweeney spoof and a cameo by Nick Frost (Mike in Spaced) as a more than slightly OTT Security System Installer. The standout episode is "The Grapes of Wrath" when Bernard and Manny agree to baby-sit a valuable wine cellar. No prizes for guessing what happens! Kevin Eldon guest stars as The Cleaner, declaring the shop to be "DIRTY". Manny already knew that. When he made the appointment he had to confess, "Right now I'm eating scrambled egg with a comb out of a shoe." --Paul Tonks

Customer Reviews

Have you ever eaten scrambled egg with a comb out of a shoe?
I've just watched the re-run of series one on Friday nights, and it was a delight the second time around. Now I will buy it to own for all time!

This is my favourite situation comedy for years - and what situations! Manny (Bill Bailey) swallowing the "Little Book of Calm" and becoming serene as his body absorbs it; getting caught in the clutches of a beard fetish photographer. Bernard (Dylan Moran) trying to order books from a wholesaler, cutting the telephone receiver cable with a pair of scizzors to end an unwanted conversation about his tax returns. Fran (Tasmin Grieg) getting rather excited by the voice of the Radio 4 shipping forecaster.

This comedy is delightfully surreal, much like Dylan Moran's stand-up. Bill Bailey takes a little longer to get into the rhythm of acting, which is new to him; but it doesn't destact from the humour or the enjoyment.

Personally, I can't wait for the second series to start. 1st March, I think. Channel 4 I'm sure!

I enjoyed it more than "Spaced" (which is excellent) and as much as "The League of Gentlemen."

If you like your comedy a bit off the wall, this is definately the one for you!

An extremely funny show made by extremely funny people !
I first saw Black Books properly for thhe first time when the recent second series began and found it to be a highly inventive and original take on the sitcom format, the three leads; Dylan Moran, Tamsin Greig and Bill Bailey work exceptionally well together and the funny lines just keep on coming.
Anyone who has seen this first series on T.V. will know that no other actor can play a drunk like Dylan Moran's 'Bernard Black'
This dvd has some funny out-takes, but it's the cast audio commentary that is absolutely fantastic ! Moran, Greig and Bailey are so self-deprecating about their performances and are constantly ribbing each other. Moran keeps commenting on how badly written the script is and seems to act exactly like Bernard Black would if he was asked to do an audio commentary ! Tamsin Greig makes fun of Bill Bailey's hair and says that Dylan Moran looks like he was on drugs during the series.
This could very well be the best comedy dvd on the market, i just could'nt recommend it more highly. Buy Now !

A very happy family from Oxfordshire
Black Books series 1 has my husband and I and our four children laughing almost continuously throughout the whole six episodes. Bernard as the drunk, dischevelled, chain-smoking, customer-hating book shop owner, Manny as his down trodden and kind hearted assistant and Fran (brilliantly played by Debbie from the Archers) as the slightly mad shop owner next door, all make a fantastic team with each episode being as bizarre and funny as the other. We cannot wait for the 2nd series to be available on DVD - hurry up Channel 4!