Black Books Series 3

The foul tempered and wildly eccentric bookshop owner Bernard Black (Dylan Moran) is back for a third season. Black Books concerns the musings, doings and time-frittering techniques of raddled proprietor Bernard Black (Dylan Moran), his shy, multi-challenged assistant, Manny Bianco (Bill Bailey) and their under achieving friend, Fran Katzenjammer (Tamsin Greig). This dubious trio form a family of sorts to protect each other from the realities of modern London, but nothing can protect them from each other.

Episode 1 - Fran comes back from holiday to discover that Manny has resigned and is now working next door at Goliath Books. Left to his own devices, Bernard has let things slip a little. He is living amid a pile of rubbish, rotting food and dead badgers. Fran wants to get Manny back in Black Books so he can clear up and make her tea, but Evan, the manager of Goliath, has plans for Manny and has no intention of letting him go. Spaced star and zombie-nemesis, Simon Pegg, makes a guest appearance.

Episode 2 - It's International Children's Book week in Black Books. Bernard and Manny decide that they can do better than the trash that children are offered these days. They are going to write their own kid's classic and retire Rowling-rich. Fran is off on a hen weekend with her best friends from school so there's no way she's going to fall out with them. Is there? Watch out for two familiar ladies' faces as Lucy Davis ("The Office") and Olivia Colman ("Peep Show") each make a cameo.

Episode 3 - Manny's parents come to stay. They are a perfectly nice middle-aged couple with one or two slightly annoying habits. Bernard wants rid of them, preferably the day before yesterday. Fran is rather grumpy about pretending to be Manny's girlfriend to corroborate Manny's letters home, in which his life's achievements have been somewhat exaggerated. Sitcom veterans Annette Crosbie (One Foot In The Grave) and Sam Kelly ('Allo 'Allo!) guest star.

Episode 4 - Manny has put a bet on the Grand National for Bernard. Bernard claims not to be interested in gambling and then immediately becomes completely addicted to it. Fran, looking for work, needs a short-term job to appear employable. Bernard hires her and sets her off against Manny to compete for sales person of the century to replenish his dwindling funds. All the while Bernard is losing more and more money and the people he is borrowing his gambling funds from are becoming scarier and scarier. Another familiar face, Brit actor Keith Allen, makes a guest appearance.

Episode 5 - Manny is extremely proud of the festival of travel writing that he has organised. He has invited the famously charming explorer Jason Hamilton to give a talk. Fran soon falls for his twinkling eyes and lavish hair. Manny is ragingly jealous. Bernard is more concerned about the rent charges he has to pay to his new neighbour. Rather than face a lengthy court case, he hires a professional assassin to dispose of this vermin. Jason Hamilton is played by "Madness Of King George" star Julian Rhind-Tutt.

Episode 6 - It's Friday night. Manny and Fran are determined to go out and do something for once. Bernard would rather stay at home, get drunk and ignore his friends. Manny insists that they go to a particular party. But why? And anyway, who is the best dancer? Watch out for Mel Gibson. He's not in the programme, but you can never be sure he isn't going to suddenly appear in your living room.

Bernard is inspired by a real bookshop owner in Dublin whom 'Dylan Moran' described as "he looks like he's swallowed a cup of sour milk and peed himself at the same time. He has this green bilious expression, years of displeasure have shaped his face".

Black Books concerns the musings, doings and time-frittering techniques of raddled proprietor Bernard Black (Dylan Moran), his shy, multi-challenged assistant, Manny Bianco (Bill Bailey) and their under achieving friend, Fran Katzenjammer (Tamsin Greig). This dubious trio form a family of sorts to protect each other from the realities of modern London, but nothing can protect them from each other.

BAFTA® Awards
2005 - Situation Comedy Award - Nira Park, Martin Dennis, and Dylan Moran
2001 - Situation Comedy Award - Nira Park, Graham Linehan, and Dylan Moran