Black Books

Running Time: 30 minutes (approx)

Take one misanthropic drunkard, add a gormless long haired assistant, sprinkle with a female singleton's nightmare, and cook under a surreal Irishman, for say thirty minutes. The result? A cake so stuffed with laughs, it could be your final meal.

Black Books is one of those programmes that is so good it deserves to be shown to the dead. Apart from the witty swipes at British society, the clever interplay of characters, and a man who does not want to be a good book salesman, Black Books is not that complex. But it doesn't have to be. The plots are razor thin, but Dadaism is the name of the game, and the collaberation of award winning comedian Dylan Moran (the show's main protagonist Bernard Black) and Graham Lineham (you know,Father Ted) sparkles with fantastic writing, and crucially credulous acting.

Yes, Bernard may hate those who give him money, Manny his assistant may mistake wine destined for papal hands for wine with Londis stickers on them, and Fran may have an amourous repitoire of "Look at those breasts", but it all fits. This is a comedy of breath taking mirth, a panacea for the dead man that is British sitcom, but above all, a show that is not afraid to demonstrate the darkness there is at the bottom of a shoe that was once filled with scrambled egg.

Click to see when Black Books is coming up on TV.

Main Cast

Tamsin GreigFran
Dylan MoranBernard Black
Bill BaileyManny
Daisy CampbellJulie
Ben HomewoodFourth Customer
Camilla HeaneyTimmy's Mother
Charlie HicksTimmy
Colin McFarlaneInspector Norris
David DecioStudent
Image for David WalliamsDavid WalliamsCustomer
Edward BurnhamPiotr Josef's Father
Elizabeth MarmurSarah
Howard CogginsBartender
James O'NeillJehovah's Witness
Jeillo EdwardsMidwife
John ArthurFirst Customer
Johnny VegasLandlord
Julian Rhind-TuttJason Hamilton
Kevin EldonCleaner
Lucy DavisBecky
Mac McDonaldAmerican War Enthusiast
Martin FreemanDoctor
Miltos YerolemouCustomer
Nick FrostSecurity System Man
Nina ContiKate
Olivia ColmanTanya
Pandora ColinClaire
Paul BeechAbbott
Paul HunterRoland
Peter SerafinowiczHowell Granger
Ricky GroverDanny Spudge
Rose KeeganRoom 2B Occupant
Sam KellyMoo-Pa
Sophie StantonPolicewoman
Tony BlutoNick Voleur
Tony WayBoy
Wayne MorrisPeter
Vincenzo NicoliFrederick
Terry BirdNoggsy
Stewart WrightSecond Customer
Simon PeggEvan
Rupert VansittartRich Guy
Rob BrydonB. Nugent
Rhys ThomasStudent
Paul PutnerTramp
Patricia FranklinKeen Customer
Omid DjaliliTrebor
Oliver GoldingYoung Customer
Nigel HarrisonCustomer
Muriel PavlowOld Woman
Michael ParkhouseMr. Blackbelly
Mark DonovanGregor
Mark AikenBen
Luing AndrewsMr. Williams
Liam HessJimbo
Keith AllenDave 'Mouse Ear' Smith
Kay D'ArcyCustomer
Judith JacobCustomer
John MarquezWaiter
Jessica HynesEva

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