Details

Channel 4's BAFTA winning sitcom Black Books is back, with the DVD release of Series 3. The hilarious show, set in the bookshop of the same name, stars comedy creator and writer Dylan Moran, alongside Bill Bailey and Tamsin Greig.

Black Books: Series 3 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 forms a family of sorts to protect each other from the realities of modern London, but nothing can protect them from each other. Black Books: Series 3 is out to buy from Channel 4 Video on 4th October 2004 on DVD.

Series 3 features a number of cameo appearances from popular comedy actors including Keith Allen (Bodies, Martin Chuzzlewit, Born To Run, Shallow Grave), Annette Crosbie (One Foot In The Grave), Olivia Colman (Peep Show, Green Wing), Lucy Davis (The Office, Shaun of the Dead), Sam Kelly ('Allo 'Allo, Martin Chuzzlewit, All or Nothing), Simon Pegg (Spaced, Shaun of the Dead) and Julian Rhind-Tutt (Green Wing, Hippies, Notting Hill, Clocking Off).

Black Books was created by Dylan Moran and first began life at the 1998 Channel 4 Sitcom Festival at the Riverside Studios. It has since won several awards - a Bronze Rose at Montreux and a BAFTA (Best Sitcom) in 2001. The third series, directed by Martin Dennis and produced by Nira Park, is written by Dylan Moran with Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley.

The DVD includes a fantastic line-up of extras, including 22 minutes of deleted scenes, hilarious outtakes and trailers from the series. In addition is 'Bernard's Letter', a stylishly shot scene filmed in black and white, featuring a ranting Bernard as he replies to a publisher's rejection letter!

Synopsis

  • Manny Come Home - Written by Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley and Dylan Moran: Fran comes back from holiday to discover that Manny has resigned and is now working next door at Goliath Books. Bernard has let things slip a little and 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. Guest starring Simon Pegg
  • Elephants And Hens - Written by Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley: It's International Children's Book week in Black Books and 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? Guest starring Lucy Davis and Olivia Colman
  • Moo-Ma And Moo-Pa - Written by Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley: Manny's parents, a perfectly nice middle-aged couple with one or two slightly annoying habits, come to stay. Bernard wants rid of them and Fran is rather grumpy about pretending to be Manny's girlfriend. Featuring guest appearances from Annette Crosbie and Sam Kelly
  • A Little Flutter - Written by Dylan Moran, Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley: 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 replenish his dwindling funds. Featuring guest appearance from Keith Allen
  • The Travel Writer - Written by Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley and Dylan Moran: Manny is extremely proud of the festival of travel writing that he has organised and 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. Guest starring Julian Rhind-Tutt
  • Party - Written by Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley and Dylan Moran: It's Friday night and 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?