Black Books

Name: Black Books
Released: 2000-09-29
Rating: 8.056

⭐ 8.1

2000 • 3 Seasons

Comedy

Black Books centres around the foul tempered and wildly eccentric bookshop owner Bernard Black. Bernard’s devotion to the twin pleasures of drunkenness and wilful antagonism deepens and enriches both his life and that of Manny, his assistant. Bearded, sweet and good, Manny is everything that Bernard isn’t and is punished by Bernard relentlessly just for the crime of existing. They depend on each other for meaning as Fran, their oldest friend, depends on them for distraction. Black Books is a haven of books, wine and conversation, the only threat to the group’s peace and prosperity is their own limitless stupidity.

| Where to Watch

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Currently you are able to watch Black Books streaming on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max

Black Books Streaming: How to Watch Anywhere

Currently, Black Books is available in Canada and New Zealand.

If Black Books is not available in your country or you're traveling, use NordVPN to access it anywhere.

Country	Services	Access with NordVPN
🇺🇸 United States	Not Available
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	Not Available
🇦🇺 Australia	Not Available
🇨🇦 Canada	Netflix, Netflix with Ads, Disney+, Max
🇳🇿 New Zealand	Netflix, Netflix with Ads, Prime Video, Disney+, Max

Streaming availability last updated: 07:48:16 PM, 02/02/2026 PST

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Cast

Dylan Moran

Bernard

Bill Bailey

Manny

Tamsin Greig

Fran

Seasons

Specials

13 Episodes

2000

Season 1

6 Episodes

Meet Bernard Black, a foul tempered and eccentric bookshop owner who loves his books but hates his customers. Manny is Bernard's long-suffering assistant and Fran is the owner of the gift shop next door to Black Books. Black Books explores Manny and Fran's efforts to ensure Bernard has some contact with the outside world and charts the comical consequences of their efforts.

2000

Season 2

6 Episodes

In season two, Bernard is convinced the Manny is mad; Manny worries about the reliability of his magic hot water bottle and uses his underworld connections to help find Fran a job. Fran struggles to find her inner karma in-between trying to find her cigarettes and making excuses to have another drink. Under the constant threat from the nasty, unfeeling outside world, Bernard, Manny and Fran attempt to maintain the heaven of the bookshop even as their own relentless stupidity pushes them towards mayhem.

2002

Season 3

6 Episodes

Bernard Black is back for a third season of his multi-award winning and critically acclaimed comedy. Black Books continues to explore the musing and time-wasting techniques of raddled proprietor Bernard Black, his shy, multi-challenged assistant Manny Bianco and their underachieving friend Fran Katzenjammer.

2004