Black Books

1. S01E01Cooking the BooksSeptember 29, 2000 8.9When his dodgy accountant goes on the run, Bernard has to fill in his own tax return, which isn't easy when you're mathematically illiterate
2. S01E02Manny's First DayOctober 6, 2000 8.9Bernard, having offered Manny the job while he was drunk, does his best to get rid of his new charge by offering him a one-day trial. Is thi
3. S01E03Season's bestGrapes of WrathOctober 13, 2000 9.0The discomforting presence in the bookshop of an oddly sensual cleaner forces Bernard and Manny to accept a house-sitting job, where they dr
4. S01E04The BlackoutOctober 20, 2000 8.3Manny gets hyper after a night of drinking too many espressos and watching an entire box-set of The Sweeney, and is mistaken for a policeman
5. S01E05The Big Lock-OutOctober 27, 2000 8.8When a new security system that neither Bernard nor Manny can operate is installed in the shop, Bernard ends up locked out for the evening,
6. S01E06He's Leaving HomeNovember 3, 2000 8.8Manny becomes a runaway when Bernard's relentless bossiness gets too much for him. But life is tough on the street, so when a photographer o

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01The EntertainerMarch 1, 2002 8.7Fran takes up piano. Bernard falls in love. Manny just wants a break. But genius finds no rest as Fran lies to a sweet old blind man and Ber
2. S02E02FeverMarch 8, 2002 8.8Fran can't sleep in the heat. Bernard needs a girlfriend to stop him staring. And Manny is worried about the reliability of his magic hot wa
3. S02E03Season's bestThe FixerMarch 15, 2002 9.0Manny uses his underworld connections to find Fran mysterious employment; so mysterious that she has no idea what she is doing. In return Be
4. S02E04BloodMarch 22, 2002 8.7Unemployed and restless, Fran takes comfort in the discovery of her exotic new-found cousins. And in pursuit of Michelin stars Manny and Ber
5. S02E05Hello SunMarch 29, 2002 8.3Fran tries to discover her inner karma at the advice of her disapproving friend Eva. Meanwhile, Bernard finds positive proof that Manny is m
6. S02E06A Nice ChangeApril 5, 2002 9.0Bernard and Manny can't hear themselves argue because of the builders next door. Fran suggests a holiday. But how will the three of them far

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

1. S03E01Manny Come HomeMarch 11, 2004 8.3Manny defects to a swish new bookshop next door run by a super-efficient manager (Simon Pegg), and when Fran returns from holiday, she finds
2. S03E02Elephants and HensMarch 18, 2004 8.8It's International Children's Book Week. Bernard and Manny reckon they can do better than the trash children are offered these days, so they
3. S03E03Season's bestMoo-Ma and Moo-PaMarch 25, 2004 9.0Manny's parents come to stay. Bernard wants rid of them, preferably the day before yesterday. And Fran is rather grumpy about pretending to
4. S03E04A Little FlutterApril 1, 2004 8.7Manny puts a bet on the Grand National for Bernard, who says he's not interested in gambling but immediately becomes addicted, and has to ex
5. S03E05Travel WriterApril 8, 2004 8.7Manny organises a travel writing festival but has a jealous rage when Fran is captivated by the twinkling eyes and lavish hair of famously c
6. S03E06PartyApril 15, 2004 8.2It's Friday night. Manny and Fran want to go out. Bernard wants to stay in, get drunk and ignore his friends. And if Manny dares to use 'par

Season 3 ranked & reviewed