Black Books - The Complete Series 1 cover art

Black Books - The Complete Series 1 Reviews

2000

Rated:
80
from 12,871 members

Series one of BLACK BOOKS follows the adventures of bookshop owner Bernard (Dylan Moran), his assistant Manny (Bill Bailey) and Fran (Tamsin Greig), who works in a new age shop next door. In this entertaining surreal comedy, Dylan Moran and Bill Bailey make a great double act, delivering the tightly written script (by Moran and .. Read more

Starring	Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, Tamsin Greig
Genres	Comedy

Sign up Black Books - The Complete Series 1 DVD

Buy From: £13.93

Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Black Books - The Complete Series 1
View all
20 out of 25 people found this review helpful

BWILLIANT

Dylan Moran. Nuff said.
- - Johnathon Woss from Chilly Jockoland
  - Posted 19 Jul 2005 13:10
17 out of 17 people found this review helpful

Fantastic British comedy

With a writing partnership of Graham Linehan (of Father Ted fame) and Dylan Moran (also main character) this just has to be brilliant, and it is.

Bill Bailey is a funny in this as he is in just about anything he does and Tamsin Greig is excellent as the smoking, wine-drinking shop owner next door.

Lookout for classic scenes such as Bernard trying to get beaten up by skin-heads in episode one, the pub-scene and Bernard's hilarious slowly-waking-up-from-drunken-st upor in episode two.

If you like British comedy and especially if you like Father Ted, you must watch this.
- - B Webber from Suffolk, England
  - Posted 10 Mar 2004 16:14
15 out of 21 people found this review helpful

Mistakenly thought this was a film

Turned off after 15 mins as hadnt laughed once, and hated the canned laughter.

I didnt like Father Ted series, although I could see how fans of that may like this too.
- - Daniel G from Friern Barnet
  - Posted 05 Mar 2005 23:47
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Black Books - The Complete Series 1
View all
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Pleasantly surprised

I would just like to start off by countering the “bitter folk” who obviously don't get out much and simply cannot stimulate enough of their tiny brain cells, to contemplate the genius of this comedy series. I would suggest you keep your comments to yourself and stop degrading this little piece of comedy genius. Comments like “I didn’t laugh once” I find insulting when directed at such a hilarious comedy series. I would be interested to know what comedies the people who disliked this watch, or do they in fact just have a moan at any instance of possible humour.

I am a big Bill bailey fan and knew roughly what to expect from him. I was not disappointed as he basically plays himself, although the big surprise of the show for me was Dylan Moran's character (Bernard Black) whom I was not familiar with before. Playing the drunken, grouchy, bookshop owner, who consumes more wine than one could possibly imagine (comparable with Father Jack’s consumption), Fran from next door being his partner in crime. Manny (bills character) is a failed accountant, come bookshop employee. Watch out for the one liners names Bernard refers to Manny as, some of them are hilarious!

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable series with excellent performances from all the main characters and some interesting guest appearances, whom I will let you, work out for yourself. Well done Channel 4.
- - A customer from Scotland, where people enjoy a laugh
  - Posted 18 Dec 2006 12:39
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Bill Bailey is a very funny man.

Having seen Bill Bailey live, and being an affectionado of his stand-up work, Black Books is an obvious choice. Also, the wine-guzzling antics remind me of my family.

It's no "Friends", it's quite disjointed, but sit down with a glass of wine yourself, and you'll be spilling on your sofa through laughter.

The DVD itself includes some out-takes, but are not particuarly funny.
- - Marc138 from Carmarthenshire
  - Posted 19 Sep 2004 09:53

20 out of 25 people found this review helpful

BWILLIANT

Dylan Moran. Nuff said.
- - Johnathon Woss from Chilly Jockoland
  - Posted 19 Jul 2005 13:10
17 out of 17 people found this review helpful

Fantastic British comedy

With a writing partnership of Graham Linehan (of Father Ted fame) and Dylan Moran (also main character) this just has to be brilliant, and it is.

Bill Bailey is a funny in this as he is in just about anything he does and Tamsin Greig is excellent as the smoking, wine-drinking shop owner next door.

Lookout for classic scenes such as Bernard trying to get beaten up by skin-heads in episode one, the pub-scene and Bernard's hilarious slowly-waking-up-from-drunken-st upor in episode two.

If you like British comedy and especially if you like Father Ted, you must watch this.
- - B Webber from Suffolk, England
  - Posted 10 Mar 2004 16:14
15 out of 21 people found this review helpful

Mistakenly thought this was a film

Turned off after 15 mins as hadnt laughed once, and hated the canned laughter.

I didnt like Father Ted series, although I could see how fans of that may like this too.
- - Daniel G from Friern Barnet
  - Posted 05 Mar 2005 23:47
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful

Simple - if you like dry witty comedy spattered with ridiculous slapstick - this is HILarious and you must watch! (particularly recommended if you like the surreal but constantly funny tone of Spaced or Little Britain)
- - Abigail#10 from HARROGATE
  - Posted 11 Jun 2004 10:28
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Bill Bailey is a very funny man.

Having seen Bill Bailey live, and being an affectionado of his stand-up work, Black Books is an obvious choice. Also, the wine-guzzling antics remind me of my family.

It's no "Friends", it's quite disjointed, but sit down with a glass of wine yourself, and you'll be spilling on your sofa through laughter.

The DVD itself includes some out-takes, but are not particuarly funny.
- - Marc138 from Carmarthenshire
  - Posted 19 Sep 2004 09:53
7 out of 9 people found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

black books

i was put off by my friend from looking at this dvd, i had it that long and sent it back, so i can not write one. moral of this ignore others make up your own mind
- - spirit from Birmingham
  - Posted 01 Jul 2008 10:47
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

Like Spaced, this is the kind of British comedy simply works. Sitting down to watch an episode I found myself getting up a long while later having watched them all, and still wanting more. Dylan Moran's character must be the most anti-social being since !the radio character who had a 'Half Hour'! can't write his name because in includes the name of a male chicken, which isn't allowed in reviews!. I thoroughly recommend it.
- - Ben#58 from HOVE
  - Posted 22 Mar 2004 09:53
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

I missed this series on TV the first time round so I thought I'd see what everyone was raving about and I wasn't disappointed. I haven't laughed so much in a long time. Dylan Moran is a genius writer and hilariously funny as Bernard. I'm going to watch the 2nd series now.
- - Robyn#1 from MARGATE
  - Posted 06 Apr 2004 10:13
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Alright......

Some extremely funny parts interspersed unfortunately amongst some long, insipid parts. Worth a watch but I wouldn't watch it again.
- - A customer from Manchester, England
  - Posted 05 Jul 2004 08:16
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Just hilarious, the always brilliant Dylan Moran is joined by the genius' that are Bill Bailey and Tamsin Greig. In my humble opinion, it's not as funny as the 2nd series but still CLASSIC comedy- I laugh every time I watch..... and that's a lot!
- - A customer from Kent
  - Posted 09 Dec 2004 14:22