Top 10 Black Books Moments

Having someone parade through your house and criticise your cleanliness is bound to be frustrating. But this guy’s on another level. Hired to sterilise Bernard and Manny’s despicably dirty living quarters, The Cleaner, played by the gloriously creepy Kevin Eldon, acts like he’s sent from another planet, hell bent on sanitisation. Extendable brushes and wellies at the ready, he is a true pro - just a bit weird is all.

Speaking to a room of business bigwigs can be intimidating - especially when you haven't got a clue what you’re talking about. Take Fran. She’s just started a new job and has no idea what she’s supposed to be doing. However, she somehow manages to blag her way through a board meeting using nothing but a flip pad and buzzwords. Take note people, this could save your life!

“Black Books” is littered with cameos, but arguably the most memorable of all is Simon Pegg as Evan, the pro-teamwork boss from rival shop, Goliath Books. On the surface, he’s a fun, energetic leader, but underneath he’s a controlling sociopath. From his strict no-smoking policy to chasing Manny with a razor, he’s pretty much the worst - and Pegg delivers the character with an eerie but hilarious grin.

In what would eventually lead to Bernard being shut out of the shop for the night, “Black Books” has a new security door fitted. Overwhelmed by all the numbers he has to remember, struggling to comprehend how soundproof glass works and distracted by a little Subbuteo man, the whole situation has Manny’s head spinning. Fuelled by Bernard’s frustration and Nick Frost’s unfortunate impediment, this entire sketch is brilliant.

Nobody likes late night knockers at your door - whether they’re selling something or, in this case, they’re preaching from ‘the good book’. However, Bernard invites them in, seizing the opportunity to delay doing his taxes. Baffled by the invitation, the Jehovah’s Witnesses soon find that their host may be more know more about the Bible than themselves, and that he’s got a few interesting life lessons of his own.

Anyone who’s seen Bill Bailey live will know that he is an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist. His musicianship comes into play in this episode where Manny finds that he has a hidden talent for playing songs by ear. Not only is it funny to watch his shock and awe upon discovering his ability, but you can tell that Bailey is clearly having a laugh while filming. You kick that stool, you great, big, hairy man.

Any wine aficionados watching better look away now. After accidentally drinking a very expensive bottle of very rare red - intended to be given to the Pope no less - Bernard and Manny have to make haste and re-create the fine tipple. As you’d expect, they totally butcher it, using ice cream and twigs as ingredients, and it all plays out like a scene from Frankenstein. Pfft, if only it were that simple.

To another awful food and drink experiment, this time in the kitchen, where Bernard plays maestro. God help us. Committed to making their archaic bookshop fancier, Bernard and Manny decide to offer a restaurant service, putting their hob and whisk skills to the test. Manny gets burnt, multiple times, food flies everywhere and the food looks, well… At least they remembered the champagne.

Stressing about his job as an accountant, Manny bursts through the doors of the shop in the very first episode to buy a small, therapeutic book. Accidentally swallowing it, he somehow manages to absorb its positivity and proceed to walk around like an optimistic, modern day Jesus. Talk about eating your words. But it’s nothing a punch in the chops won’t fix.

They always say writing a kids book is harder than you think. And you’ll be likely to agree after watching this. Convinced they can pen an entertaining tale for children, Bernard and Manny start to brainstorm. Their creative process has its fair share of ups and downs, with Manny in particular stumbling on a few golden ideas. Until Bernard decides that nope, he’s going to have to do it himself. The Very Hungry Caterpillar reads like War & Peace in comparison.