Any Black Books fans around? Come talk to me.

[GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal]

Rewatching it on Netflix, and wondering - how would Bernard, Manny and Fran have coped with lockdown and it's fallout?

I imagine Bernard would be happy as Larry in lockdown - no customers! He can just close the shop and get drunk! Manny would be trying very hard to use the time productively cleaning and decluttering and sorting out the shop, but would be hampered by Bernard's incessant demands. Fran would have been going slowly bonkers until single person bubbles were allowed, then she'd be quite happy getting drunk with Bernard.

But Bernard would really struggle once things started to open again. Contactless payment! Face masks! Sanitiser - actually he might quite like that last one...

"Bernard?? BERNARD!! Have you drunk the sanitizer again??!"

I think they would have moved in together for the duration.
Bernard would have started off loving it but realised after a few days he loves shouting at customers. Manny would have 50 sour doughs on the go among many other lockdown projects

Imagine the trauma over doing his paperwork for the covid self employment grant. He’d have to make another jacket.

I can definitely imagine him poking manny in the eye with a covid swab too.

Manny would be fine in lockdown anyway - he just needs to find some more bees on the windowsill to eat.

Oh god, he'd aggressively cough at customers who annoyed him, wouldn't he? And take gleeful delight in malicious temperature checks.

Can you imagine him trying to submit a furlough claim to pay Manny's wages!

Manny would be a one-man sourdough and banana bread machine.

He'd try to persuade Bernard to set up some sort of book delivery service which would last about five minutes.

I can totally see Manny in little shorts and a headband, trying to do his Joe Wicks every morning, while Bernard looks on and makes caustic remarks.

Definitely would have hoped up together. Have visions of Bernard trying to work out how he could get into cellar of the pub over the road (in the style of Fantastic Mr Fox) and Manny reusing his survival skills again and harvesting bees.

*holed up

I can see fran getting a bit into her conspiracy theories, maybe even declining a vaccine until she realises the pub might be at stake

I think you’ve all got it pretty spot on. Now we just need them to make it!

Need to watch it again. I frequently walk by the shop used for filming and think how great it was !

DS's favourite Christmas present last year was a copy of the Little Book of Calm, thought it was apt during all the mayhem of lockdown!

I love Black Books, fantastic piece of writing!
"I'm a prostitute robot from the future"

another Black Books fan here - I have the complete series which was not many (I appreciate they did not make too many episodes so the funniness did not wane).
Manny aka Bill Bailey is the best . All in all it had excellent script and acting all round

It really is excellent. Not many episodes but they’re all brilliant. My DS (12) loves it too, the only one he’s not seen is the one where Bernard gets locked out (as the fran/shipping forecast bit is somewhat rude!)

Must dig out the piano music he plays in the piano episode. That was my fave

Haven’t seen it since it was on tv. Just remember laughing out loud a lot.

It’s one of my comedies I go to when I’m sad or bored or just can’t decide what to watch

@HeronLanyon

Need to watch it again. I frequently walk by the shop used for filming and think how great it was !

Ooh, where is it? I always thought I recognised it but wasn't sure where from.

Leigh street just south of kings cross.

I'm going to have to dig out the boxset again

Have always understood it’s the bookshop. Nicely enough.

Oops

Love Black Books and I think all your lockdown suggestions are spot on!

As an aside, I once worked in a bookshop with a Bill Bailey lookalike.

I love Black Books and all of your suggestions made me laugh.

Was about to buy season 1 through prime then checked netflix - they’re all there. Must not watch until have had at least a productive morning of paperwork.