Episodes: Top 10 Black Books

Bernard is struggling to cope with getting down to menial but essential tasks for his book shop, such as the accounts when a chance meeting with a customer, Manny, helps him out. Meanwhile, the owner of the shop next door, enlists the help of Bernard and his customers to find out exactly what an object from her shop is and in doing so misses an important appointment.

Bernard wakes up to discover that he has a new employee for his book shop, who infuriatingly has great skill at selling books. While Bernard is reluctant to keep him on, Fran makes her feelings clear on the matter.

After Manny calls a cleaner to the shop, he and Bernard must vacate it. Luckily they are asked to house sit for a friend. Meanwhile Fran goes on an ill-fated date.

Manny stays up watching 'The Sweeney' and is mistaken for a policeman after chasing a handbag snatcher. Fran and Bernard exchange stories about their previous day, Bernard recalling a disastrous dinner party with old friends who blanked him and Fran telling him about blanking her boyfriend after catching him with another woman.

Following a burglary Bernard buys a sophisticated alarm system which results in Manny getting locked inside the shop and Bernard stuck outside in the rain. Fran is no help as she took her phone off the hook to listen to the sexy man reading the shipping forecast.

Manny and Bernard try to keep up with modern book shops and in doing so Manny helps Fran get over her boredom by encouraging her to look up her family tree.

When Manny defects to Goliath Books after an "incident" with Bernard, his ex-employer's life spirals out of control. Meanwhile Fran returns from holiday only to be greeted by the squalor of Bernard's shop.

When Bernard holds a children's themed book day in the shop, Fran bets Manny and Bernard they couldn't write a children's book over a weekend, while Bernard bets Fran back that she will have an awful time at her friend's hen party.

Manny and Fran drag Bernard along with them to a party, but the drunken aftermath dredges up secrets and bitterness.

Bernard becomes addicted to gambling and forces Manny and Fran to compete for one job at the shop in order to finance his bets.