ATV Choice: Mr Selfridge
It’s our telly choice of the day as award-winning actor Jeremy Piven leads the cast as Harry Gordon Selfridge in drama series Mr Selfridge. The much awaited period saga follows the life of the flamboyant and visionary American entrepreneur.
“Created by multi-award winning writer Andrew Davies, Mr Selfridge tells the story of ‘Mile a Minute Harry’, a man with a mission to make shopping as thrilling as sex. Pioneering and reckless, with an almost manic energy, he created a theatre of retail where any topic or trend that was new, exciting, entertaining – or sometimes just eccentric – was showcased.” ITV state.
Tonight’s episode opens in London, 1908. Agnes, a young shop girl at Gamages department store, is bemused and slightly anxious when a colourful American customer cheekily encourages her to empty her stock onto the glove counter. He says he’s ‘just looking’, which is simply unheard of! AGNES deftly presents him with a gorgeous pair of fine red leather gloves. Her product knowledge is impeccable and her passion very clear. After the customer is asked to leave, Agnes is dismayed to be dismissed for the incident.
Meanwhile, the bold retailer Harry is assembling his great plans for the biggest and finest department store the world has ever seen at the ‘dead end’ of Oxford Street. Facing a frosty reception from the anti-American press, Harry runs into unexpected trouble when his business partner WARING suddenly pulls out of the project, which leaves the life of the project hanging in the balance. But Harry’s luck is up when journalist Frank throws him a lifeline, offering to show new-to-town Harry around London and introduce him to the right people.
Time moves on to London, 1909 when the opening day in March is a great success, attracting huge crowds, but with one significant problem: disappointing takings. Harry could still be ruined yet.
Mr Selfridge tonight at 9pm on ITV, UTV and STV