Mr Selfridge

[Perdita]

Episode four

Sun 27 Jan 2013
9.00pm - 10.00pm


Selfridge’s Head of Fashion MISS BUNTING is caught red-handed stealing the finest silks and lace from the shop floor, and HARRY dismisses her on the spot. He can’t bear theft, and takes it very personally.

At home, AGNES and GEORGE are being hounded by a drunken REG who keeps rapping on the locked door. Locked out and angry – it looks like he won’t be got rid of that easily…

HARRY takes ROSE and ROSALIE to LADY MAE’S to see a private performance of the much-celebrated Russian ballerina, ANNA PAVLOVA. ROSE is truly enchanted by her exquisite performance. HARRY, spotting an opportunity, mingles and meets PAVLOVA – graciously offering her a private tour of the store. She agrees, which is great coup for him.

Elsewhere, ELLEN is working herself up wondering why HARRY hasn’t been responding to her letters. She tells FRANK how he’s been ignoring her, but when she starts saying how convinced she is that HARRY’S ‘putting down roots’ with her, the scale of her delusion hits FRANK hard.

In the wake of MISS BUNTING’S departure, HARRY appoints a new Head of Fashion: MISS IRENE RAVILLIOUS. Forward-thinking HARRY wants Ladies’ Fashion to be at the heart of the business. Freshly‐poached from Harrods, MISS RAVILLIOUS cuts a formidable figure and it isn’t long before she courts rivalry with MISS MARDLE…

HARRY announces to his family that PAVLOVA will visit the store, and given that PAVLOVA is quite the celebrity they are absolutely thrilled! ROSE even more so: HARRY has organised a special afternoon tea with PAVLOVA for her to attend. This excitement is mirrored in the store, where HARRY wants every department to maximise the impact of PAVLOVA’S visit. Much to MISS MARDLE’S fury, MISS RAVILLIOUS orders a battalion of seamstresses to add delicate white piping to the store’s black capes – a direct emulation of PAVLOVA’S chic style – and a bit of a tread on MARDLE’S toes as the Head of Accessories! When a frantic ELLEN finds out about the visit, she can barely contain her jealousy, insisting that she should be there…she is the Spirit of Selfridge’s after all.

PAVLOVA is greeted by customers and staff in total awe. Meanwhile, an observant VICTOR notices that GEORGE is unloading an unmarked livery van. VICTOR worries that the innocent and naïve GEORGE might be inadvertently involved in something dodgy.

ROSE is late for her tea with PAVLOVA…because she is with RODDY. He’s been painting her portrait, followed by an impromptu sojourn to the Chelsea Arts Club. Here, with a slightly more bohemian crowd, ROSE is having a great time. But when they all start to make their way to Selfridge’s of all places, to see the wonderful ANNA PAVLOVA in the flesh, ROSE is forced reveal her true identity to RODDY. RODDY feels angry and betrayed, and their impassioned exchange is overheard by a nosey TONY – LADY MAE’S young lover…

During PAVLOVA’s walkabout at the store, ELLEN arrives and causes havoc as she vies for the attention of the press and, of course, HARRY – who has to improvise his way through the awkwardness. ROSE still hasn’t turned up, and just when things seem like they couldn’t get any worse, a drunken REG wanders into the store. REG’s actions leave AGNES utterly humiliated to the point where she feels she has no choice but to surrender her dream job in the store.

When HARRY proclaims that PAVLOVA will have her own dedicated window, it tips ELLEN over the edge, and HARRY is forced to remove her from the store and terminates her contract with Selfridge’s with immediate effect.

[lizann]

anyone watching this? katherine kelly is great in it

[moonstorm]

Yeah love it Lizann. Nice Sunday night viewing.

[Perdita]

Michelle Keegan has expressed her desire to win a part in new ITV drama Mr Selfridge.

The Coronation Street actress said that she is ideal for the show as she worked in a Selfridges store and knows about the company's history.

"I would absolutely love a part in Mr Selfridge," she told The Sun. "I'm qualified after all, and I know the history behind it all.

"When I first started working in Selfridges, we had a big talk about when and how it first opened and they talked about founder Mr Selfridge as well."

Keegan worked at a make-up counter at a Selfridges in Manchester prior to landing the role of Corrie's Tina McIntyre.

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old has also hinted that she is contemplating the idea of launching a fashion line, telling What's on TV: "I've always been interested in fashion, always.

"I love shopping and I love putting outfits together and accessories and things like that, so I'd love to do my own fashion thing... I don't know... maybe in the future... watch this space."

[alan45]

Episode Five

Episode five:

HARRY is showing CRABB a new motor car that he wants to put in the window when HENRI comes in to tell HARRY that AGNES has handed in her notice after her father shamed her at work.

VICTOR visits AGNES. VICTOR thinks it’s a good thing she’s not working at the store as it gives them a chance to be a couple, and they share their first kiss. But back at the store, the Fashion and Accessories departments start to sell the new motoring merchandise and AGNES’ absence is felt.

RODDY calls on ROSE to apologise for his recent behaviour and to show her the portrait he has painted. ROSE and he make friends and she declares she loves the painting. RODDY kisses her and she kisses him back just as BEATRICE walks in and catches the embrace. ROSE is beside herself, telling BEATRICE to keep the portrait a secret from her father, and RODDY that nothing can happen between them.

As GORDON and HARRY talk about cars, BEATRICE reveals the secret about the portrait and HARRY’s suspicions are immediately aroused.

HARRY goes to AGNES’ house and surprises her by telling her he can’t accept her resignation. She tells him about her father and how she can’t get rid of him. HARRY takes matters into his own hands. After paying him off, HARRY and threatens REG telling him never to come back. AGNES agrees to return to work and she and HARRY drive in together.

ELLEN calls on ROSE at their London home and tells her that she’s having an affair with HARRY. ROSE unnerves her by saying she knew all along and that she’s just one of many chorus girls her husband has had a dalliance with. But after ELLEN is dismissed curtly, ROSE is left alone, shaken and humiliated.

At the store, VICTOR witnesses a scam in the warehouse and alerts MR GROVE to it. GROVE tells HARRY and assures him he’ll sort it. Before it’s too late, VICTOR saves GEORGE’s bacon by telling him he’s been duped into a scam.

LADY MAE comes to the store with TONY. They meet HARRY, and TONY wastes no time in telling HARRY that he saw ROSE at the Arts Club with RODDY TEMPLE. LADY MAE is clearly embarrassed about it – and once she’s deftly handled the sticky situation, dismisses TONY. She’s forgotten what the point of him is and swiftly turns her attention to VICTOR…

VICTOR and AGNES talk. VICTOR wants to take her out but she says she wants to hear what HARRY has to say in the meeting he’s called – and she’s got work to do with HENRI. VICTOR loses his temper and AGNES decides she’s had enough of being told what to do.

HARRY does a rousing speech to the staff, referring to MIS BUNTING’S thievery and the scam in the basement. Stealing from Selfridge’s amounts to stealing from their own family. Honesty is everything. During the meeting, KITTY points out to VICTOR that AGNES and HENRI make a pretty couple. A jealous VICTOR storms out, deciding to see LADY MAE. Meanwhile, AGNES and HENRI look closer than ever.

At home, BEATRICE tells HARRY in front of ROSE that she blushed when the artist kissed her. HARRY is furious and the couple have a blazing row.

Later, HARRY is in his club, drinking whisky and when FRANK finds him, he’s drunk. ELLEN comes to the club, doped up and emotional and tells HARRY she loves him. It’s too much – FRANK puts ELLEN in a cab and tells HARRY to go home.

FRANK finds ELLEN at her flat, semi-conscious, a pile of pills by her side. Meanwhile, HARRY goes to the store, and climbs into the motor car. After driving away recklessly he loses control and crashes the car…

[alan45]

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.*
*
Episode six:
*
HARRY is unconscious after his car crash. Word spreads of his accident, and a sombre mood takes over at the store. It’s also revealed that MR GROVE’S wife has died and when a grieving MR GROVE comes to work, MISS MARDLE sees that he’s not ready for a return and looks anxious.
*
FRANK arrives at HARRY’S house and finds a pack of news hounds outside. *Inside, he talks to LOIS, telling her that HARRY was gambling and drinking the night of the accident – and that ELLEN came to see him at the club.*
*
There is news of a Suffragette demonstration the next day in London. The Selfridge daughters discuss whether they’ll come to the store, before ROSALIE goes to relieve ROSE from her bedside vigil, urging her to rest.*
*
Meanwhile, VICTOR and LADY MAE are in bed. He’s late for work…
*
At the store, KITTY teases AGNES about HENRI and how much she works for him. MISS RAVILLIOUS sees a suffragette leaflet that AGNES was given and reveals that she was at one of the recent demonstrations.
*
FRANK goes to see ELLEN LOVE at her flat and tells her that HARRY had an accident. She’s angry and upset, wanting to lash out at him, and FRANK sees that he needs to handle the situation carefully.
*
Later the doctor tells ROSE that although he’s not making much sense, HARRY seems to be responding well enough. However, ROSE is still really worried. MUSKER arrives to talk to her and ask after HARRY’S health. He needs to know what the succession plan is if HARRY dies. It’s awkward and upsetting for ROSE but she tells him that GORDON will take over with her and LOIS’ support.*
*
MR GROVE speaks at the Heads of Department emergency meeting. The pressure is on as lots of decisions need to be made and MR GROVE is having trouble managing the situation. MISS RAVILLIOUS brings up the suffragette demo telling a flippant MR GROVE that he needs a strategy to deal with it - They can’t just ignore it. When MR PEREZ points out that the suffragettes lunch at the Palm Court on that day MR GROVE tells him to cancel it.
*
It falls to VICTOR to tell LADY MAE that the Suffrage lunch is off. She’s furious and goes to speak to MR GROVE. LADY MAE interrupts a private moment between him and MISS MARDLE in his office and urges MR GROVE to reconsider his decision to cancel the lunch. He sticks to his guns and LADY MAE tells him that she can’t be responsible for the militant actions of some of the women.*
*
Meanwhile, FRANK goes to see ELLEN at the Gaeity before a show. FRANK tells her to give it up but she says she needs the money…Unless, that is, she sold her story about HARRY to the papers…FRANK then offers her a deal she can’t refuse…
*
GORDON goes to the store on his own and gets mistaken for a pick-pocket! Luckily AGNES and HENRI recognise him as HARRY’S son and tell CRABB that they’ll see him home and safe.
When GORDON arrives home, ROSE wants to know why he ran away. He explains he went to check on the store as he knows it will be his one day – he overheard ROSE say so to MUSKER.
*
On the way back to the store, HENRI talks to AGNES. Does she want babies? Does she have a young man? He tells her that he’s interested in someone but doesn’t want to make a move and AGNES has to wonder if he’s talking about her….
*
CRABB calls a secret meeting behind MR GROVE’S back to address the Suffragette ‘situation’. He believes that MR GROVE’S decision is going to backfire so he asks staff to stay late and work on a window display, as HARRY wouldn’t want the store to look to be anti-suffrage.*
*
Finally HARRY wakes. He’s back to normal, although having been haunted by images of his father. HARRY insists on being allowed back to the store. Although the Doctor says no, ROSE can see he needs it.*
*
Outside the store, the Suffragette demonstration is in full swing. HARRY worries that the store has stopped their support in his absence. But the windows (homages to the cause) are revealed just as the suffragettes are about to trash the building.
*
When HARRY collapses amidst the chaos, VIOLETTE comes to his aid. A suffragette herself – she proudly tells the rest of the crowd exactly who her daddy is – HARRY GORDON SELFRIDGE!*
*

[Perdita]

Sun 17 Feb 2013


Episode seven:

Rose finds that Harry’s been having nightmares and hallucinations. Rose doesn’t think he’s ready to return to work so soon.

At the store, legendary author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in store for a Sherlock Holmes book signing, and Harry greets him. Harry seems to have a renewed zest for life – and his work. He wants the senior staff to improve and reinvigorate their departments: new product lines, new suppliers, an injection of fresh thinking. Miss Ravillious knows what she wants to improve her department – Agnes Towler. Harry agrees to Agnes’ transfer to Ladies Fashion as a reward for Miss Ravillious’ smart and deft handling of the Suffragette crisis. Meanwhile, Frank Edwards and Kitty indulge in a playful in-store flirtation…
Rosalie is preparing to go to her first society soiree at Lady Mae’s. Meanwhile, Lois is worrying about Harry since his accident – these nightmares and hallucinations he’s having are troubling her.

Harry’s determination to progress and push forwards at work finds a new target – a burgeoning stock issue of public shares to raise capital. Harry wants the banks to speed up in their handling of the stock issue. However, Harry’s forceful determination worries Crabb and Musker, who think that his brash approach may upset and discourage the traditional, conservative men of the City.

On the shop floor, Kitty receives a box of humbugs - from a secret admirer! Kitty is convinced it’s Frank and gets excited when another note arrives with details of a later rendezvous…

Harry and Rose enjoy lunch with Sir Arthur and an American companion of his, Rex Crennell, a spiritual medium. As conversation drifts to Harry’s recent brush with near death - it isn’t long before talk of the Spiritualist movement comes to the fore. When Rex offers to hold a séance for the staff in the store, Harry is hamstrung. He needs to keep his star guest Sir Arthur happy, and for the store be at the forefront of new thinking and progress, but he himself isn’t keen on the notion. Somewhat reluctantly, he agrees.

On their tea break, Doris and Kitty bump into Miss Bunting – the former Head of Ladies Fashion who was sacked for stealing. She can’t get a new job without a reference, and has fallen on hard times. Her plight really gets under Doris’ skin, and they strike up an unlikely friendship. Doris feels compelled to go to Mr Grove to see if there’s any way Miss Bunting could get a reference from Mr Selfridge. Mr Grove promises to ask, and his eyes are opened to her kind and caring nature.

At the séance, the staff isn’t sure how to react to the proceedings! Some are spooked, others cynical. Miss Mardle is convinced that one of the messages is from Mr Grove’s recently deceased wife. But the séance is broken when a malign male force ‘pushes’ itself disturbingly onto Rex. Candles flicker, and an ominous mood descends on the room. Rex tells Harry he felt the malicious spirit drawn to him. Harry is dismissive, but Lois is concerned. She clearly has something on her mind…

Lady Mae – who is continuing her steamy affair with Victor - is approached by Musker to ‘help out’ when the bankers make a key visit to the store. She knows the Chairman socially and during a somewhat sticky tour of the shop floor she just happens to there. She’s in the right place, at the right time – and wins them over with her clever magic touch!

Meanwhile, as Agnes undertakes her new role in Ladies’ Fashion – enlisting the help of Henri who is more than willing to help. Their friendship takes an unexpected turn when they share a sensual, sudden and secret kiss…

[lizann]

it has got a second season

[moonstorm]

woohoo hope it's a Sunday night!

[Perdita]

Mr Selfridge has been given a second series by ITV following its ratings success.

Featuring Entourage star Jeremy Piven, Zoe Tapper and Katherine Kelly, the show tells the story of Harry Gordon Selfridge, the founder of Selfridges department store.

The second series, which will once again be written by Andrew Davies and his team, will move the story forward to 1914 and the lead-up to World War 1.

Series one of Mr Selfridge is currently midway through its run and has been edging out BBC One's rival period drama Ripper Street in the ratings. However, it hasn't quite matched the figures of BBC One's Call The Midwife.

It is ITV's most-watched new drama since Scott and Bailey launched in 2011.

Steve November, ITV's acting director of drama commissioning, said: "It is ITV drama at its best and we are looking forward to spending more time with the wonderful characters."

The director of episodes 5, 6 and 7 of series one, Anthony Byrne (Silent Witness, Single Handed), will return to direct the first of the new episodes.

Kate Lewis, exec producer for ITV Studios, said: "ITV Studios is thrilled to be making a second series of Mr Selfridge. The story of Harry Selfridge, his family and colleagues has drawn in a strong drama audience and we are delighted by the response. The second series will allow us to build on this success and it is a fantastic opportunity to focus on 1914 during the centenary of the Great War."