Mr Selfridge

Mr. Selfridge recounts the real life story of the flamboyant and visionary American founder of Selfridge's, London's lavish department store. Set in 1909 London, when women were reveling in a new sense of freedom and modernity, it follows Harry Gordon Selfridge ('Mile a Minute Harry'), a man with a mission to make shopping as thrilling as sex. Pioneering and reckless, with an almost manic energy, Harry created a theater of retail where any topic or trend that was new, exciting, entertaining - or just eccentric - was showcased.

Mr Selfridge (2013-2016) is a British period drama created by Andrew Davies for ITV1 and PBS, a four-season costume series of forty one-hour episodes. Jeremy Piven plays Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant, reckless American who pours his energy into building Selfridge's, London's most lavish department store. His wife Rose (Frances O'Connor) carries her own struggles as he chases ever bigger schemes, while the store's staff and rivals push back against his demands. Ron Cook as Mr Crabb and Samuel West as Frank Edwards anchor the store's world, and Katherine Kelly as Lady Mae Loxley brings aristocratic complications to the shop floor. Each season is built from the daily grind of retail: new window displays, marketing stunts, shopgirls chasing independence, and managers scrambling to keep the business afloat. Set in 1909 Edwardian London, the show captures a city where women are discovering new freedom and modern consumer desire. The mood is buoyant and witty, with a sweep of ambition, romance and social change. Fans of Downton Abbey, Mad Men and The Paradise will find a similar blend of period glamour and business drama. The show runs four seasons of ten episodes each and has ended.

Audiences rate the series positively, praising its lavish period recreation of Edwardian London and the charismatic lead performance of Jeremy Piven.

• Downton Abbeyshared period costume drama tone, business ambition and social change in early twentieth century
• Mad Menshared focus on a charismatic entrepreneur and the workplace world he builds
• The Paradiseshared british period drama setting and ensemble of upstairs and downstairs characters

Created by

Andrew Davies

Release Date

2013-01-06

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

7.7 / 10 (118)

What is Mr Selfridge about?

A flamboyant American visionary builds London's lavish Selfridge's department store in 1909, turning shopping into theatre.

What is Mr Selfridge like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mr Selfridge as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Mr Selfridge violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Mr Selfridge as mild.

What did critics think of Mr Selfridge?

Audiences rate the series positively, praising its lavish period recreation of Edwardian London and the charismatic lead performance of Jeremy Piven.

Which shows are like Mr Selfridge?

Shows with a similar feel include Downton Abbey, Mad Men, and The Paradise.

How long is Mr Selfridge?

Mr Selfridge: 4 seasons, 40 episodes.

Is Mr Selfridge still running?

No, Mr Selfridge has ended.

Where can I watch Mr Selfridge?

In United States, Mr Selfridge streams on PBS, PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel, Thirteen, WETA+.