PBS adds Mr. Selfridge as another 'Masterpiece'


This is getting to be like a generic blog post where you just ‘insert the next title here’ when it comes to reporting on PBS’ Masterpiece series. In just the last year, viewers in the States have been treated to the likes of Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Endeavour, Inspector Lewis, Case Histories, Upstairs Downstairs, Page Eight and Great Expectations.

Armed with more Emmy nominations and wins than the law allows, PBS, Masterpiece and ITV Studios have just announced a mega co-production partnership to bring the highly-anticipated Mr. Selfridge to the series in 2013 starring Jeremy Piven (Entourage) in the title role. Mr. Selfridge, created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House) and executive produced by Kate Lewis for ITV Studios, 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, Mr. Selfridge follows Harry Gordon Selfridge, a man with a mission to make shopping as thrilling as sex. A combination of pioneering and reckless with a touch of manic energy, Harry created a theater of retail where any topic or trend that was new, exciting, entertaining –or just eccentric–was showcased. As recent as 2010, some 100+ years after it opened, Selfridges was named the best department store in the world recognized by the Intercontinental Group of Department Stores, the world’s largest department store association, and the International Association of Department Stores.

Also included in the co-production agreement will be new episodes of Endeavour, the Inspector Morse prequel, Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Miss Marple and also Inspector Lewis.


In: Drama