Something to Watch: ‘Mr Selfridge’ Series Puts Spotlight on Legendary Retailer

OK, am I actually telling you guys about a new TV show? I promise it’s (probably) worth watching. Airing on PBS — yeah, that senior citizen, public programming channel — which actually has sick late night movies and detective shows, is airing a new series entitled Mr Selfridge, putting a spotlight on the legendary retailer. The show is based on Harry Gordon Selfridge, a Chicago native and the man who helped put the romance into retail, and his quest to sex up British shopping. British TV drama creates drama with cash registers and mid-season sales, showgirls, shop girls, brash businessmen and lots of snazzy merch. Thanks to Harry Selfridge, Selfridges was the first store in Britain to put the bling into shopping and bill it as entertainment rather than a chore.

“We’ve based it on an historical figure…and we’re looking at a turning point in history through the prism of retail. We’re also looking at what happened to women: retail was the one place where a woman could have a high-powered career, and that is fascinating.”

We expect it will have the same rave reviews as shows like Downtown Abbey and Mad Men. The show is slated to air March 31.

More info at wwd