10 new episodes of ITV Studios’ lavish period drama “Mr Selfridge,” starring Emmy award-winning American actor Jeremy Piven, have been ordered by ITV. Filming for the new series will begin in April following the success of “Mr Selfridge” with British, US and international audiences.
The drama is inspired by the life of charismatic American entrepreneur, Harry Gordon Selfridge, whose business in London’s Oxford Street has become a much-loved institution. This new series is the third instalment in the fascinating rise and fall of this colorful but troubled man.
Series two is currently screening on ITV on Sunday nights with the opening episode enjoyed by 6.8 million viewers. The series is averaging 6.4 million viewers, with an episode most recently featuring a guest cameo appearance from world famous tenor, Alfie Boe, as Richard Chapman, an old friend of Lady Mae Loxley, played by Katherine Kelly, who invited him to sing at Selfridge’s charity concert to raise money for the war effort.
Kate Brooke returns as the lead writer working alongside Kate ORiordan and Helen Raynor.
Lindy Woodhead, author of “Shopping Seduction and Mr Selfridge,” the book that inspired the series, continues in her role as advisor on retail history.
Filming will take place on location in Greater London with a lavish replica of the 1909 Selfridge’s shop floor being recreated in a former carpet warehouse. The exterior of the store will be filmed in the historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent.
The series will be produced by Dominic Barlow and executive produced by Kate Lewis for ITV Studios alongside Kate Brooke and Kate ORiordan, while Rebecca Eaton executive produces for WGBH.
The new series has been commissioned for ITV by Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea.
“We’re delighted to commission a third series of ‘Mr Selfridge,'” said Steve. “It’s been very pleasing to see how the audience have reacted to ‘Mr Selfridge’ and the vibrant and inspirational world the production team have created.”
Kate Lewis, executive producer for ITV Studios said: “We have some surprises in store for an audience in this third series. You only have to walk down Oxford St today to know that Selfridges Department Store continued to be successful, but for its founder, Harry Selfridge, things were very different. His story was a rollercoaster ride that ended rather tragically. We pick up Series 3 in 1919, the point at which his life really begins to unravel.”
The second series will have its US premiere on Sunday, March 30, on MASTERPIECE on PBS.
