This new series is the third instalment in the fascinating rise and fall of this colourful but troubled man and picks up in 1919 just after the end of World War I.
Returns to ITV January 25, 2015 and to PBS March 20, 2015
Full description of episode 1--be spoiled at your own discretionNine months later. HARRY has a wedding to attend! HARRY’s eldest daughter, ROSALIE, is to marry renowned Russian aviator SERGE DE BOLOTOFF. At the church, a thronging crowd has gathered to see the arrival of the guests. At the forefront of the lavish event is Russian émigré PRINCESS MARIE, the extravagant and glamorous mother of the groom. As AGNES watches on from the pews she is surprised to find HENRI next to her, recently returned from War. She is overcome and they are delighted to be reunited. After a waiting through a long War, they want to be married as soon as possible.
Whilst CRABB worries about the financial implications of hosting the wedding, the reception gets into full swing on Selfridge’s Oxford Street Roof Terrace. But SERGE is drunk, flirting with female guests and pressurising HARRY to invest his aerodrome enterprise – which HARRY isn’t keen to do. HARRY is worried: is this marriage good for the Selfridge family?
Meanwhile, we learn that MISS MARDLE is on a special leave of absence from the store after a life-changing event. Head of Cosmetics KITTY EDWARDS and writer FRANK EDWARDS are now happily married, but are stuck KITTY’s younger sister, CONNIE, living with them. Trouble is afoot when HARRY’S nemesis LORD LOXLEY arrives back in town – probing MILES EDGERTON about HARRY’s latest fortunes, debts, credits and business interests…
VICTOR COLLEANO is now the proud owner of his own nightclub, Colleano’s, but the right punters aren’t coming in. To boot, VICTOR is paying 10% of his takings to INSPECTOR PURKISS in return for the police turning a blind eye to the sale of alcohol out of legal hours.
At the store, soldiers who’ve returned from war have found their jobs taken by women. Women and men are struggling to cooperate. MR GROVE thinks the women should be let go, but HARRY is insistent they are not; they remind him of ROSE. But GEORGE tells MR GROVE that he’s found it hard to settle since returning from France, and hands in his notice. GEORGE decides to go and work for his old mate VICTOR, where they can look out for each other.
Rumours of HARRY’s involvement in financing SERGE’s aerodrome have spurred LOXLEY into action. He whisks SERGE away on his wedding morning, introducing himself as a legitimate potential financier for his aerodrome project. Abandoned before her wedding breakfast, an upset ROSALIE comes to the store and tells HARRY, who decides to have them come live with him. He can keep an eye on things that way. PRINCESS MARIE tells Harry she will return to her own flat, but checks into an expensive hotel suite instead – charging it to HARRY. She’s homeless, and hiding it.
Newcomer NANCY WEBB comes to Selfridge’s and demands a meeting with HARRY. Armed with plans for a housing estate for former War servicemen, NANCY is planning to use the same piece of land in Acton SERGE has earmarked for his aerodrome. She implores HARRY not to buy this land; rumours of his interest are pushing the price up. She’s worried she’ll lose her backer, LORD MEADOWES – and leaves HARRY with food for thought. He remembers how ROSE had a similar housing project in Chicago…
HENRI and AGNES finally have their moment of happiness and are wed. But later, HENRI is shocked and shaken by the ghostly apparitions of fellow French soldiers lost in War. AGNES catches a distressed-looking HENRI, who insists nothing is the matter.
Later that night, HARRY finds ROSE’s discarded plans for homes in her studio. With NANCY WEBB’s words in his mind and ROSE’s plans in hand, he heads to the vast expanse of land in Acton where the idea for an entirely new project begins to form. If there’s anyone who can pull it off, it’s HARRY SELFRIDGE.
