Mr Selfridge

Uncover hidden stories about Selfridges in London and delve into the mind of its American creator.

In London, 1908, Agnes Tower, who works at Gamages department store, finds her life about to change following an encounter with Harry Gordon Selfridge. He is finalising his great plans for the biggest and finest department store the world has ever seen in Oxford Street. His family also show up in London from Chicago. Word about the impending store opening begins to spread around London, and Agnes approaches Harry for a job. He remembers her, and agrees to give her a job. Opening day is a great success, attracting huge crowds but the takings are not brilliant.

The store has now been open for a few months and the displays are still as seductive as on opening day, and the staff are poised for action. The only thing the store is missing though is customers. Harry is confident though on the outside but privately he is worried. He goes to the country with Frank, where they wait in a field and then a flying machine emerges from the clouds and flies overheard. Harry manages to secures it for a grand exhibition in store.

Harry and Ellen are enjoying their new love affair and dance into the night at an apartment that Harry has got Ellen. She ends up talking about her father and reveals that her real name is Joyce. Agnes's nasty drunk father called Reg has been fired from his job and he ends up losing his temper with his daughter, hitting her across the face.

Five years since the store's opening, business is booming for Harry and new faces have joined old favourites at Selfridge's. Rose makes a surprise return home with a mysterious new friend in tow, Lady Mae is forced to deal with troublesome husband Lord Loxley who arrives in town from the country, and Agnes returns from a creative secondment in Paris - but is Victor pleased to see her?

Rumblings of war and social unrest inspire trades union activists to target Selfridge's. Harry responds by throwing a tango party to thank the staff for their hard work. He also wants to do something more public and asks Agnes to organise a Celebration of Empire in the store - but is it too much for her? Meanwhile, Rose secretly seeks out an old friend for Harry, and trouble is brewing for Lady Mae.

Agnes is working through the night getting ready for the Empire Exhibition that Harry is rolling out across the store. Mr Crabb attempts to cover for Mr Grove after Harry thinks that he’s late for work again. Harry receives a visit from Henri and takes the opportunity to apologise and asks him to return to work. Gordon is fed up with the frostiness between his parents. Miss Mardle asks Grove to meet her at her new address and he finds out that she has inherited a beautiful London home and income from her brother. Lady Mae manages to find out that truth about Loxley’s finances and discovers that he has gambling debts and is rumoured to be all washed up.

It is now 1919 and the war is over. After losing his beloved wife, Harry and his family look forward to a happy family event - his daughter Rosalie is to be married.

While Harry decides to pursue a new charitable project, Crabb is faced with a massive professional dilemma. Agnes faces an unexpected challenge very close to home.

Harry goes ahead with his plans for the estate, buying a field at auction - only to find there is an unexpected rival bidder. Henri continues to behave erratically.

It's 1928 and nine years on, retail magnate Harry is enjoying his time at the heart of the Roaring Twenties. In store, while about to unveil a new monument he receives a very special visitor - though a later accident places his role at the helm in jeopardy. Elsewhere, Mr Grove celebrates his birthday in the company of his now 19-year-old daughter Meryl, and store favourite Kitty Edwards is keen to show off her luxurious new abode - while her sister Connie has some exciting news.

Following the Queen of Time unveiling accident, Harry recovers at his country home. However, keen to quash any retirement rumours, he returns to the store at the earliest possible moment intent on opening a cutting-edge technology department, and soon annoys Mae when he insists on a role for the Dolly Sisters at her first-ever fashion launch. Kitty is soul-searching after Connie's news gets around the store, while mysterious entrepreneur Jimmy Dillon starts to make his mark on Harry - not to mention Mae.

Despite his loss, Harry pretends that it is business as usual and is happy to be distracted by new belle Rosie Dolly. Kitty is nervous to meet her role model, cosmetics icon Elizabeth Arden, who is opening an historic concession in the store. Following a fall, Grove contemplates retirement and buys the family's first motorcar, while the launch of a joint venture between Jimmy and Harry leaves Gordon simmering.