Production on the second series of the hit ITV period drama, Mr Selfridge, has begun, and cast favourites Jeremy Piven, Katherine Kelly, Aisling Loftus and Frances O’Connor return, along with new cast members Polly Walker, Aidan McArdle and Cal Macaninch.

ITV have revealed that ten new episodes have been commissioned based on the huge success of the first series of the show, which centred around the life and work of Selfridges founder, Harry Selfridge (Jeremy Piven).
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Mr Selfridge star, Katherine Kelly, has confirmed that she has signed up for the second series of the hit ITV period drama when it returns next year.

Mr Selfridge was recommissioned for a second series just before the first series concluded on our ITV screens earlier this month, after what can only be described as a phenomenal response from viewers, but returning stars remained somewhat of a mystery with none, until now, being revealed as signed up.
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Former Coronation Street actress Katherine Kelly has revealed that she would never say never to a Becky McDonald return to the show.

Kelly, who has just starred in the epic ITV period drama Mr Selfridge, left our Coronation Street screens as Becky McDonald back in 2012 after starring in some of the shows biggest and most hard-hitting storylines.
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The glamorous girls from ITV1’s Mr Selfridge have a style makeover courtesy of this week’s Grazia magazine.

Actresses Katherine Kelly, Zoë Tapper and Aisling Loftus star in Grazia’s Spring Shopping Issue.

Aisling Loftus, 22, who plays Agnes Towler, commented: “My costumes are just floor-length black dresses. But I do love wearing the corsets. They made me stand better.”

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I would like to applaud everyone who has stuck around with Mr Selfridge for so long now as I feel the past couple of episodes have been very lacklustre indeed. It appears to me like all of the characters have been in a sort of holding pattern since Harry recovered from his car crash injuries and after tonight’s episode I’m still not sure if I’m really looking forward to next week’s series finale.

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I do enjoy every now and then how Mr Selfridge decides to give us a potted history of the early 20th century whether it be through the suffragette movement or through the appearances of Arthur Conan Doyle and Anna Pavlova. This week is no different as Harry’s old friend FW Woolworth comes to London intent on opening one of his bargain shops on Oxford Street and therefore in direct competition with Selfridges. Woolworth feels that the pair will not be competition as Selfridges caters for the upper classes however Harry thinks otherwise and it is only when he questions his staff that he discovers that the prices in store are astronomically high.

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One of the major criticisms of Mr Selfridge has been the performance of Jeremy Piven in the lead role as most find him overly-theatrical and a little much. Those people then will probably enjoy tonight’s episode in which Harry spends most of the episode unconscious after the car accident he had last week. While Piven spends most of the time in bed either asleep or making unrecognisable sounds it is up to some of the supporting cast to take the reins namely Tom Goodman-Hill as chief-of-staff Mr Grove and Ron Cook as money man Mr Crabb.

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It was clear that there was no need to worry about people not wanting to watch a drama about a department store so soon after they’d finished their Christmas shopping as last week almost seven million of you tuned into watch ITV1’s Mr Selfridge. However critical and audience support was mixed as the production design was praised while Jeremy Piven was mildly panned for his overly theatrical performance as Selfridge. My personal issue was that there was so much of Selfridge in episode one that it was hard to get to know the other characters however in this second episode several new stories spring up to let other members of the ensemble cast shine.

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After Sunday’s fantastic premier of new ITV drama, Mr Selfridge, shoppers have inundated the famous department store franchise, Debenhams, in search of the red gloves given by Mr Selfridge to sales assistant, Agnes Towler.

Viewers will know how, whilst researching departments to include in his new store, Mr Selfridge called upon Agnes to help him view the shop she worked in’s selection of kid gloves.

At the request of Selfridge, and going against company policy, Agnes put all the shops merchandise on the counter for him to see, costing her job at the end of her shift.
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Christmas is over now and after buying present for all your nearest and dearest then hitting the sales to pick up the latest bargains the last thing you really want is to watch a drama about shops. That’s a bit unfortunate then as tonight ITV1 air the first episode of their new period drama Mr Selfridge a series set around the creation of the famous London department store. The series, adapted by Andrew Davies, stars Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge an entrepreneur who believes that English stores are behind the times and attempts to revitalise them by opening his own shop. However, as this first episode depicts, things didn’t run that smoothly for Selfridge as he loses an investor and struggles to remain faithful to his wife.

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Corrie star Ryan Thomas – who plays builder Jason Grimshaw – has revealed that he misses former co-star Katherine Kelly, and he added that he’d love to see her back on the soap one day to reprise the role of Becky McDonald.

As fans will recall, Katherine left the show last year in order to pursue other roles, and has since received critical acclaim for her role in stage play, She Stoops To Conquer.

Speaking to the PA, Ryan – whose brother Adam plays the role of Adam Barton in Emmerdale – said, “I’d like to see Becky’s return some time, I miss that character very much and I miss Katherine the person very much.

“I think if she ever came back as a guest appearance it would make my day.”

Ryan also discussed his relationship with co-star Sue Cleaver, who plays Jason’s mum, Eileen… Read more & comment »

Katherine Kelly, who played Becky McDonald in popular ITV soap, Coronation Street, until earlier this year, has landed a presenting role on ITV’s This Morning!

Kelly, who won Best Exit at this years British Soap Awards for her characters happy-ever-after departure to pastures new,will host a  four-part mini series in the award-winning day time show, called Kelly’s Heroes.
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Since we last saw Katherine Kelly in her Coronation Street role as Becky McDonald, she’s been a busy bunny…

She’s been starring in hit stage play She Stoops to Conquer, as well as filming a variety of TV roles, including a part in a new Kenny Everett biopic, and a role in forthcoming drama, Mr Selfridge.

So while speaking to What’s On TV as she attended last weekend’s British Soap Awards, where she picked up the gongs for Best Exit and Best Single Episode for Becky’s farewell, when asked if she was missing Corrie, a busy Kat replied, “I haven’t had chance!”

She added, “I don’t regret leaving at all. I haven’t had a chance, I haven’t had a moment to even think about it.”

And of being at the awards, Kat said, “Tonight is like a high school reunion for me, that’s what I’m excited about. It’s nice to come out en masse and celebrate.” Read more & comment »

Last night saw the 13^th annual British Soap Awards, and all the stars braved the wind and rain to take their seats for the spectacular event, held at the ITV studios in London, where UnrealityTV were on the red carpet to speak to them all before the event started.

The cast of Coronation Street were out in force on the red carpet, hoping to bring home the majority of silverware for a second consecutive year at the prestigious awards ceremony.

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Poor Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) has been brow beaten by his nuttier than squirrel poo fiancé Kirsty Soames from almost the moment they met…

And in forthcoming episodes, Tyrone will be actually beaten as he becomes the victim of domestic violence at pregnant Kirsty’s hands, and according to Natalie Gumede, who plays copper Kirsty, the introduction of her character’s parents may give viewers an insight into why she’s “the way she is.”

The show’s bosses are currently casting actors for the roles of Kirsty’s mum and dad, and of the plotline, Natalie – who’s also starred in Ideal, Doctors and Emmerdale - added, “Nothing can justify Kirsty’s behaviour. But it may give them more of a clue as to what made her the way she is.”

In other Corrie news, it’s been reported by the Sun’s TV Biz that former star Katherine Kelly will be back on our screens in new drama, Mr Selfridge, playing the role of aristocrat Lady Mae… Read more & comment »