With the third season of Mr Selfridge beginning on ITV in early 2015, we thought it might be fun to look at what the new run will hold for fans.
Executive producer Kate Lewis has hinted that Harry’s life will “unravel” in the new season, ominously commenting: “His story was a rollercoaster ride that ended rather tragically.”
Here’s a rundown of our thoughts for the new season (contains potential spoilers)…
The most dramatic development at the start of Season 3 – following a five-year time jump – will be that Rose Selfridge may have died by the time that the show returns.
In real life, Rose Selfridge died of pneumonia and passed away in May 1918. With the season picking up almost a year later, and if the show stays relatively true to the characters’ timelines, this will allow suitable time for Harry (Jeremy Piven) to be consumed with grief over the wife he tried so hard to reconcile with throughout Season 2, adding to his character’s personal trauma.
While there is no official word that Frances O’Connor will not be returning, her upcoming appearance in new drama The Missing suggests that she is busy with new work elsewhere, as do her rather funereal moments in Season 2’s finale. Also, it has been confirmed that Bluestone 42 actress Nancy Webb has been brought in to play Harry’s new love interest.
There is also the further development of the Selfridge children. Whilst the eldest son Gordon (Greg Austin) was developed more in the latest season and is returning, in Season 3 it is the turn of the daughters to be expanded upon.
Real life sisters Kara Tointon (EastEnders) and Hannah Tointon (Hollyoaks) join the cast as daughters Rosalie and Violette. Kara as Rosalie, will become engaged to Russian royalty Serge de Bolotoff (Waterloo Road actor Leon Ockenden) and will be accompanied by his mother, Princess Marie (the always-brilliant Zoe Wanamaker), while Hannah’s character’s sense of rebellion is set to cause dramatic frictions.
While nothing is set in stone, it is at least this reviewer’s hope that the relationship between Kitty (Amy Beth Hayes) and Frank Edwards (Samuel West) continues into the new season. Both West and Hayes have tweeted about their involvement in this upcoming episodes, so hopefully they will continue that romantic storyline.
With a five-year time jump it would be interesting to see the dynamics of their relationship and how they have changed, especially with Kitty and Frank’s similarly ambitious natures. Kitty’s character has become very popular since the show began, in no small part down to Hayes’ performance and her character will receive further development when her equally ambitious sister (played by former Coronation Street actress Sacha Parkinson) becomes entwined in her life at Selfridges.
Henri (Gregory Fitoussi) going off to fight with the French Army in 1914 in Season 2’s finale means that Agnes’ character will have waited almost half a decade for her other half to return home. While this storyline plays out we do know that Agnes (Aisling Loftus) will have her brother George alongside her, as the actor Calum Callaghan recently confirmed his involvement in the new season.
Whilst this romantic entanglement and how it develops will no doubt be the main character arc for her in Season 3, it poses two questions. Firstly, what will be the drama that binds the two together, as no romance ever runs smoothly on this show? As the wartime setting of Season 2 proved, nothing bonds like a crisis, and my first thought was that Henri may return home with a lasting war injury that will affect not just their relationship, but also provide further dramatic tension for Fitoussi, who excels when challenged with such material.
Of course, these are only certain elements of what to expect to when Mr Selfridge returns next year, and as Season 3 continues production there will no doubt be more information bleeding through confirming returning and guest cast (such as recently announced The Smoke actor Sam Gittins).
However, with strong new characters and the majority of the show’s regulars returning, as well as continued script work from Kate Brooke (Ice Cream Girls), Kate O’Riordan (The Bad Mothers Handbook) and Helen Raynor (Doctor Who), the future of the show seems to be bright.
Are you looking forward to Season 3? Let us know below…