From Corrie ex-con to upper-class lady: Katherine Kelly shines in new ITV drama about the man who put the sex into shopping…Mr Selfridge
By FAY STRANG
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But Katherine Kelly has proved there’s much more to her repertoire than coarse Miss McDonald as she made her debut in new ITV prime-time drama Mr Selfridge.
And it’s a remarkably different role – she plays socialite Lady Mae Loxley in the show that the TV channel hope will be as popular as Downton Abbey, which aired in the same slot.
Corrie to classy: Katherine Kelly starred in Mr Selfridge appearing as socialite Lady Mae Loxley
The series, which is based on Lindy Woodhead’s book Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge, is created by multi award winning writer Andrew Davies, who also penned the likes of Pride and Prejudice and Bleak House.
It stars American actor Jeremy Piven, who is known for his role in US show Entourage, as Mr Selfridge - the man who brought sex appeal to shopping.
Set in London in 1909 it begins with the slightly over-acted Mr Selfridge making a grand speech before discovering his investors have withdrew (he goes on to make a fair few speeches).
The man: Jeremy Piven plays Harry Selfridge in the story about the famous department store
Instead of panicking the American goes into overdrive, causing a few raised eye-brows from his English counterparts and starts to spend, spend, spend.
He picks a glamorous showgirl Ellen Love, played by Zoe Tapper, to be the ‘essence’ (basically the face) of the store, while his poor wife sits at home lamenting how much he is working.
Meanwhile he helps out an ordinary shop girl, Agnes Towler, played by Aisling Loftus’s, giving her a managerial job in the store.
So far, so good: The reaction to the show has so far been fairly positive however it has been suggested that there is not enough suspense
Agnes clearly has an interesting back story – her troubled brother briefly features- but what that is will surely be drawn out over the series.
While the entire female cast is particularly strong, it is Rada-trained and former Royal Shakespeare Company actress Katherine who stands out playing the ‘saviour’ of the store.
Mr Selfridge, although it is pretty to look at and appeals to the shopaholics amongst us, lacks any real suspense – we all know he succeeds and has a hugely popular shop.
Show girl: Zoe Tapper plays showgirl Ellen Love who becomes the face of the store
As Charlie Brooker sarcastically tweeted: ‘I can't wait to see if Mr. Selfridge will ever open his shop.’
In general the reaction to the show on Twitter was positive, with a lot of users saying it made them want to go on a shopping spree to Selfridges.
A number of celebrities also enjoyed the show, Chris Moyles tweeted: ‘Mr. Selfridge is BRILLIANT.’
Made In Chelsea’s Francesca Hull agreed: ‘Loving Mr Selfridge, very good performance from Mr Piven! X x’
Troublemaker: Katherine used to play the troublesome Becky McDonald in Coronation Street
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2258214/Katherine-Kelly-shines-new-ITV-drama-man-sex-shopping-Mr-Selfridge.html#ixzz2HFO7BYam
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