I'm pleased that Mr. Selfridge will be returning to Masterpiece  Classic.  I've watched Masterpiece since it began (yes, I am that old), and it consistently provides viewers with a fine variety of British and American programs, with only an occasional "stinker."  For Season 2, Mr. Selfridge will focus on World War I, a not-surprising turn for a BBC production.  

Even though the war ended nearly 100 years ago, it remains fresh within the British psyche, and writers, producers, and directors still do not seem loathe to delve into the subject, despite myriad movie and television treatments.  Downton Abbey spent only a few episodes on WWI, yet those episodes showed just a touch of the horror of the trenches.  However, the most brilliant treatment of WWI on British television occurred in one full season and part of the following season in Upstairs Downstairs (1971-77), and nary a trench was seen by viewers.  The entire war was handled within the confines of the Bellamy home (and a few other inside locations) and through dialogue and costumes.  There was no need to actually show trench warfare back in those days; the directors/writers/producers/et al trusted viewers to know the horrendous conditions of WWI warfare.  

It will be interesting to see how the war is presented to viewers in Mr. Selfridge.  I can't wait!

JULY 22, 2013, 1:38 PM

‘Mr. Selfridge’ to Return for Second Season on PBS

By FELICIA R. LEE

Anglophiles rejoice. “Mr.  Selfridge,”  on PBS’s “Masterpiece Classic,” will be back for a second season in 2014, Masterpiece and PBS announced on Monday. Starring Jeremy Piven as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the American founder of Selfridges department store in London, the first season of the eight-episode series reached nearly 15 million viewers.

The show marked Mr.  Piven’s return to TV after his Emmy and Golden Globe wins for his performance as Ari Gold, a temperamental superagent in the hit HBO comedy series “Entourage.” The second season of “Mr. Selfridge” picks up the story in 1914, as the department store celebrates its fifth business anniversary as World War I looms.

“I’m absolutely delighted that Masterpiece viewers welcomed ‘Mr. Selfridge’ into their homes,” Mr. Piven said in a statement. “’Mr. Selfridge’ is a true ensemble piece, and audiences can look forward to seeing the return of their favorite characters and some intriguing new faces.”

The returning cast includes Frances O’Connor as Mr. Selfridge’s wife, Rose, Aisling Loftus as Agnes Towler, Katherine Kelly as Lady Mae, Grégory Fitoussi as Henri Leclair, Trystan Gravelle as Victor Colleano, Amanda Abbington as Miss Mardle, Tom Goodman-Hill as Roger Grove and Ron Cook as Mr. Crabb.