Mr Selfridge (2013-2016)

MR_SELFRIDGE - JEREMY PIVEN as Harry Selfridge, KATHERINE KELLY as Mae Rennard, SACHA DHAWAN as Jimmy and ZOE RICHARDS and EMMA HAMILTON as THE DOLLY SISTERS

Mr Selfridge – Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge, Katherine Kelly as Mae Rennard, Sacha Dhawan as Jimmy and Zoe Richards and Emma Hamilton as The Dolly Sisters © ITV

Starring: Jeremy Piven, Frances O’Connor, Ron Cook, Kika Markham, Tom Goodman-Hill, Amy Beth Hayes, Samuel West
Production Company:
ITV Studios, Masterpiece
Kent Locations Used:
The Historic Dockyard Chatham, South Foreland Lighthouse, Kingsgate Bay

Mr Selfridge (2013-2016) was an ITV drama series based on the novel ‘Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge’ by Lindy Woodhead. The series tells the true story of charismatic American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge who transformed the world of retail after opening the first ever Selfridges store in London in 1909.

The series stars Jeremy Piven (Serendipity, Entourage) as Harry Selfridge, Frances O’Connor (A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Mansfield Park) as Rose Selfridge, Ron Cook (On a Clear Day (2005), Hot Fuzz) as Mr Crabb, Kika Markham (Killing Me Softly, Outland) as Lois Selfridge, Tom Goodman-Hill (The Rizen (2017), Humans – Series 2 (2016)) as Mr Grove, Amy Beth Hayes (Three Little Birds, Lilyhammer) as Kitty Hawkins and Samuel West (Darkest Hour (2017), Howards End) as Frank Edwards.

The production came to The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film the exterior of Selfridges’ Oxford Street store throughout all four series.

Frances O’Connor, who plays Rose Selfridge, said: “The exterior set is down at Chatham in Kent and just looks like the outside of Selfridge’s. Then if you step a couple of feet one way you’re in the water of the docks. That’s the magic of filming. It really does look amazing.”

For Series 3, production visited the South Foreland Lighthouse in Dover to film Violette Selfridge (Hannah Tointon) and Victor Colleano (Trystan Gravelle) taking a drive to the coast.

Kingsgate Bay in Broadstairs features in Series 4, in a scene where Mr Grove and Miss Mardle (Amanda Abbington) visit the beach.

Harry Selfridge talks to Journalists in an airfield

Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge talks to Journalists © ITV

Set on the River Medway, The Historic Dockyard Chathamis a popular film location offering Georgian and Victorian architecture, maritime environment, dry dock, cobbled streets, and industrial buildings. The Historic Dockyard Chatham has previously featured in productions such as Victor Frankenstein (2015)Jekyll and Hyde (2015) and Great Expectations (2012).

South Foreland Lighthouse in Dover is a Victorian lighthouse landmark along the White Cliffs of Dover. The White Cliffs of Dover has been featured on screen in productions such as Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011) and On A Clear Day (2005).

Kingsgate Bay is a beautiful sandy beach surrounded by chalk cliffs in Broadstairs. The Thanet area has welcomed filming from projects including The Lady in the Van (2015), Eastenders (2007-2023) and Die Another Day (2002).

The first episode of Mr Selfridge aired on ITV1 on Sunday 6th January 2013.

The final season of Mr Selfridge (2013-2016) began airing on ITV1 on Friday 8th January 2016 and all 4 series are now available to stream on ITVX.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.