Jeremy Piven's MR. SELFRIDGE Delivers Strong Ratings for ITV

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the premiere of the new ITV drama MR. SELFRIDGE starring Jeremy Piven delivered big numbers for the network. The show, which is set to premiere in the U.S. on PBS in late March drew an average of 7.3 million viewers. Mr Selfridge also beat out the second episode of BBC's popular mini-series Ripper Street, which drew an average of 5.4 million viewers.

Created by multi-award winning writer Andrew Davies, Mr Selfridge tells the story of 'Mile a Minute Harry', a man with a mission to make shopping as thrilling as sex. Pioneering and reckless, with an almost manic energy, he created a theatre of retail where any topic or trend that was new, exciting, entertaining - or sometimes just eccentric - was showcased.

Jeremy Piven takes on the role as Mr Selfridge following a successful eight-season run on hit drama Entourage, in which he won three Emmys and a Golden Globe for his portrayal as Ari Gold. Joining Piven is Katherine Kelly (Coronation Street) as the confident and alluring socialite Lady Mae, whose connections prove vital for Harry as he builds his empire.

The drama is set in London in 1909, at a time when women were revelling in a new sense of freedom and modernity. Harry wanted to indulge, empower and celebrate these women and so opened the doors of his lavish department store, on London's famous Oxford Street.

Through the innovations and spectacular events Harry staged within the store, the stories will shine a light on hidden moments of the history of women, be it fashion, cosmetics, technology or domestic affairs.