The Bleak Old Shop Of Stuff is a four-part comedy adventure set in the Dickensian world of Jedrington Secret-Past, the up-standing family man and owner of The Old Shop of Stuff, Victorian London's most successful purveyor of miscellaneous odd things.
The plot is set in Victorian London and revolves around Jedrington Secret-Past (Robert Webb) and his family: his wife Conceptiva (Katherine Parkinson), son Victor (Finlay Christie) and daughter Victoria (Ambra Lily Keegan).
The characters and themes are based on some of Dickens' most famous novels, including Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. Some themes of the time were referenced from time to time including the anti-French sentiment, harsh corporal punishments used in schools, debtors' prisons, filthy living conditions in London and the large gap between rich and poor.
The Christmas special will feature Stephen Fry as the evil lawyer Malifax Skulkingworm alongside David Mitchell (That Mitchell And Webb Look), Celia Imrie (Nanny McPhee), Pauline McLynn (Father Ted) and Johnny Vegas (Ideal). The episode sees Jedrington's family incarcerated by Skulkingworm in London's infamous prison The Skint, until they can repay a mysterious and vast debt. Will Jedrington rescue his family in time for Christmas or lose them forever? And is there more to the name Secret-Past than meets the eye?
The series was commissioned to coincide with the bicentenary of
Charles Dickens' birth, February 7th of 1812.
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General Information
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Status: Ended
Premiered: December 19, 2011
Ended: March 05, 2012
Classification: Scripted
Genre: Comedy
Network: BBC TWO (United Kingdom)
Airs: Mondays
Runtime: 60 Minutes
NOTE: The Scene made an error and used the lable "S01E01" twice.
There are four unique episodes in this series: a Christmas Special,
followed by three regualr episodes two months later (see release dates).
1x01 -- Dec 19, 2012 -- Christmas Special
1x01 -- Feb 20, 2012
1x02 -- Feb 27, 2012
1x03 -- Mar 05, 2012
Dec 19, 2012 -- "Christmas Special" -- Jedrington Secret-Past runs a successful business. Malifax Skulkingworm, a lawyer, though informs him on Christmas Eve that he owes a huge debt that he has has no clue about. Malifax ends up imprisoning his family in an debtors prison called the Skint in London. Jedrington attempts to rescue his family in time for Christmas. "The Bleak Old Shop Of Stuff S01E01 HDTV XviD-FTP"
After downloading, I recommend changing the title to "S01E00 Christmas Special"
Feb 20, 2012 -- S01E01 -- Jedrington teams up with a seemingly charming new business partner, Harmswell Grimstone. As the Secret-Past family's fortunes rise, it looks like they are built on crumbling foundations indeed, especially when it is revealed that Conceptiva too has a secret that turns out to be even darker than Jedrington's own.
"The Bleak Old Shop Of Stuff S01E01 HDTV XviD-TLA "
Feb 27, 2012 -- S01E02 -- Jedrington strats to question the morality of his business empire as he feels stricken with grief at the apparent death of his wife. On Easter Eve he is visited by three ghostly rabbits who manage to push him over the edge of despair.
Mar 05, 2012 -- S01E03 -- Reduced to poverty and gin addiction Jedrington is at his lowest ebb, until his loyal and true servant Servegood restores him to sobriety by the gentle application of a massive cudgel. Reunited with Conceptiva, the two take the evil Mr Harmswell Grimstone to court to demand the return of the business and their daughter. But when the judge (Graham Garden) turns out to be Grimstone's uncle the case seems hopeless. Just when all seems lost, the family find the solution in the most unlikely place.
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Date of last review or update: December 04, 2012
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