Has anyone been watching the latest series of Mary Queen of Shops? As a die-hard Mary fan, I was thrilled to see the return of the series, but a little dismayed to note that she has turned her talents to any old business, not fashion as per the last series. However, I had to quickly eat my words, as it has been brilliant!
Each week we have seen her work wonders on these ailing little shops from a stiggy bakery to a flailing general store. In this week's episode, our Mary trys to wrangle an interiors/home shop trapped in the seventies by two ageing hippies and their son (who looks remarkably like a bearded version of the 'Small Boy' from The Snowman, complete with cosy dressing gown,) from the jaws of commerical disaster. It made for excellent viewing.
I now have Mary's tactic's down pat: she goes in, is shocked at how poorly run the business is, tells the owners in no uncertain terms how it is, they are insulted, shocked and affronted, she worries that she has bitten off more than she can chew and then slowly but surely, she charms them into submission, until they are all good pals and the shop looks like something from a Liberty's window display.
This hippy-twosome were hilarious. The shop: Under the Moon, should've been called 'Under the weather' judging by the tasteless tat that wouldn't've even made it onto the shelves of a charity shop. Shoe perfume bottles and solar system lighting displays do not a chic interiors shop make. Mary has some convincing to do, and it seems a bit of a lost cause - particularly when the Fleetwood Mac Tribute act, aka Denny and Dazzle reveal that they are set to lose their home (a giant, blue, mid-century semi that has been rag-rolled and dip dyed to within an inch of its foundations.) Mary is aghast until she realises that they own the 'hair and beauty' shop three doors down: 'Treats' which they have plans to turn into a buddist retreat with healing and treatment rooms.
Eventually Mary coaxes out their creative side and realise the potential for getting them to customise and tart-up knackered old furniture for a healthy mark-up, and when the newly named shop: '37 Old London Road' is opened, I must admit, I would be happy to browse its shelves.
It's a happy ending this week, and it's great to see D&D get back on their winklepickers - good old Mary!
Roll on next week!
Mary Queen of Shops is on BBC2 on Monday nights.
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