Time for... retail therapy
THE years are positively flying by on BACK IN TIME FORTHE CORNER SHOP BBC2’s endearing living history series. Only a week ago it was the dreary old late 19th century. By the end of tonight’s episode they’ve seen off the Nazis.
Well, OK, our shopkeeping family the Arderns haven’t. Other than conscripted son Sam, they’ve continued toiling away behind the counter of their convenience store in Sheffield, adapting and readapting to these rapidly changing times.
And to their credit, they seem to be taking it completely in their stride.
If anyone sounds confused, it’s the show’s resident historian, Polly Russell, when she and presenter Sara Cox step into the Arderns’ newly revamped store at the start of the programme.
Casting her eye over the lovely new Twenties-style fixtures and fittings, Polly exclaims: “It looks as though somebody’s come here professionally and kitted out this whole shop!”
Yes, Polly, that’s because somebody’s come there professionally and kitted out this whole shop. It’s how the programme works, remember?
I must admit it does look rather splendid, though (coming from a family of small shopkeepers – premises-wise, not in height terms – I do get quite excited by this kind of stuff).
Lots of familiar brands are neatly laid out on the shelves. Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Oxo, Marmite, Colman’s Mustard, Persil, you name it.Actually, don’t, we’ll be here all day.
But it’s the Bird’s Custard that well and truly comes into its own a little later.
The mum and daughter, Jo and Olivia, are preparing a rather unusual ice cream to sell to their customers, of which this product is a key ingredient.
I can’t say the result looks particularly tempting but when one local lad pops in to try it, he declares it “probably the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted”.
Admittedly, that’s before the paramedics turn up. Joke.
I have to say, I’m liking this latest Back In Time…series rather a lot.
Not just because the subject matter is right up my street but because it feels a lot less didactic than some.
Back In Time For School, documenting the evolution of the British education system, was a tad too agenda-driven for my liking. This one’s closer to the spirit of the original, Back In Time For Dinner.
And I do like Sheffield bunch the Arderns. Some of the families in previous series have overdone the am-dram a tad, whereas this lot know where to draw the line.
When Sam gets his conscription papers, Jo expresses natural maternal concern but not before pointing out: “We know you’re not going…”