Watch Bleak Old Shop of Stuff

The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff is a British television comedy series that aired on BBC Two between December 2011 and January 2012. The show follows the lives of the proprietors and staff of a bizarre antique shop, located in the heart of Victorian London. The show is a comedic take on the gothic horror genre, with a heavy emphasis on satire and absurdity.

The central character of the show is Jedrington Secret-Past (played by Robert Webb), a deeply indebted shopkeeper who is struggling to keep his failing business afloat. Jedrington is accompanied by his wife Conceptiva (played by Katherine Parkinson), a former actress, and his loyal shop assistants, including the morose and misanthropic Lombard (played by Tim Downie) and the bumbling and accident-prone Runnymeade (played by Stephen Fry).

Despite its name, the Bleak Old Shop of Stuff is anything but dreary. The store is filled with a range of bizarre and fantastical items, such as a potion that can make people fall in love, a cursed doll that brings misfortune to anyone who touches it, and a mechanical bird that can predict the future. Each episode focuses on the shop's attempts to sell these eccentric items to various eccentric customers, including a werewolf, a mad scientist, and even Queen Victoria herself.

One of the most striking aspects of the Bleak Old Shop of Stuff is its dark and surreal atmosphere. The show is set entirely at night, with most scenes taking place in the dimly-lit store or in the foggy streets of Victorian London. The dialogue is often peppered with macabre humour and witty wordplay, with characters delivering lines such as "I don't know how you lot manage to stay so cheerful. Life is a hideous nightmare without end."

Despite its bleak tone, the show is also surprisingly uplifting and heartwarming. Jedrington may be a hapless shopkeeper, but he is also a loving husband and a devoted friend, willing to go to great lengths to help those around him. The show is ultimately a celebration of the power of friendship, imagination, and the human spirit.

Overall, the Bleak Old Shop of Stuff is a fantastic and unique piece of television. With its dark humour, eccentric characters, and charming performances from its talented cast, the show manages to be both hilarious and heartwarming at the same time. Fans of gothic horror, surreal comedy, and witty satire will find plenty to love in this hidden gem.

Bleak Old Shop of Stuff is a series that ran for 1 seasons (5 episodes) between December 19, 2011 and on BBC TWO