Series 1 begins in 1875, and portrays the lives and loves of the people who work, shop, and trade in and around the first English department store.

Into this world comes Denise Lovett, from the small town of Peebles in Scotland, whose uncle Edmund is one of the shopkeepers struggling to survive.

Denise takes a job at The Paradise and is soon seen by Moray as a rising star, to the annoyance of Miss Audrey, the head of ladies' fashion, and of Clara, a fellow shopgirl.

Katherine asks Moray, who has been exiled to Paris, to return to revive the fortunes of The Paradise, and save it from being sold.

The following actors' names were included in the opening credits in at least one episode: A soundtrack, featuring music by composer Maurizio Malagnini from the series, was released by Silva Screen Records on 26 August 2013.

[11] The music was performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra and recorded at Air Studios, Lyndhurst Hall, London, UK.