Starring Dervla Kirwan and Peter Capaldi, this Christmas special probably isn’t one many people remember, however, it’s become something of a cult classic.
Adapted from the book of the same title by Alex Shearer and broadcast on Christmas Eve 1999, The Greatest Store in the World tells the story of Livvy, a streetwise teenager and her younger sister, Angeline (played by real-life sisters, Elizabeth and Holly Earl).
Livvy is fed up with her mother’s transient lifestyle, which means she’s always the new kid at school. After their motorhome blows up, the family find themselves homeless over Christmas and they have no choice but to squat in a depatment store called Scottleys (akin to Harrods)! They all have to evade the suspicions of the doorman, who Angeline nicknames, Mr Whiskers, Peter Capaldi, who eventually cottons on to the fact that the family may be doing more than just shopping there.
Brian Blessed plays Mr Scottley himself- the owner of the store. Ricky Tomlinson and the late Sean Hughes play the department store’s Santa and Elf, and it also stars, albeit slightly randomly, S Club7.
As you might have guessed, S Club7 dates the movie somewhat, but who doesn’t love to hear a bit of ‘Bring it all Back’? and to be honest ‘You’re my number One’ is legitimately well placed rather than crowbarred into the plot!
It’s a bit of late 90’s nostalgia. That aside, this shouldn’t be dismissed as a kid’s movie, the acting is fantastic from the young girls, Dervla Kirwin and Peter Capaldi, who share a lovely chemistry together, as well as putting in great performances. Their romance (or possible romance) was really quite subtle, and never took over the story.
It is an interesting take on a Christmas movie, exploring themes of single parenting, and the gap between the rich and poor at Christmas time, without coming across as condescending. The premise of living in a department store is also a very interesting and unique idea. Honestly, it’s one of my favourites, and something I watch every Christmas…this isn’t one to be missed! Watch it below:
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