Secret Diary Of A Call Girl returns with Series 3

Based on the best-selling, real life diaries of an upmarket escort, Secret Diary Of A Call Girl returns to ITV2 for a third series in early 2010.

> Buy the show on DVD on Amazon.

This time round, the show gives us a more profound insight into the universe inhabited by the glamorous and intelligent Belle de Jour (played by Billie Piper). Belle is attempting to juggle three very separate identities: Hannah, a high-class independent escort and a published author. It's a continual battle to conceal all her different personae...

That conflict is made more difficult when her sister Jackie (Joanna Bobin) comes to stay. Matters become even more complicated when Jackie starts to go out with Hannah’s ex, Ben (Iddo Goldberg). Meanwhile, Bambi (Ashley Madekwe) falls for a client, the hedonistic, young aristocrat Byron (David Dawson). It appears that everyone has a partner, except Belle.

Only one man really “gets” her – Duncan (James D’Arcy), the editor of her book. As Belle embarks on ever more extreme experiences to provide “good material” for the book, she finds herself drawn to Duncan. She hopes that an (unpaid) relationship with a man could have a future. Duncan knows everything about her. But does Belle know everything about Duncan?

> Find out spoilers for Series 3 in our episode guide.

> Read our Series 1 review.

> Read our Series 2 review.

> Read our review of Series 3: Episodes 1 & 2.

The show's series producers Roanna Benn and Rebecca De Souza reveal what to expect...


How has the show developed since the last series?

Rebecca: “For Belle, the big problem is finding a significant relationship in her life. Even though she is pretty much okay with what she does for her living, most men are not, and there is a big part of her that wants to be in a relationship. So with the clients she has lots of mini, pretend little relationships for an hour or an overnighter. But she doesn’t ever have the real deal - or she attempts to and she fails. And in this third series, she really does fall in love with somebody who evidently can cope with what she does.

"This is the first man that she’s fallen in love with who knows – he’s the editor of her book. And so it appears that the relationship is going to work really well, but that’s her biggest dilemma, and it always will be. No matter how open-minded your friends are, there are very, very few men who can cope with this in their relationships.”

Roanna: “In series three, Belle is now a published author, so she has the burden or the added stress of not only seeing clients but writing the book. In fact, she has to see clients because she needs more material for the book.”

Why is Belle attracted to Duncan?

Roanna: “He’s very different to the other men that she’s met in that he knows everything about her and he seems to be very unjudgemental of it. As time goes on, she realises that she is very much attracted to him and she thinks, ‘this could be the person I could have a relationship with. This is a person who is worldly, who’s been round the block and who knows everything I do. He knows that I'm quite bright, and he’s not pigeonholed me as a hooker. He also thinks of me as a writer.’ And so they do form a relationship. But there is a big twist, which I don’t think I should blow now ...”

What do you think is the secret of Billie's appeal?

Rebecca: “Billie is SO popular. She’s funny and she’s clever and she’s silly and she’s warm and she’s sweet - she’s all those things that people think that she is. And obviously she’s really lovely to look at. But she’s also had this extraordinary life, hasn’t she? We all know so much about it. She’s lived a massive life, and she’s still young. So we’re fascinated by that. There’s an openness about Billie that makes her really, really appealing.”

How is the show written?

Roanna: “What’s very special about the show is the fact that we’ve been able to bring together a team of very unique writers. That started off with Lucy Prebble who’s very individual and full of character. She’s a strong young playwright, and this was her first television job.

“She had no judgement on the character f Belle. She just loved strong characters who are really out there. Lucy is drawn to characters who other people may have issues with, but will just completely defy expectations. So she was always very attracted to the character Belle.”

Will the show return for Series 4 in 2011?

Rebecca: “We would love to do a fourth series and there are loads of places to take Belle, Bambi and Ben. We end this series on a cliff hanger, which gives us a great opportunity to launch into the next series. So we’d love to do another. There are endless stories to tell.”