Starts September 27th on ITV2 and will run for eight episodes.

There's an interview with Billie in the Sky Magazine.

Swinging, Stockings and Stilettos

ITV have kitted out their site for the series, which starts in 9 days time on ITV2.

Each episode is only 30 minutes long and will serve as a lead in for S3 of Entourage.

http://www.itv.com/Drama/contemporary/TheS...rl/default.html

I thought the first episode was really good. Funny, smart, and nothing at all what all the negative hype had led me to believe. Billie has now firmly got me in her clutches as my number two girl crush (behind Claudia Black, who wins for All Time Number One Girl Crush). She really is a dynamic actress. I especially enjoyed the wry sarcastic-ness. This is about as far from Rose as she could have gotten.

(Note to other actors who gripe about type-casting: this is the way to do it. Don't kvetch about being type-casted in scifi shows and then continue to do scifi shows. Besides, you probably look yummy, so please, by all means, make your next job one in which you strip down to your knickers...or less. Thanks.)

How many episodes is this going to be? Six or eight half-hour installments?

I positively adore this show. I liked Billie's work as Rose (wasn't too fond of her portrayal of Sally Lockhart in The Ruby in the Smoke), but I think this is the best thing I have seen her in yet. I don't understand how this show could possibly have any negative hype; the first episode was fabulous and I can't wait to see where the story goes. Just love, love, love.

This show officially kicked ass. After my intial 'Rose' response, I was totally blown away by Billie Piper's acting in this. I'm really excited for this.

Yeah this was a fun debut episode. BP certainly convinces as Belle and the narrations are nothing short of hilarious.

There's eight half hour episodes and this pulled in 1.8 million for ITV which was brilliant for the station.

Just finished watching the first four episodes and I am completely and utterly hooked. I just love this show! Billie Piper is really excellent in the role of Belle/Hannah. I'm quite amazed that I'm not annoyed by the talking to the camera, I find it works really well in this show. It takes the edge off some of the scenes and it is frequently hilarious. BP is really going to town with the facial expressions.

Loved her little scenes with the Front Desk Manager in ep. 3. The show is doing a great job of straddling (so to speak) the line between comedy and drama. The producers have done a great job with the casting I find. BP has excellent chemistry with her "clients" each time.

I really hope it continues after 8 episodes. Eight is not enough.

I think this show is awesome. I can't believe there isn't more postings.

It might be because it's only on in the UK so not that many people have seen it. I'm loving it though. I've actually begun reading the original blog since the series began, just to compare and contrast. Hopefully it will get picked up in the US and everyone else can see what we few have been enjoying for weeks now.

Brilliant scripts. Very good music montages. VERY raunchy scenes. I also love the talking-into the camera segments from Billie Piper. Brilliant actress.

Next week? Ben/Hannah hoyay!

So next week is Ep 6/8? Aw, that means its nearly over!

It's because it's only on ITV2 in the UK. It's a digital channel, and while more and more people have digital TV in the UK these days (I think it's comfortably over 50% by now), the extra channels still get crappy ratings (and frequently show a lot of rubbish that you wouldn't want to watch anyway). It's somewhat analagous to the show being on a cable-only channel in the US, rather than a network.

I didn't realize ITV2 was a digital channel, I'm outside the UK. So even a lot of the UK isn't seeing the show then? No wonder their aren't many posts. People are missing out, it's awesome.

Next week's episode is a bit confusing. What is Ben getting up to?

Just finishing watching the first six episodes. I've liked Billie's acting for awhile now, but I was not going to see this due to the negative hype. She's excellent in this. She's a charming actress, but can do comedy and drama quite well.

The scripts are pretty nice, and the Belle narration is so well directed. Not at all jarring, and Billie can pull it off.

The show has a nice soundtrack to boot. I wish I could find a list of all the songs they use.

I think the pilot is one of my favourites. I liked Daniel. I like Ben too. I wondered where I had seen Iddo Goldberg, and IMDB says L'Auberge Espangole. Go figure.

By the way, has anyone read the book? I'm quite curious now.

You can read the original blog, which is still being updated due to the series being on air at the moment. Belle de Jour blog. Warning: it's addictive!

Thanks, oakgirl.

So the preview tells me that Belle needs a partner for a foursome and Ben appears to want to try it out. Hmmm.

I can't believe this series is almost over. It's too fun to be done.

Me thinks Ben is still sweet on Hannah. Interesting.

I can't believe there are only 2 episodes left either. It's just getting going, hopefully there will be a second season. Or was this just a one time thing?

It's not difficult. Billie is smoking in this role.

This recent episode was hilarious. "Coal." and I loved Ben's sound effects.

How will it all end? It shouldn't! I wonder if there's a chance this will get a second series.

I read somewhere that Billie Piper got addicted to Agent Provocateur lingerie while filming the show. One thing I liked about Rose was that she didn't lose weight as Dr. Who gained momentum. Hannah/Belle seems thinner than I remember Rose being - I hope she doesn't get too skinny. She looks so cute in her underwear!

I would hate for that as well. That's one of the things that I like about Billie too, she seems really comfortable in her skin now. Also she is Gorgeous. But she is a little skinnier than when she was Rose. Though Rose tended to wear a lot of baggy things in S1 and slouched more. I also think BP must have worked out a lot for this role.

An interesting hint from today's entry in Belle's blog. After a slightly horrifying story of waxing gone wrong, Belle writes:

Hmmm, I wonder if ITV will announce that its ordering a second series of "Secret Diary..." I'd love to see more of Billie's work on this show (and I mean that in all sincerity).

I just hope it won't conflict with her return to Doctor Who, if the rumors are true. It seems plausible; I mean, Series Five is going to be three one off specials so David can do 'Hamlet'--Billie could return for a few weeks' of filming. I think it'd be brilliant.

After declaring my love for this show I promptly went and missed every episode after the third one. I didn't realize it was going to conclude quite so quickly; must get caught up sometime, since I doubt I can watch the remaining episodes before tomorrow night. Billie is so pretty. (Although this isn't her first role in which she played a character that was sexually, er, promiscuous - her character and James Nesbitt's had sex multiple times in different positions in their episode of The Canterbury Tales.)



Mmm, I'd like a second series, but I can't see her returning to Doctor Who. It would seem like a step backward, career-wise, and actors who play companions aren't renowned for their post-Who success. Since she's doing well for herself without it, I would be very surprised if she returned. I think a return has the potential to be done well if, IMO, it's to assert Rose's independence without the Doctor, otherwise it's almost a waste of bringing her back considering she'd have to leave again. But that's a discussion suited for a more appropriate thread.

I finally saw the eighth episode, and I'm hoping Belle hint in her blog means that we'll be getting a second series. I've grown fond of the show, and Billie is always welcome on my screen. I look forward to it, and discussing it in our tiny little thread here. :)

I thought the final episode of series one was a fitting end. Billie's Belle gets a taste of the high life of courtesans and decides she's better off with "normal life"...well, "normal" for her. I wasn't surprised that Ben called off the wedding.

Bye bye Belle, we hardly knew ye. Here's hoping we'll get to see more of you in the future.

This show started airing here in Canada on Showcase last night. I loved it. Can't wait for next week. Thanks Showcase for promoting it because I wouldn't have heard about it otherwise.

They were promoting it? I completely missed the promotion, I just happened to stumble onto it at the beginning. I'm glad it has made its way over here so everyone can see it. Such a great show.

I liked how they ended the first season as well. Now we need confirmation of a second season and things will be great. I'd really enjoy seeing Belle/Hannah striking out on her own and seeing what happens.

It's coming back!

Per the BBC News:


Great news. I can't wait. I find it hilarious that it got nominated for an award at the Adult Film Awards. I didn't think it was that risqué.

Yay! I've been reading the book, and I really miss the show. I really love Billie as Belle.



That's funny, and I agree it really isn't that risqué. The nudity wasn't that in your face.

I didn't find it too risque either. It was a fun series if it often lacked in depth. Looking forward a second helping though.

Showtime have a date for the series - Monday June 16th.

Also their site has some Belle goodness ...

http://www.sho.com/site/secretdiary/home.d...urce=shocom_nav

BP is currently filming the second series. Here is a brief (spoilery) synopsis of the new series from this site:



Thoughts?

Callum Blue is very, very pretty. ...That's all.

Ooh, that sounds promising. Heck, I'll take anything--I'm just glad it's coming back for another season. I like that they are exploring the idea of Belle working and Hannah falling in love. Complications! And she's going to be playing mentor, which might be fun and create some laughs. I'm not familiar with Callum Blue so I looked him up. Good times. I like him already!

Now that Season 1 is going to be airing on Showtime, I hope we get some new discussions in here about the show.

It has been confirmed that ITV is going to produce a third series with shooting in 2009. This is great news and shows a lot of faith has been put on the show because they haven't even finished filming S2 yet. Yes, I hope we do get some discussion going on here. It is a fun show, and it seems to be getting some much needed buzz on this side of the Atlantic.

Excellent news! We have 2 more seasons to look forward to then. Any word on when Season 2 will begin airing in the UK?

It will be returning to ITV2 with its eight new eps in September.

It's been widely reported that BP is currently preggers, and there will be a body double for some shots. Ah well.

I thought they'd used a body double for some of the sex in the first series, specifically the scenes with Ace Bhatty when she's juggling her clients?

I am unsure exactly how much of S1 was her, but she was clearly in some (if not most) of the sex scenes. With S2, the double will be used in most (if not all) of the nude scenes.

Billie Piper is really fugly.

We have a full forum now, so I'm locking this.

Some S2 goodness.

My does Billie look hot or what?

Trailer caps

What happened to the full forum?

There was barely any forum traffic during the season's run. No forum traffic = no more full forum.

Tis a pity.

At least we have another month until S2. That, Merlin, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Survivors and UK TV will be great again.

Season 2 starts tonight with a double bill on ITV2 from 10pm.

Belle's Back! Yay!

So, I'm supposed to spoiler now, right?
Erring on the side of caution:

Callum Blue! And Billie Piper! On the same show! Flirting! Awesome!

...agh. Better now. The two of them are such favourites of mine that I had trouble contructing sentences.

I like the vibe of the second season much better than the first. It might be a rush to judgement seeing as I've only seen the first two episodes but I think they're going for a more cohesive storyline this year, rather than the almost complete stand-alonity with just a sproucing of continuity, that they did last year.

Bambi's chracter is definitely intersting and I'm finding Ashley Madekwe lovely, so far.

But damn, Billie! What's with the bronzer? Do you think that was Piper's own decision or the producers to try and make her look thinner?

Even if you don't know Billie Piper's pregnant it shows in her figure and trust me I couldn't care less about that. The odd costuming choices and the constant games of hide-the-fetus and spot the body double are actually quite amusing... but why the self-tanner? Why?!

She looks so splotchy. But then again that's my biggest concern about the new season so I'm pretty happy with what's hapenning.

Yay the show is back. Spoilers for S2 eps 1 and 2:

I'm liking it. I do adore the Alex/Hannah pairing; I miss Ben/Hannah though. I miss Ben fullstop. Not that Alex isn't amusing and now that Bambi has learned her lesson, she may not be as irksome. The show can be very funny; I almost forgot that. I got a big laugh out of Hannah's "Sometimes I like to draw facial hair on myself," and Alex's dorky but normal "I am so moving to f***ing London." Definitely more coheisve storylines. Not any outfits I really covet yet, but I do like Hannah's suits be them white or black. Still lovin' all the lingerie and tights.

Regarding the two new episodes broadcast earlier this week:
I really like Callum Blue as Alex. The tipsy flirting between him and Belle during the date in episode 2 was extremely fun to watch. "Sometimes... I go to the shops in my pajamas!" Aw, Billie. And the mustache with the mutual embarassment, so cute!

I'm not warming up to the other addition to the cast, however... I hope that's the end of Bambi going behind Belle's back. Maybe then I'll be able to tolerate Bambi.

Episode 1 was a nice reintroduction, and the second one was something I'd look forward to watching again.

Yay! So happy it's back too!

Loving Alex. Callum Blue is all sorts of charming. I really like his interactions with Hannah, he brings out a different side to her. She's not as confident as she is when she's around Ben or when she's Belle.

Not sure how I feel about Bambi either. I'm going to wait for a few more episodes before I pass judgment on her.

Episode 2 was really good. I liked the guy who played her plastic surgeon/client. He was very cute with her and how he's so sick of analyzing bodies all the time. The bit with the moustache was very funny and oddly flirty.

I'm so glad our show is back!

About the second episode; was it just me or did the plastic surgeon bear a striking resemblance to Julian McMahon who plays Christian on "Nip/Tuck?" Particularly about the eyes, the resemblance was so uncanny it was actually a bit distracting. I loved how it sort of wasn't obvious that the doctor was one of her clients at first. Bambi needs a good shaking but I do like the young actress playing her.

I just saw the first two episodes. Billie Piper looks like she has her old body back (yay!) or is just starting to show. Either way, she looked really pretty, especially in the scenes where she looks more natural. I hope the other annoying girl isn't on too much (or in the future, at all). I wouldn't want this show to become the Adventures of Belle & Idiot Sidekick.