"Secret Diary of a Call Girl" (2007) TV series

Creator:

Lucy Prebble
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

September 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Based on the popular diary of the anonymous sex worker known only as Belle de Jour.

Plot Keywords:

Self Narration

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Jan. 4	10:00 PM	SHOW
Mon. Jan. 4	10:30 PM	SHOW
Mon. Jan. 4	11:00 PM	SHOW

Cast

Billie Piper	...	Belle / ... (16 episodes, 2007-2008)
Iddo Goldberg	...	Ben (15 episodes, 2007-2008)
Joanna Bobin	...	Jackie / ... (9 episodes, 2007-2008)
Cherie Lunghi	...	Stephanie (8 episodes, 2007-2008)
Callum Blue	...	Alex (8 episodes, 2007-2008)

Series Directed by
Yann Demange		(4 episodes, 2007)
Susan Tully		(4 episodes, 2007)
Peter Lydon		(4 episodes, 2008)
Fraser Macdonald		(4 episodes, 2008)
Owen Harris		(4 episodes, 2009)
China Moo-Young		(4 episodes, 2009)

Series Writing credits
Lucy Prebble		(9 episodes, 2007-2008)
Belle de Jour		(8 episodes, 2007)
Paul Duane		(8 episodes, 2007)
Julie Gearey		(4 episodes, 2007-2008)
Nicole Taylor		(2 episodes, 2007-2008)
Richard Hurst		(2 episodes, 2009)

Series Produced by
Jacquie Glanville	....	producer / line producer (24 episodes, 2007-2009)
Roanna Benn	....	series producer (8 episodes, 2007)
Greg Brenman	....	executive producer (8 episodes, 2007)
Rebecca De Souza	....	series producer (8 episodes, 2007)
Michael Foster	....	executive producer (8 episodes, 2007)
Avril MacRory	....	executive producer (8 episodes, 2007)
Chrissy Skinns	....	producer (8 episodes, 2007)
Julie Clark	....	line producer (7 episodes, 2009)

Series Cinematography by
Tat Radcliffe		(8 episodes, 2007)
Gavin Struthers		(8 episodes, 2008)

Series Film Editing by
Jim Hampton		(4 episodes, 2007)
Chris Wyatt		(4 episodes, 2007)
Richard Elson		(4 episodes, 2008)
Alastair Reid		(4 episodes, 2008)
Nick Arthurs		(4 episodes, 2009)
Liana Del Giudice		(4 episodes, 2009)

Series Casting by
Julia Duff		(8 episodes, 2007)

Series Production Design by
Greg Shaw		(8 episodes, 2007)
Kristian Milsted		(8 episodes, 2008)

Series Art Direction by
Byron Broadbent		(8 episodes, 2008)
Amy Merry		(8 episodes, 2009)
Fiona Gavin		(3 episodes, 2007)

Series Set Decoration by
Emma Davis		(8 episodes, 2009)
Alice Felton		(2 episodes, 2007)

Series Costume Design by
Ralph Holes		(2 episodes, 2007)

Series Makeup Department
Laura Schalker	....	first assistant hair and make-up artist / hair assistant / ... (16 episodes, 2007-2008)
Jade Clarke	....	makeup trainee (8 episodes, 2009)
Steve Smith	....	hair designer / makeup designer (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Production Management
Alasdair Whitelaw	....	post-production supervisor (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andrew Foster	....	second assistant director (8 episodes, 2007)
Alex Mercer	....	second assistant director (8 episodes, 2008)
Guy Barker	....	second assistant director (8 episodes, 2009)
Gemma Morton	....	third assistant director (8 episodes, 2009)
Alex Rendell	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 2007)
Toni Staples	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 2007)
Matthew Gallagher	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 2008)
Richard Harris	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 2009)
Eddie Canal	....	third assistant director (2 episodes, 2007)
Jane Ryan	....	second assistant director: additional crew (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Kelvin Cook	....	dressing props / props (8 episodes, 2007)
Kevin Day	....	stand-by prop / props (8 episodes, 2007)
Christian Ashton	....	art department assistant (8 episodes, 2009)
Dougie Lankston	....	standby props (8 episodes, 2009)
Kerry-Ellen Maxwell	....	stand-by art director (8 episodes, 2009)
Camise Oldfield	....	graphic designer (8 episodes, 2009)
Carly Reddin	....	draughtsperson (8 episodes, 2009)
Steve Register	....	property master (4 episodes, 2009)
Ebonie Allard	....	production buyer (2 episodes, 2007)
Roddy Dolan	....	props (2 episodes, 2007)
Paul Humbles	....	props (2 episodes, 2007)
David Reilly	....	property master (2 episodes, 2007)
Doug Slocombe	....	stand-by art director (2 episodes, 2007)
Rob Anderson	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)
Simon Duric	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
John Hughes	....	sound recordist (24 episodes, 2007-2009)
Andrew Godwin	....	dubbing mixer (16 episodes, 2008-2009)
Kevin Brazier	....	supervising sound editor (8 episodes, 2007)
Robert Brazier	....	sound editor (8 episodes, 2007)
Alan Sallabank	....	dubbing mixer (8 episodes, 2007)
Joanna Andrews	....	boom operator (8 episodes, 2008)
Tim Surrey	....	sound assistant (8 episodes, 2008)
Naomi Dandridge	....	adr mixer (8 episodes, 2009)
Anthony Faust	....	foley editor supervisor / foley mixer (8 episodes, 2009)
Julie Ankerson	....	foley artist (6 episodes, 2007)
Chris Roberts	....	dialogue editor (6 episodes, 2007)
Mitch Low	....	boom operator (5 episodes, 2007)
Anna Sulley	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 2007)
Ben Brazier	....	sound editor (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Special Effects by
Chris Watson	....	special effects technician (3 episodes, 2007-2008)
John Rafique	....	special effects supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Paul Staples	....	colourist (5 episodes, 2007)
John Kerron	....	visual effects (3 episodes, 2008)

Series Stunts
Brice Stratford	....	stunts (8 episodes, 2008)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Warwick Drucker	....	grip (8 episodes, 2007)
Will Kendal	....	best boy / best boy gaffer (8 episodes, 2007)
Tim Potter	....	focus puller (8 episodes, 2007)
Alex Ryle	....	director of photography: second unit (8 episodes, 2007)
Renee Willis	....	clapper loader (8 episodes, 2007)
Steve Cussell	....	best boy / gaffer (8 episodes, 2008)
Chris Jordan	....	grip (8 episodes, 2008)
Richard Mason	....	electrician (8 episodes, 2008)
Rory Moles	....	first assistant camera (8 episodes, 2009)
Rupert Power	....	steadicam operator (6 episodes, 2008)
Paul McGeachan	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 2007)
Christopher R. Nunn	....	camera trainee (2 episodes, 2007)
Matt Fisher	....	Steadicam operator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
David Martin	....	casting assistant (1 episode, 2007)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marco De Magalhaes	....	costume assistant: dailies (2 episodes, 2007)
Vandra Howard	....	costume assistant (2 episodes, 2007)
Allison Wyldeck	....	costume supervisor (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Editorial Department
Tom White	....	assistant editor (8 episodes, 2007)
David Fisher	....	assistant editor (8 episodes, 2009)
Paul Staples	....	colorist (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Music Department
Mat Davidson	....	composer: additional music (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Other crew
Emma Downes	....	assistant production coordinator / production coordinator / ... (24 episodes, 2007-2009)
Paul Duane	....	based on an idea by (24 episodes, 2007-2009)
Alex Jeffrey	....	floor runner (8 episodes, 2008)
Nicky Poulton	....	tiger aspect production co-ordinator (8 episodes, 2008)
Tom Winchester	....	assistant script editor (8 episodes, 2008)
Holly Pullinger	....	production coordinator (4 episodes, 2007)
Maaria Irtizaali	....	production accountant (2 episodes, 2007)
Carol Saunderson	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 2007)
Frith Tiplady	....	head of production (2 episodes, 2007)
Sarah Lindfield	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes, 2008)
Ajay Bhatt	....	unit nurse (unknown episodes)
Elton Farla	....	medical coordinator (unknown episodes)
Bridget Kenningham	....	location scout (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Artist Rights Group (A.R.G)
• ITV Productions
• Silver Apples Media
• Tiger Aspect Productions

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV) (2007) (UK) (TV) (ITV2)
• Independent Television (ITV) (2008) (UK) (TV)
• Lionsgate (2009) (USA) (DVD) (season 1)
• Nine Network Australia (2008) (Australia) (TV)
• RTL Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL5)
• RTL Passion (2009-) (Germany) (TV)
• Showcase Television (2007) (Canada) (TV)
• Showtime Networks (2008) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (UK) (DVD) (season 1)

Special Effects

• Foreign Office (titles)

Other Companies

• 2020 Casting  extras casting
• Docfarla Medical Support  medical support
• Mayflower Studios  ADR recording studio
• Mayflower Studios  adr studio
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services

Also Known As:

Belle de Jour (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (including commercials) (8 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:MA | New Zealand:R18 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Grand Union Canal, London, England, UK

Company:

Artist Rights Group (A.R.G)

Trivia:

On 15 November 2009, the real Belle du Jour, whose memoirs were the basis for this series, revealed her true identity to be Dr Brooke Magnanti, a research scientist and former prostitute from Bristol.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

You Know I'm No Good

Belle, but without an edge.

I'm rather surprised to see that some of the previous commentators who have also read the book didn't find it somewhat disturbing that that the main character has been quite dramatically changed. Sure, it's a TV series that has to be "glossy" and seductive to attract an audience, and although I find Piper somewhat dull, a bit over-polished perhaps, I suppose she's doing alright.

What I find disappointing is that the book's raunchy, funny and extremely in-control woman has been transformed into a nice but flat Ann Summers girl. Take for example Belle's bisexuality (yes, the "real" Belle enjoys sex with women!), which is a recurring element in the book. In the TV series, she has to turn to the camera and reassure us that she's definitely NOT a lesbian, but she "will go gay for pay". And what's with the dilly-dallying with her "ex", Ben? I suppose this would be the book's "N". With whom she in the book has long discussions about anal sex and fisting, for example. The series' Ben doesn't even know what she does for a living.

The Belle of the series then is nowhere near the cool, funny, and sexually explosive Belle I've got to know through the book. What on the surface actually has potential as a sleek and sexy show, is really just an empty promise that even the naughtiest hooker is really a sweet and innocent girl. I agree with a previous commentator that it would have been interesting to have seen what Channel 4 could have done to evoke the true Belle.