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Secret Diaries of a Call Girl

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Secret Diary of a Call Girl is a British drama starring Billie Piper as Hannah, a high-class London-based escort who does her work under the pseudonym Belle. The series is inspired by the popular blogs of anonymous call girl Belle de Jour, and it tries valiantly to be candid while also attempting to disperse the cliched portrayal of prostitutes - with Hannah shown to live a glamorous life of luxury.

This episode revolves around what Hannah claims is "the biggest growing market in escorting": the girlfriend experience. This involves being a loving and attentive partner for an evening, while also being at the man's beck and call.

Puritans and feminists are likely to be up in arms, claiming this series glamorises prostitution, debases women, and encourages men to treat women as mere playthings. Then there will be those who look at it as female empowerment and success.

Whichever opinion you're of, this is a daring move by the Nine Network. Of course there are confronting scenes (this couldn't be a show about an escort if there weren't, now could there?), but they are done somewhat tastefully. Whether that makes it worthwhile staying up for remains to be seen.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl airs on the Nine Network on Tuesday, September 9, at 10:30pm.

Patrick Tangye, September 2008

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