Billie and the Real Belle Bare All
Encyclopedia
Billie and the Real Belle Bare All is a one-off television programme that aired on ITV2
on 25 January 2010, ahead of the Series 3 premiere of Secret Diary of a Call Girl
. The programme, which took place at The May Fair
, consisted of Billie Piper
, who stars as Hannah Baxter
in Secret Diary of a Call Girl, interviewing Dr. Brooke Magnanti, a former call girl
who, until November 2009 remained anonymous, known only by the pseudonym
, "Belle de Jour
."
Magnanti first rose to fame as a blog
ger who documented her life as a call girl. She later released a series of books, including The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl
, and writes a column
in various newspapers.
, as her character frequently does on Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and driving to the Mayfair Hotel. Whilst in the cab, Piper, through a voice-over
, says "the first thing you should know is today, I'm going to meet a whore", a reference to the line in Episode 1
of Secret Diary of a Call Girl, "the first thing you should know about me is that I'm a whore". Piper walks into The May Fair hotel and walks across the lobby, heading towards the lift
, another direct reference to Secret Diary of a Call Girl. As she enters the hotel the screen splits in two, showing the original scene from Secret Diary of a Call Girl. The scene was so similar to the original that various publications, including the Daily Mail
, mistakenly reported that Piper was filming scenes for Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
The interview was then conducted in the Schiaparelli Suite of the hotel, where Piper and Magnanti discussed her experiences of being a call girl and the social issues surrounding prostitution. When Piper asked Magnanti if working as a call girl was like "switching from one person to another" she replied, " It was a bit like putting on a uniform. The hair, the make-up, particular dresses, underwear, the shoes. Definitely the shoes. Once the shoes were on, I was working." Towards the end of the interview Piper asked various quick questions, such as how much Magnanti would earn, to which she replied that she would charge £300 and keep £200 (£100 was given to the agency). She also revealed whilst doing the 'girlfriend experience
' she would earn anything from £800 to £1,400.
Piper and Magnanti then took part in a photoshoot on the bed in the suite, and whilst doing so Piper narrated through voice-overs, summarising her thoughts on Magnanti and prostitution itself.
stated that Piper's interviewing style was "very much girls on the couch for a cosy chat" and that Piper didn't negatively interview Magnanti on topics surrounding prostitution, stating that Piper gave Magnanti a "pretty easy ride". However Sam Wollaston of the same publication gave a more negative review, saying "[Piper's] never interviewed anyone before. To be honest, it shows. She interrupts mid-answer, sometimes when Dr Magnanti is in the middle of saying something quite interesting." Wollaston later satirically
stated that "maybe her interviewing style is quite refreshing after the machismo of Humphrys
and Paxman
".
The episode, which aired from 10:00 pm, attracted 344,000 viewers, a 1.4% audience share. Although Billie and the Real Belle Bare All received moderate ratings considering ITV2 is a digital channel
, its rating were significantly lower than any Secret Diary of a Call Girl episode.
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
on 25 January 2010, ahead of the Series 3 premiere of Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Secret Diary of a Call Girl is a British television drama broadcast on ITV2 from 2007-2011 based on the blog and books by the pseudonymous "Belle de Jour," starring Billie Piper as Belle, a high-class London call girl. The series was written by Lucy Prebble, who is also known as the author of The...
. The programme, which took place at The May Fair
The May Fair
The May Fair is a historic hotel with a modern design, set in the heart of Mayfair, London. It is located on Stratton Street, within close proximity of Piccadilly, Bond Street, Knightsbridge, Green Park and Buckingham Palace....
, consisted of Billie Piper
Billie Piper
Billie Paul Piper is an English singer and actress.She began her career in the late 1990s as a pop singer and then switched to acting. She started in acting and dancing and was talent spotted at the Sylvia Young stage school by Smash Hits magazine who wanted a "face" for their magazine...
, who stars as Hannah Baxter
Hannah Baxter
Hannah Baxter is the lead semi-fictional character and protagonist of the British ITV2 television series Secret Diary of a Call Girl. Hannah secretly has a double life as a high-class call girl as her alter ego Belle, for which she acknowledges and comments directly to the audience, throughout each...
in Secret Diary of a Call Girl, interviewing Dr. Brooke Magnanti, a former call girl
Call girl
A call girl or female escort is a sex worker who is not visible to the general public; nor does she usually work in an institution like a brothel, although she may be employed by an escort agency...
who, until November 2009 remained anonymous, known only by the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
, "Belle de Jour
Belle de Jour (writer)
Brooke Magnanti is a research scientist, blogger, and writer, who, until her identity was revealed in November 2009, was known by the pen name Belle de Jour. While completing her doctoral studies, between 2003 and 2004, Magnanti supplemented her income by working as a London call girl...
."
Magnanti first rose to fame as a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger who documented her life as a call girl. She later released a series of books, including The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl
The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl
The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl are memoirs of a former London call girl written by Dr. Brooke Magnanti, under the pseudonym Belle de Jour....
, and writes a column
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
in various newspapers.
Summary
The programme starts with Billie Piper entering a hackney carriageHackney carriage
A hackney or hackney carriage is a carriage or automobile for hire...
, as her character frequently does on Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and driving to the Mayfair Hotel. Whilst in the cab, Piper, through a voice-over
Voice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
, says "the first thing you should know is today, I'm going to meet a whore", a reference to the line in Episode 1
Episode 1.1 (Secret Diary of a Call Girl)
"Episode 1.1" is the series 1 premiere of the British television show Secret Diary of a Call Girl.-Plot:The episode begins with Hannah Baxter walking across the eastern Golden Jubilee Bridge, she is then seen entering The May Fair and heading towards the lift...
of Secret Diary of a Call Girl, "the first thing you should know about me is that I'm a whore". Piper walks into The May Fair hotel and walks across the lobby, heading towards the lift
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
, another direct reference to Secret Diary of a Call Girl. As she enters the hotel the screen splits in two, showing the original scene from Secret Diary of a Call Girl. The scene was so similar to the original that various publications, including the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, mistakenly reported that Piper was filming scenes for Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
The interview was then conducted in the Schiaparelli Suite of the hotel, where Piper and Magnanti discussed her experiences of being a call girl and the social issues surrounding prostitution. When Piper asked Magnanti if working as a call girl was like "switching from one person to another" she replied, " It was a bit like putting on a uniform. The hair, the make-up, particular dresses, underwear, the shoes. Definitely the shoes. Once the shoes were on, I was working." Towards the end of the interview Piper asked various quick questions, such as how much Magnanti would earn, to which she replied that she would charge £300 and keep £200 (£100 was given to the agency). She also revealed whilst doing the 'girlfriend experience
Girlfriend experience
The girlfriend experience is a type of service a female sex worker offers which includes acting like a girlfriend to the client.If the service provider is male, the service is called boyfriend experience....
' she would earn anything from £800 to £1,400.
Piper and Magnanti then took part in a photoshoot on the bed in the suite, and whilst doing so Piper narrated through voice-overs, summarising her thoughts on Magnanti and prostitution itself.
Reception
The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
stated that Piper's interviewing style was "very much girls on the couch for a cosy chat" and that Piper didn't negatively interview Magnanti on topics surrounding prostitution, stating that Piper gave Magnanti a "pretty easy ride". However Sam Wollaston of the same publication gave a more negative review, saying "[Piper's] never interviewed anyone before. To be honest, it shows. She interrupts mid-answer, sometimes when Dr Magnanti is in the middle of saying something quite interesting." Wollaston later satirically
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
stated that "maybe her interviewing style is quite refreshing after the machismo of Humphrys
John Humphrys
Desmond John Humphrys , is a Welsh-born British author, journalist and presenter of radio and television, who has won many national broadcasting awards...
and Paxman
Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Dickson Paxman is a British journalist, author and television presenter. He has worked for the BBC since 1977. He is noted for a forthright and abrasive interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians...
".
The episode, which aired from 10:00 pm, attracted 344,000 viewers, a 1.4% audience share. Although Billie and the Real Belle Bare All received moderate ratings considering ITV2 is a digital channel
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
, its rating were significantly lower than any Secret Diary of a Call Girl episode.