Billie's US plans scuppered by blonde
Sunday, 16 Apr 2006 11:05
Billie's US plans scuppered by blonde
Billie Piper is losing American viewers because they prefer a different blonde science fiction actress.
Billie's role as Rose Tyler in BBC's Doctor Who has British men tuning in every week, but the series has not had the same success in the States, according to the Sunday Mirror.
The first series of the time-travelling show, which stars Christopher Eccleston as the Time Lord, is currently being aired on America's Sci-Fi Channel.
But it is being shown immediately after space adventure series Battlestar Galactica, starring a stunning former model, 32-year-old Tricia Helfer.
While Battlestar attracts 2.2million viewers, Doctor Who is only reaching 1.6million. TV insiders say that the pretty British actress, 23, just can't be compared with good-looking Tricia.
One source told the newspaper: "It's the battle of the sci-fi babes. And so far Tricia is winning. It seems she's every sci-fi fan's dream woman. Billie just can't compete."
The second series of the revived Doctor Who, which stars David Tennant as the eponymous hero, hit our television screens last night. It reaches UK audiences of around 10million with every episode.
Another American TV insider said: "Taking Doctor Who to the States was going to be the big launch pad for Billie's Hollywood career. She was being touted as the new English rose.
"But the viewing figures for Doctor Who prove she's made very little impact on American audiences."
