Piper to return as Belle
Friday, 30 Nov 2007 11:48
Piper was named most popular actress at the 2005 and 2006 National Television awards.
Billie Piper has signed up to reprise her role as Belle de Jour in a second series of ITV2 show Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
Just under two million viewers tuned into the programme, based on the online diary and book of the upmarket prostitute, and a new instalment will hit UK screens in 2008.
It is thought US broadcasters are also interested in broadcasting the show, the graphic sex scenes of which earned it a nomination for best soft core production at the UK Adult Film awards.
The real Belle de Jour has remained anonymous since first publishing her diaries in 2003, though her popular blog has led to a Daily Telegraph column, two books and the ITV2 drama featuring Doctor Who star Piper in the lead role.
ITV2 controller Zai Bennett commented: "As ITV2's first ever original drama, Secret Diary of a Call Girl has been a huge creative and commercial success for the channel.
"The bold concept and slick production has really captured the heart of the ITV2 audience and we look forward to seeing more of Billie Piper as Belle on ITV2 next year."
It was also confirmed this week that Piper will return to Doctor Who to reprise her role as Rose Tyler, appearing in three of the 13 episodes in the fourth series of the revived science fiction show.