For four seasons, we've watched and learned about the 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl' (Thu., 10:30PM ET on Showtime). Along the way, the story of Hannah Baxter, or Belle to her high-class clientele, became as much about her job as it was about her trying to find what kind of private life she could have beside it.

Ben has been by her side from the beginning, first as a friend and then as a lover. Surely someone who knew the life she lived and the work that she did from the beginning was the only kind of man she could make it work with, right?

In the series finale, though, Hannah came to a realization. Even if Ben tried to believe he could be happy with her, he couldn't. As long as Belle was a part of her life, she wouldn't be the kind of girl Ben would love. But Belle was too much a part of her to give up.

After three years of steamy romps, big secrets and heavy questions, Showtime's 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl' is about to hang up the lingerie forever.



Based on the anonymous autobiography of escort Belle de Jour, 'Secret Diary' has traced the trials, tribulations and, yes, titillation of high-end call-girl Hannah Baxter's (aka Belle) life in London. What has kept the series from crossing the line from guilty pleasure to soft porn has been, among other things, its balance between Hannah, lovely girl-next-door by day, and her alter-ego Belle, leading lady of the night. As the titular star, Billie Piper has ushered Belle over countless hurdles, from revealing her profession to her best friend, Ben (Iddo Goldberg), to falling for her editor, Duncan (James D'Arcy).

In its fourth and final season (premiering Thursday, April 7, 10:30PM ET), Belle faces a new set of challenges, starting with the sudden stewardship of her boss Stephanie's (Cherie Lunghi) escort business and daughter Poppy (Lily James) when Stephanie finds herself behind bars. Perhaps the toughest question, though, is the one that's been there from the start: whether to continue her life as a call-girl, with all its glamour, money and freedom, or to finally commit to Ben, with all the mundane components that make up a "normal" life.

Piper spoke with us about the "bittersweet" completion of the series, the "slightly flawed" notion of modern feminism, how she's handled playing a sex worker for four years, and what's next for Belle -- and for herself.

Showtime is making one more entry in the 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl.'

The UK-based comedy series, produced by Britain's ITV, is currently shooting its fourth -- and final -- season, and Showtime has picked it up for airing in the states, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series has been a modest success here and abroad.

Glee - Tuesday April 13, 9:25 pm, Global/Fox

It's back! The all-singing all-dancing insanity that 'Idol' used to justify keeping Michael Lynche on the show is back for sweeps and everyone is very excited (except me, because I am the one person in the universe who doesn't see the appeal). Will is finally single, but instead of jumping Emma's bones like he's been waiting his whole life to do it, he takes some time to think about his new situation. And just when Rachel and Finn seemed to be getting started on something real, she gets sidetracked by a fellow called Jesse St. James. Oh honey, no! Any variation on Jesse James is bad news. Trust.

Billie Piper returns in the other role that's made her famous, only this one definitely isn't for kids of all ages. UK fans caught the premiere of the third series of Piper's 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl' last Thursday, January 28 on ITV2. But this time, stateside fans won't have to wait nearly as long for their first glimpse, as Showtime's season premiere is tonight, Monday, February 1, 2010 at 10 PM ET.

The network was kind enough to send along all eight episodes of the third season for me to look at, and I have to give credit in two areas right off the top. After spending much of last season trying to have a normal romance, Belle wrapped things up by publishing 'The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl,' ironically the very book the television series is based on.

The anonymous blogger "Belle Du Jour" whose career as a call girl spawned the British and Showtime TV series Secret Diary of a Call Girl has outed herself. Apparently she wanted to do it because an ex-boyfriend threatened to do it for her. Her real name is Brooke Magnanti and she's a child health researcher at the University of Bristol. She worked as a escort for over a year while pursuing her Ph.D.

Thankfully, her university has said her past was not relevant to her current job. I wonder if an American university would be as supportive of such a decision, given the taboo of sex work and sex in general in the U.S.

On the other hand, now she can start publishing more books under her real name. If she makes enough (or possibly gets another TV deal), she wouldn't need to worry about who would hire her or not.

I still have the season 2 press kit for 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl,' because it was so darn awesome. A simple folder-style package, with the cover sporting a female foot clad in fishnet stockings and a pink stiletto -- with a poof of pink feathers (the real thing) bursting out of the shoe. It shows the fun of this sexy Showtime series, which begins its third season on Jan. 25.

The series stars Billie Piper as Hannah, a high-class escort living in London. But hey, it's not easy being a call girl. You've got to keep your profession a secret from everyone (she's known as Belle in the escort world) and live by a set of ironclad rules, the first being to keep your two identities completely separate. Yeah, you can see that this house of provocative cards is just begging to be toppled over by the slightest breeze.

I wasn't a big fan of NBC's Bionic Woman remake. The best thing about it – besides Katee Sackhoff's guest turn – was star Michelle Ryan. The English actress not only looked the part, but her performance sometimes managed to make the show feel richer and more complex than it actually was. So I was happy to hear that she might play the new Doctor's companion on Doctor Who.

"Michelle's been in secret talks with BBC bosses," a source told the UK's Sunday Mirror. "They are likely to announce her as Doctor Who's new assistant very soon. She is perfect for the role. She is good looking and the right age to star alongside Matt (Smith). Everyone agrees they look great together and reckon fans will think they're the perfect team, too."

(S01E08) Like so many of the episodes this season, this one felt too short. The show is good but when it feels too short, it often feels underdeveloped too. Despite the lack of development in places, Belle did get some closure. And I think it's pretty obvious that closure in a season finale is important. I, for one, was glad to see her satisfied with her situation at the end.

Tonight Belle tried her hand at being a courtesan. Wow, semantics makes all the difference, huh? There's your street-walking hookers, your pimped out prostitutes, high class escorts, and your professional courtesans. As she explained how courtesans were different than even highly paid call girls like herself, I thought of one of her very first asides on Secret Diary of a Call Girl. In the season premiere Belle told us that it didn't matter which way you slice it or what you call it, she gets paid to have sex.

(S04E13) The latest season of Doctor Who gets resolved with a story that seems rushed, confusing and filled with self-love on the part of showrunner Russell T. Davies. But that doesn't necessarily mean it was bad.

To begin, the CGI and special effects are quite possibly the best ever seen on the show. Despite being in charge of the specials that will be airing next year, it seems that this episode was treated as the last that Davies will ever run. As a result, he wrapped up most every storyline he could think of going back to the first season.

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(S01E07) So that was a pointless episode. And to think, I was just complimenting the show on how they are using their twenty-two minutes wisely and balancing character development with intriguing bits about call girl life. I'm actually glad that next week is the season finale. If next Monday wasn't the last episode and we had say, three or four more to go, I would be abandoning Secret Diary of a Call Girl. My feeling is that some of you readers have already done so.

For those of you who enjoyed last night's episode, sorry, but my review doesn't get any better after the jump...

(S04E12) Russell T. Davies seems to include everyone and the kitchen sink in this episode. Appearing in the parent program are Captain Jack, Ianto and Gwen from Torchwood and Sarah Jane and Luke Smith from The Sarah Jane Adventures. Also making appearances are Martha Jones, Martha's mother Francine, Harriet Jones (former Prime Minister...yes, we know who you are), and British celebrities Richard Dawkins (real-life husband of former Doctor Who companion Lalla Ward) and Paul O'Grady as themselves. Oh, and Rose is back.

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(S01E06) Let's start with the very end of tonight's Secret Diary of a Call Girl. The previews from next week look insane! I shall even resort to using tweeny-internet speak here as I declare "ZOMG!" about next Monday's episode. Ben and Hannah are taking their already unusual relationship to a whole other level of weird.

But that is a whole week away, I know. I'll quit now and save my commentary for next time. Tonight's episode of SDCG was another good one, much like last week's. Once again the show mixed stories about Hannah's personal life and relationships with her exploits as a London prostitute. As I mentioned last week, when the show gives equal attention to both these aspects of Hannah's / Belle's character, it is truly entertaining.

However, SDCG took a long time getting to this point. I fear that some people may have given up on the show after episodes 1-02 and 1-03 failed to deliver. What do you think?

"Ashok? Every-second-Wednesday-since-I-started-Ashok?" --Belle/Hannah to her agent Stephanie

Belle had to share her first and most loyal client, Ashok, with another woman this week. While she was a bit surprised that her luscious self wasn't enough to satisfy her favorite regular, she ended up having fun during with the ménage à trois. Can this call girl truly learn to share?

My review of Secret Diary of a Call Girl is after the jump.

(S01E04) This episode of Secret Diary of a Call Girl had everything I've been wanting in this show: Intriguing tidbits about the adventures of a London prostitute, well-delivered quips and situations ripe with comedy, and insight into why we should like / care about the other side of Belle ... Hannah.

All elements came together so seamlessly that I'm already wanting to see what happens next Monday night. (Yes, I have the screeners, but I try to watch only one a week so I keep those viewers seeing the show for the first time. I actually haven't seen Episode 1-05 yet.)

My review of tonight's Secret Diary of a Call Girl is after the jump.