Billie Piper's 'Call Girl' set for second series and US airing

by Paul McNally, Brand Republic 30-Nov-07, 09:00

LONDON - Billie Piper looks set to follow up her US TV debut in 'Doctor Who', amid reports that 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl' is to be shown in the US.

Tiger Aspect, producer of 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl', is understood to be in talks with US broadcasters about exporting the show to the US.

Meanwhile in the UK, ITV2 has commissioned a second series of Piper's raunchy drama, which is expected to air next winter.

The heavily-promoted first series -- a TV adaptation of upmarket prostitute Belle de Jour's blog and book -- drew an audience of 1.8m when it debuted in September, making it one of ITV2's most popular programmes this year.

US broadcasters are reported to have expressed an interest in showing both series. According to the Daily Star, Tiger Aspect has already sold the programme to an American TV channel.

The ITV2 controller, Zai Bennett, said: "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."

Piper first appeared on US television screens in June last year, when the Sci-Fi Channel bought the rights to the BBC Wales remake of the classic sci-fi series 'Doctor Who'.