or


[12/18/07 - 10:46 AM]
Showtime Networks Acquires British Hit Series Secret Diary of a Call Girl
The pay channel will air the first season's 8 half-hour episodes beginning in spring or summer 2008, with a commitment for an additional 12 episodes.

[via press release from Showtime]

Showtime Networks Acquires British Hit Series Secret Diary of a Call Girl

Series is an IMG/Tiger Aspect/Silverapples Media/ARG Production

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 -- Showtime Entertainment President Robert Greenblatt announced today the network will premiere a provocative half-hour comedy series, SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL. Taken from best selling, real life diaries, this eye-opening insight into the life of a high-end call girl leading a double life became an immediate ratings winner in the United Kingdom. SHOWTIME will air the first season's 8 half-hour episodes beginning in Spring or Summer 2008, with a commitment for an additional 12 episodes.

One of the UK's leading young actresses Billie Piper takes on the challenging lead role. To her friends and family she is Hannah, a legal secretary clocking in regular hours and enjoying a "normal" life. To her clients, she is Belle, the answer to all of their fantasies. Her challenge is to keep her two lives separate. Inevitably they begin to blur.

The real Belle (whom the charismatic Piper met and worked closely with pre-and during production) published her diaries in 2005 and, despite many attempts to discover her true identity, remains anonymous.

"When Chris Albrecht called me to take a look at this show we were intrigued," said Greenblatt. "Initially we thought we should make an American version of it, but we fell in love with the original episodes, were captivated by Billie Piper's Belle, and decided to bring it to SHOWTIME as is. American audiences will be transfixed by the series poignant, sexy, comedy meets drama elements and the series' will fit in perfectly with our line-up of original programming. It is also a pleasure to be back in business with my old friend Chris."

"We are delighted to be partnering with Showtime to bring this highly successful and provocative series to a U.S. audience," said Chris Albrecht, head of global media for IMG. "We are particularly proud of the role that Tiger Aspect Productions, an IMG-owned production company, has played in the production of this show, now entering its second season of production in the U.K."

The "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" series is Belle's frank account of her experiences -- at times shocking and risque and sometimes simply hilarious -- brought to life by Piper and a colorful and talented supporting cast. Each episode allows the audience an illuminating glimpse behind the scenes of the high-class sex trade, generating much debate and discussion. The dynamic drama explores the life of a heroine who struggles with personal and moral issues-with some rather naughty adventures along the way. The series premiered in Fall 2007 on British digital channel ITV2, with more than 2 million viewers on hand for the opening episode.

SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL is an IMG/Tiger Aspect/Silverapples Media/ ARG production.

About Showtime Networks Inc.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME(R) TOO(TM), SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE(R) and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD(TM), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(TM) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM). All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL(R), a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. In addition, SNI manages and is the principal owner of Smithsonian Networks(TM), a venture with the Smithsonian Institution, which was formed to create networks showcasing scientific, cultural and historical programming. SNI is also the principal owner of On Broadband Networks LLC, a broadband game service provider, and OurChart.com LLC, provider of OurChart.com(TM), a social networking website featuring elements from the SHOWTIME hit series "The L Word(R)". SNI also markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME(R) PPV and is an equity investor in ProElite Inc., a Mixed Martial Arts event promotion company

About IMG

IMG is the world's premier sports, entertainment and media enterprise.

IMG's media and entertainment operations include content production subsidiaries Darlow Smithson Productions, Tiger Aspect Productions and Tigress. Globally, IMG produces and distributes more than 11,000 hours of sports, documentary, drama, comedy, entertainment, popular factual and children's content annually. IMG also represents the broadcast rights to many of the world's premier sporting events and has the world's largest sports archive with more than 250,000 hours of footage.

Forstmann Little & Co. purchased IMG in 2004.

About Tiger Aspect Productions

Tiger Aspect Productions, an IMG Media company, is internationally recognised as one of the UK's most successful and prolific independent television producers. The company portfolio includes animation, comedy, drama, entertainment and factual genres. Tiger creates a wide range of critically acclaimed and award-winning programming for all the UK's major terrestrial and non-terrestrial broadcasters.

About Silverapples Media

Silverapples Media optioned the original Belle de Jour blog and book and brought the project to Tiger Aspect. Silverapples specializes in Feature Documentaries -- (the award-winning Shadowing, The Third Man, Forever Ealing), Music, (Celtic Woman, Frankenstein, Series for PBS) and is now working in Feature Film and developing further drama projects.

About ARG Limited

ARG Limited, a member of the All3Media Group, is a leading talent agency which in recent years has produced for ITV The Crooked Man starring Ross Kemp and Ahead of the Class starring Julie Walters.

SOURCE Showtime
http://www.SHO.com





  [december 2007]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL (SHOWTIME)





[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.

[10/23/25 - 11:28 AM]
"High Potential" Rises to Season High as Show Nears Fall Finale
ABC's popular drama rose to a multiplatform season high in Total Viewers (12.50 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.31 rating) after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.

[10/23/25 - 11:13 AM]
USA Network Renews "The Rainmaker" for Second Season
Across the first nine premiere episodes of the season, "The Rainmaker" has averaged 1.3 million total viewers.

[10/23/25 - 11:06 AM]
Global Box Office Sensation "Wicked" Arrives Nov. 19 on NBC
The NBC telecast of "Wicked" leads up to the November 21 premiere of "Wicked: For Good," the epic finale to the global cultural phenomenon.

[10/23/25 - 11:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for New Documentary "My Nightmare Stalker: The Eva LaRue Story"
The powerful two-part documentary premieres Thursday, November 13, exclusively on Paramount+.