When Ben tells Belle he�s getting married to his girlfriend, Vanessa she’s upset to discover he�s been engaged for weeks without telling her.
When a good client, Belle�s accountant Larry, says he�d like to try S and M, she decides to give it a go. She meets a professional dominatrix who shows her the ropes (literally). Using her slave as an example, the domme teaches Belle how and where to use a whip and how to treat the client. She gives Belle an insight into the world of S and M.
During the session Ben calls, wanting to make it up with Belle. She�s been in a mood with him and refused to take phone calls since the revelation about the engagement. When Belle hears the messages, she gets increasingly angry and lets this out on her client, going further than he�s comfortable with and has to apologise.
She tries to have it out with Ben but he says he doesn�t know why he should tell her everything when she clearly tells him nothing. He says it�s so obvious she�s keeping secrets�maybe they�re not as close as Belle likes to think. This worries Belle � and feeling like she�s going to lose her friend, she decides to let him in on her secret. She sends him a text with her professional website address…
�We have created a dramatic narrative and the stories each week reveal something about Belle’s life: from literally what her work day entails, to the difficulties of balancing her professional life with her personal life, which is mainly focused on her relationship with her best friend, Ben� explains series producer Chrissy Skinns.
Actress Billie Piper who plays Belles says she found having lessons with a professional was a benefit: �We had a genuine dominatrix on set, she was really sweet and cool and fascinating. I just kept thinking whereabouts in London do these things take place and who do they take place with?
“What drives a person to do that and what do you get out of it? Our �domme� was open and candid, really insightful. I had quite an education. Like with most of these things it�s all about control and ego, whether letting go of control or acquiring control. It�s quite easy to understand once you work out the premise of the whole thing.”
Secret Diary of A Call Girl, ITV2 Thursday 18 October 2007 10:00pm – 10:30pm