Fans of provocative British television have a limited window to stream the popular ITV drama Secret Diary of a Call Girl on Netflix before it is removed from the platform. The show, which originally aired between 2007 and 2011, will no longer be available after May 28, 2025. Secret Diary of a Call Girl, often described as Britain’s answer to Fifty Shades of Grey, stars Billie Piper as Hannah Baxter, a high-end escort navigating the complexities of living a double life.
While maintaining a seemingly normal personal life, Hannah adopts the alias "Belle" for her work in the sex industry. The drama was adapted by Lucy Prebble from the blog and subsequent book Belle de Jour: Diary of an Unlikely Call Girl, written anonymously by a London-based escort. The identity behind the pseudonym was revealed in 2009 as Dr. Brooke Magnanti, a research scientist and writer, who decided to come forward to prevent others from being wrongly identified.
Spanning four seasons, the series garnered attention for its candid portrayal of sex work, often mixing dark humor with emotionally intense scenes. The show was praised for addressing stigma while offering a perspective rarely seen on mainstream television at the time. In addition to Piper’s lead role, the series featured early performances by well-known actors such as Matt Smith, Gemma Chan, and Lily James.
The show was initially well-received, with many viewers applauding its bold storytelling. It was made available on Netflix in June 2024, giving a new generation of viewers the chance to explore the show. Audience reactions were enthusiastic when the show first returned to streaming, with social media posts expressing excitement about revisiting the series. One user remarked, "We are so freaking BACK," while another commented on its surprising presence on traditional UK television, saying, "I can’t believe this was a proper show on ITV."
Critically, Secret Diary of a Call Girl received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the show holds an average score of 63% across all seasons, with season 3 emerging as the most positively rated. The show also holds a 7.3/10 rating on IMDb, reflecting solid audience approval. Some reviewers called it bold and engaging, while others questioned its comedic label and tone.
For those unfamiliar with the series, its plot follows Hannah’s attempts to separate her personal relationships from her secret profession, exploring themes of identity, autonomy, and societal perception. Despite the provocative subject matter, the show also leans into moments of levity and vulnerability. Dr. Magnanti, the real-life inspiration behind the character Belle, later became known for her writing and public commentary on sex work. In interviews and online forums, including a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything), she has discussed her experiences and addressed common misconceptions.
The removal of Secret Diary of a Call Girl from Netflix highlights the platform’s rotating library of licensed content. With only a few weeks left before it leaves, those interested in revisiting or discovering the show are encouraged to stream it while they can. Viewers have just weeks to watch the steamy, star-studded drama series, which shot to the streaming platform's Top 10 TV shows in the UK when it first became available on the site last year.
The hit show, which is leaving Netflix on May 28, first aired on ITV2 in 2007 and is based on the anonymous blog and books by Belle de Jour. Billie Piper stars as London-based graduate Hannah Baxter, who keeps her double life as high-end escort 'Belle' a secret from friends and family, who believe she spends her nights working as a night-shift legal secretary.
Before you binge-watch all four seasons, here's all you need to know about the show. Penned by Lucy Prebble, the series follows 27-year-old university graduate, Hannah Baxter, who has her parents believing that she works as a legal secretary, when she actually entertains clients of an exclusive London escort service as her alter ego, Belle. The synopsis continues: "Her job allows her to live in something close to luxury, but the strain of leading this double life occasionally catches up with her and keeps her from enjoying a more conventionally 'normal' life with her family and friends."
Iddo Goldberg plays her best friend, Ben, and Cherie Mary Lunghi plays Hannah's agent, Stephanie. Meanwhile, Lily James plays Stephanie's daughter Poppy, Gemma Chan plays fellow escort Charlotte, and Joanna Bobin portrays Hannah's sister, Jackie. Other cast members include James D'Arcy, Ashley Madekwe, Paul Nicholls, and Callum Blue.
After its arrival on Netflix last year, viewers binge-watched all four seasons and praised the "steamy" drama on social media. One person wrote on X: "Thank you @NetflixUK for bringing us back #secretdiaryofacallgirl this series still slaps," while another hailed the drama as "the best show ever." A third fan called for its return, penning: "Bring back Secret Diary of a Call Girl, that TV show was brilliant."
As the final day to stream Secret Diary of a Call Girl approaches, viewers are reminded to catch up on the series before it bids farewell to Netflix.
