… any viewers of Secret Diary of a Call Girl will swear this is a slippery male fantasy. I say take Belle at her word, in her world, and you will find a rather fascinating drama. … The series shows the darker side of Belle's work without getting into that porno-punishing crap so often disguised as morality lessons. The series, like Belle, is far too smart to succumb to such an average attitude.TV Guide says:
… that rare show that can balance sophisticated humor with graphic vulgarity. It’s titillating without being truly trashy, because it also has heart—for that, thank Billie Piper (formerly of Doctor Who), who brings wit and warmth, but also a crisp and unpredictable edge, to the tricky role of Belle by night/Hannah by day. … Her torrid misadventures have a comically surreal quality, and yet the character is grounded in a pragmatic realism. …Time Magazine says:
… most fascinating simply as a story about work. In TV comedies, the nuts-and-bolts details of jobs tend to fade into the background. In Call Girl, you learn that prostitution at Belle's level comes with the same demands and annoyances as any other career catering to the high-maintenance wealthy. The show is, in a way, not about sex but about making it (so to speak) in the service economy. …The New York Times says:
… X-rated chick lit with lots of attitude but not much affect. …The Los Angeles Times says:
… "Call Girl's" greatest flaw is not that it's exploitative but that it's surprisingly dull. … If anyone can breathe new life into the world's oldest stereotype, it's Piper, last seen in "Doctor Who." With that luscious angular face and knowing sidelong glance, her Belle is quite convincing, to us and we suspect herself, as she explains not only the allure of prostitution but also its various rules and foibles. …The Chicago Tribune says:
… It tries for depth once in a while, but the occasional moody, wordless montages of the show’s title character, Belle (“Doctor Who’s” Billie Piper), are just self-indulgent, not indicators of complexity. The real pleasures of this half-hour show come from its sly sense of humor and from Belle’s practical yet adventurous approach to her job. …The San Francisco Chronicle says:
… an intriguing and eminently watchable half hour that has a lot going for it … The series works well on a number of levels. Piper will no doubt be the new nerd queen for sci-fi fans in this revealing portrait (though, truth be told, the nudity is limited, though present). She's excellent as Belle because she has a dry wit about her. …The Denver Post says:
… The story as adapted to TV is cheeky, funny, intelligent, nasty and boasts the presence of distinguished actress Cheri Lunghi as Belle's madam. …The Detroit Free Press says:
… if brisk, eloquent writing, and sharp, ironic humor don't bother you, "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" is one of the most imaginative and dryly witty grown-up shows to come along in a while.…The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says:
… As she charms clients, haggles with her madam and tries to hide her secret life from her family, Belle is such an intriguing yet understandable character that her story would be riveting even without the sex scenes, which are stylized and sensual, even comical — and abundant. With "Secret Diary of a Call Girl," Showtime lives up to its promise to give subscribers TV worth paying for. …The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette says:
… an intelligent and funny comedy/drama … I’ve seen eight episodes and highly recommend them to those who can appreciate this sort of show, especially when Belle frequently breaks the fourth wall to address the camera. The sex scenes are tastefully filmed and edited and not gratuitous. Pursuers of the purely prurient should seek elsewhere. The occasional bare breast or naked backside hardly even registers. …The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says:
… both addictively entertaining and purely fantastic. …The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
… Future episodes elevate the Belle and Ben relationship to a more complicated place, which bears some promise and may give "Secret Diary" the distinction it lacks in early episodes. …The Hollywood Reporter says:
… You would hope the result might be thoughtful and revealing, but the series is really just a tame peep show for fans who think Piper is a cutie. … Piper milks what she can from trite dialogue by raising her eyebrows to the camera or simply leering. …Variety says:
… The show has a smart approach similar to that of AMC's conman drama "Hustle," playing off staid British manners and a star character at peace with living on the wrong side of the law. … Piper is a commanding presence …