We told you back in March that ITV had rescued the project to bring the story of Belle de Jour to the small screen and now that project is almost upon us. Based on the best-selling, real life diaries of Belle de Jour: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl, this eight-part series – ITV2′s first ever unique drama – provides a no-holds-barred insight into the life of a high class escort. While the real Belle maintains her anonymity, her diaries have been turned into fresh, sexy stories by a team of women writers led by Lucy Prebble.

Producer Chrissy Skinns says: “The Belle of the blog and the books is bright, direct and funny: all in all, a strong portrayal of a contemporary woman. Our Belle is equally intelligent, confident and witty, but probably displays more vulnerability: she is fictional and that is an important distinction to make, particularly as we were keen to preserve the real Belle’s anonymity. So the series is not an adaptation of the book but rather it became an excellent springboard.”

In Episode 1, to be screened on September 27, Belle introduces us to herself and her world.

She’s a high class escort who enjoys what she does but has to keep it a secret from everyone in her personal life. Even her best friend Ben thinks she’s a night time legal secretary.

Belle explains that it’s crucial for escorts to find out what their client likes and give it to them quickly. She demonstrates this with a first time client who’s too shy to admit that what really turns him on is the idea of having sex near over-excited horses in their stables.

The next customer is more elusive. He’s a very attractive, young man who Belle just can’t seem to satisfy. Meeting her agent, Stephanie (Cherie Lunghi), the following day, Belle is disturbed to hear that this client asked to see someone else next time – someone more natural. Belle insists she sees him again, this time without any elaborate preparation. He loves it. They have great sex and in an unguarded moment, Belle tells him her real name: Hannah. She realises she can’t see him again because it’s Hannah he wants, not Belle. To stay true to the most important lesson she’s learnt – how to do the job AND stay sane – she has to keep Belle and Hannah separate.