Pregnant Piper tones down racy call-girl role in new series

Age, impending motherhood, and perhaps marrying into one of Britain's most distinguished theatrical dynasties, appear to have mellowed Billie Piper. The 25-year-old actress has apparently asked the producers of the ITV's Secret Diary of a Call Girl, based on the infamous Belle du Jour blog, to tame down some of the sex scenes in the second series. There is even talk that she is employing the services of a body double. Says the Independent: "She has allegedly requested that several sex scenes be toned down this time, asking for some of the dirtiest to be cut altogether."

Piper, who is married to Laurence Fox, the youngest of the thespian Fox family, which includes Edward and James, is expecting her first child later this year. This has meant the filming of the series, which deals with the day-to-day activities of a well-educated prostitute, has been brought forward, and also why Piper has allegedly demanded the body double for the most explicit scenes.