Everyone knows Billie ‘Because we want to, because we want to’ Piper for one reason or another. It could be because of her illustrious pop career, or it could be because of her personal life and romancing of the elderly or maybe it’s her roll as feisty Rose Tyler in the great new series of Doctor Who, who knows? Well, you know I suppose. But reminiscing about Billie Piper isn’t going to get us anywhere so maybe I should tell you all about the woman voted “Best Female Star” at 1999’s Smash Hits Poll Winner’s Party.

For someone who has achieved so much, Billie is very young, a sprightly 23 in fact. In this time she had three albums, eight singles, five films and four starring roles on TV.
In the stagnant, Spice Girls-filled swamp that was 1998’s pop industry Ms Piper shined like a beacon of gran-friendly teenage rebellion. Only those engrossed in the ‘real music’ of Britpop bands like Oasis and Blur were offended. Oldies liked Billie because she was just the type of girl that their flamboyant actor grandsons had never brought home.

Parents loved her because it gave them another way to embarrass their children (anyone with parents who sing along to songs substituting words they can’t remember with any old nonsense has my sympathy). Gay boys liked her because she was ballsy, as legends often are, with a catchy pop song that got into their heads and under their skin. ‘Because We Want To’ went straight to Number One, making Billie the youngest person ever to have a solo number one (some other pretender has that crown now, Jojo I think).

It wasn’t long before Billie had a new single to promote, this one aimed at the teenage market. Girlfriend also went straight to Number One and the winning Billie formula worked its magic with other tracks from the album, She Wants You and Honey To The Bee both reaching number three.

Following her big successes Billie decided to take a break from the music biz but was coaxed back to perform in ITV’s Abbamania. She sang collaboratively with Bewitched, Cleopatra, Steps and Tina Cousins on the unforgettable and monstrously camp Thank Abba For The Music. We all remember it, snake bite sodden memories of swaying from side-to-side, arms in the air as the opening chords began.

At the Smash Hits Poll Winner’s Party, like the Brits but less high class, La Piper had been nominated for Best Female Star for her stellar additions to the fuzzy world we call pop. Accepting the award Piper was booed and jeered by teenage girls jealous because she was dating 5ive’s Ritchie Neville. Poor Billie was reduced to tears and it wasn’t long before her and her boy band beau were split.

During a year long break Billie began to write her second album and deal with life as a singleton. Little was heard of the teen popster until she released Day and Night in 2000. The single rocketed to number one once more, sadly it was the last time that Billie would hit the top spot of the British charts. An album was also released, entitled Walk Of Life, which reflected a matured philosophy and sound. Only three singles were released, her final single charting at a disappointing 25.

Billie bowed out of the music biz and became something of a recluse before shocking her fans by getting shacked up with entrepreneur and presenter, Chris Evans. The famous ginger and media mogul as sixteen years Billie’s senior. The couple were married in 2001 and stayed together until 2004 when they agreed to a trial separation. In 2005 it was announced that the couple would divorce.

It was around this time Billie’s acting career was starting to take off. The ex-singer secured a major part in The Miller’s Tale’, which was part of The BBC’s updating of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Spotted as an upcoming star, Billy was cast in The Calcium Kid opposite English hotpot Orlando Bloom. The film enjoyed mediocre success but this didn’t stop Billie’s career as a rising star of the small screen. In 2004, it was announced that she would be playing the part of Rose Tyler in the new series of Doctor Who. The series’ success was huge, suckering a new generation into lying about liking science fiction. Billie’s performance in Doctor Who was so good that she was nominated for an award at this year’s National Television Awards.

The future seems Rose-y (see what I did there?) as the second run of new Who is enjoying just as much success with sexy new Doctor David Tenant. Billie won’t be restricting herself to long stripy scarves and daleks who can finally go up stairs (the humanity!). Billie has appeared in a BBC remake of Much Ado About Nothing playing the meddlesome and loved up Hero. She will also be playing the title role in the kid lit adaptation of Phillip Pullman’s The Ruby in the Smoke.

22.05.06 Sub Editor Rory Michael Smith.