The price of FAME

MICHELLE DE SWARTE on a comedy drama exploring her former life as a catwalk model

- TESS LAMACRAFT

SPENT

NEW MONDAY, 10PM (TIMES VARY), BBC2 COMEDY DRAMA (BOX SET, BBC IPLAYER)

A cash-strapped former catwalk model with a love for the finer things in life is at the heart of BBC2's new dramedy, Spent.

Loosely inspired by her own experiences in the modelling industry, comedian Michelle de Swarte stars in the six-part series as Mia, whose glamorous world in New York is turned upside down when she finds herself on the breadline.

Here, in an exclusive interview, London-born Michelle, 43, tells TV Times about bringing this story to our screens...

Where do we find Mia at the start of the series?

It opens with her being faced with a huge tax bill and being told that she'll have to declare bankruptcy. She has frittered away all her money and feels she has no choice but to get on the next plane back to her mum's in Brixton. But she doesn't want her friends or family knowing she's broke, so keeps up the facade.