Hotel Babylon: sordid cheap shots, but it’s addictive 

Hotel Babylon began life as a book penned by Imogen Edward-Jones and diplomatically co-authored by Anonymous, a figure who represents the many industry informants who have told all. It is now also a popular British TV series broadcast produced by BBC. 

The book

Hotel Babylon is part of a series of books, each of which delves behind the scenes of a particular trade. From the airport scenes of the first book Air Babylon to the concert happenings of the last Pop Babylon, Edward-Jones makes it her mission to uncover the most sordid and debauched goings-on. 

As the name suggests, the story is set in a hotel and is told by the manager of prestigious hotel (Anonymous) located in central London. All of the (true) events are fictionalised and condensed into one 24-hour period, during which some guests steal everything that isn’t bolted down, other guests run up exorbitant bills on a variety of vices, and celebrities indulge their most bizarre fetishes. 

The TV series

To date there have been four seasons in the Hotel Babylon TV series. Like the book, the series is set in a luxurious five-star hotel in London, which is besieged by guests who see a holiday as an excuse to behave badly. The first season drew from the book, but subsequent series have introduced all-new material. 

Hotel Babylon is for those who are mildly curious about what happens behind the scenes, as well as those who desperately devour tabloids to find out what Angelina Jolie did last week. But be warned: reading it or watching it is highly addictive, and you may soon find yourself craving the latest fix.