Last year, Billie Piper and Lucy Prebble, the writer of Secret Diary of a Call Girl, confirmed that they’re creating a new TV show together, which is focused on a woman in her 30s going through a life crisis.

Discussing the as-yet unnamed project with Stylist at the time, Prebble said the show would focus on a woman in her 30s going through a life crisis – a topic which she and Piper could “both relate to”.

It’s a fair point: in 2016, Piper ended her eight-year marriage to actor Laurence Fox. Within eighteen months, the actress had embarked on an emotionally shattering performance at the Young Vic with Yerma – and collected a prestigious Olivier Award for Best Actress in the process.

Now, in an endearingly frank appearance on the Stagecraft with Gordon Cox podcast, Piper has addressed her own “life crisis”, opening up about the difference between life in your 20s and 30s in the process.

“I think [your 30s] are very challenging,” she said during the episode.

“ I think your 30s are a time when you start reflecting on everything you have or haven’t achieved, and where you’re going and what your mental health is like — are you in a circle of repetitive, negative behaviours?”

Piper continued: “Your 20s are fun, wild and without consequence. Obviously there are dark moments in your 20s, but pretty much when you compare them to your thirties, they’re a bloody walk in the park.

“In your 30s it’s like, ‘Wow, s**t is getting real’.”

The award-winning actress added: “It’s a good climate to talk about being a woman and what you’re subjected to and how you move forward.

“You have to laugh at a moment’s life crisis because otherwise it just kills you.”

Billie Piper nails the big difference between life in your 20s and 30s