Louis Theroux

Broadcaster, Writer

In April 2000 the BBC screened the first of Louis' most acclaimed programmes to date, When Louis Met Jimmy, in which he spent several weeks living with the nation's favourite eccentric, Sir Jimmy Savile. Following on from the success of this programme, in 2001 Louis spent time with magician Paul Daniels and his wife Debbie McGee in When Louis Met Paul And Debbie. May 2001 saw Louis win BAFTA’s prestigious Richard Dimbleby Award for the best presenter. Louis finished 2001 with one of the most talked about programmes of the year When Louis Met The Hamiltons in which he had unique access to Neil and Christine Hamilton in the wake of allegations, subsequently disproved, that they had been involved in a serious sexual assault. May 2002 saw him win another BAFTA in the same category, the only person ever to do so.

In early 2002 the BBC screened four more When Louis Met… documentaries; subjects included Chris Eubank, Keith Harris and Orville, Ann Widdecombe and Max Clifford. Later the same year, he was an Executive Producer of the critically lauded documentary series The Entertainers, which looked at the intimate daily lives of some of the nation’s favourite stars of yesteryear, such as Bobby Davro, Tony Blackburn and Leo Sayer.

In 2003, Louis brought out three feature-length documentaries: Louis & The Brothel, Louis & The Nazis, and Louis & Michael Jackson.