Louis Theroux graduated from Oxford in 1991 and got his break in television in 1994, when he started working as a writer and correspondent on Michael Moore’s show TV Nation.
But he put himself on the map with his first documentary, Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends (1998), which saw Louis immerse himself in strange or niche American subcultures, such as UFO believers and porn stars.
Since then, he has made some of the most original and thought-provoking documentaries on television.
His award-winning series When Louis Met… has seen Louis interview a number of famous and infamous individuals, including Jimmy Saville, Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee, Ann Widdecombe, and Chris Eubank. The series sees notoriously private stars make time for revealing and unexpected conversations.
This was followed up by Louis Theroux Interviews, which guests including Stomzy, Dame Judi Dench, Yungblud, Bear Grylls, Katherine Ryan, Rita Ora, Anthony Joshua Pete Doherty, Joan Collins, Raye, Chelsea Manning, and Ashley Walters.
Other documentary credits include The Most Hated Family in America, Miami Mega Jail, The Settlers, Altered States, Louis Theroux’s Forbidden America, Life on the Edge, Dark States, LA Stories, and My Scientology Movie.
His latest documentary is called Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere (2026); it saw Louis dive into the world of the ‘manosphere’, an ideology that is reshaping young men’s ideas about masculinity and manhood.
Louis has hosted two podcasts, including:
– The Louis Theroux Podcast: Louis embarks on a series of in-depth conversations with fascinating figures around the world such as Florence Pugh and Steve Coogan.
– Grounded With Louis Theroux: Louis used lockdown to track down high-profile people he had been longing to talk to, such as Boy Georgia, Sia, and Helena Bonham Carter.
Over the years, Louis has kept true to a way of working that is uniquely his own: by charming his subjects, he’s able to offer rounded portraits of the people involved in complex social issues and human dilemmas, while always resisting easy judgments.
Louis has won numerous awards, including three BAFTAs, an RTS award, and Grierson’s Trustees’ Award.
Louis has, to date, published three books:
– The Call of the Weird (2018): a thought-provoking voyage into the heart of weirdness
– Gotta Get Theroux This (2020): a heartfelt and entertaining account of his life in TV
– Through the Keyhole (2021): an honest diary of the weirdness of family life during Covid
Louis Theroux | Live Event Work
Louis prefers not to speak directly in the formal sense, but is very happy to take part in
- Fireside Chats
- Panellist
- Personal Appearances
Of course, we have a number of hosts and interviewers on the Great British Speakers team who would be delighted to interview Louis at your event.
Here he is with one of our team of impressionists Josh Berry– it’s difficult to tell who is who!
Louis Theroux | Awards
Won
– Richard Dimbleby Award for the Best Presenter for Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends
– Richard Dimbleby Award for the Best Presenter for When Louis Met…
– Royal Television Society Best Presenter Award for A Place For Paedophiles
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Nominated
– Flaherty Documentary Award for When Louis Met…the Hamiltons
– Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series for TV Nation
– Royal Television Society Best Presenter Award for When Louis Met…
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