Louis Theroux was inspired to make his own shows after seeing BBC executives sipping champagne in business class paid for by his hard work while he flew economy.
His latest show, Louis Theroux Interviews, has featured in-depth chats with A-listers ending this week with Rita Ora – and he promises more of the same as a second series on BBC2 has been confirmed.
It is produced by Mindhouse Productions, which he set up in 2019 after two decades of fronting award-winning documentary series for BBC Studios.
Louis, 52, says: “My wife said, ‘You’ve been there such a long time, have you ever thought about owning some of your own programmes and the ones you’re not in?’
“I remember flying out to location and I saw someone from BBC Studios – they were in business class and I was in economy. I thought, ‘I make the programmes and I fly economy and you sell the programmes, and you’re sipping champagne.’
"I saw behind the veil. Why should someone selling the programmes be living the high life and eating salted peanuts until they get sick? That is my angry socialist rant."
He says his dream interviewees would be Beyonce and Elon Musk. He adds: “I want to interview people who I have a level of interest in and a level of admiration. I want more intriguing celebrities with something to say.”
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He says being his own boss has led him to branch out more, adding: “I don’t know if I’d have done the show if I’d stayed working within the BBC.
"When bills need to be paid it makes you think differently. It’s like reinventing the chat show format, and that’s been fun and different for me.”
He hinted he could make a series for Netflix in the future, but for now, he says: “Massive thanks to the BBC for believing in the idea and for supporting us every step of the way.
“Expect more big stars, intimate access and three times Bafta-winning excellence from yours truly.”
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