Louis Theroux has spoken about being asked for ‘selfies’ from fans while filming (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)
Louis Theroux has lamented being asked for ‘selfies’ from fans while covering events like riots.
The broadcaster is best known for his numerous documentaries with the BBC, including Weird Weekends and When Louis Met…, in which he interviewed public figures from Jimmy Savile to Ann Widdecombe.
Many of his documentaries are set in the United States, but he has also filmed in countries including South Africa, Israel and Nigeria.
However, Louis, 54, has now shared how his public profile in the United Kingdom has made doing his job difficult at times.
‘I think the best thing that’s happened to me is that I’m not well known in America. And you know, it’s changed a little bit for various reasons. So, I have a little bit of a profile, but I think the fact that I can go in, if I did a documentary in the UK I’d be very well known,’ he explained.
‘And it’s fine you could still do it. In some ways, it generates more goodwill because they’re like “oh well, we like Louis, we’ll let him in”. And then off camera, you’re maybe doing selfies and whatnot, which is fine, although it kind of eats into your time a bit.’
He is best known for series’ including Weird Weekends and When Louis Met… (Picture: BBC)
He continued: ‘You think, “I’m supposed to be a serious journalist, slightly flying under the radar, and here I am doing selfies at a riot”.’
Speaking on the This Past Weekend podcast with Theo Von, Louis said the requests were quite often distracting.
‘I’m like, “I really need to be filming this right now. So sorry, someone’s being arrested over there”. “Oh, just a quick selfie, come on, mate”,’ he recalled.
‘In America, I’m just going around Miami jail. No one’s going to ask me for a selfie there. And I love that part,’ he added.
After decades interviewing some of the world’s most famous figures, Louis shared last year who was still on his wish list.
‘The door is always open for Tom Cruise,’ he shared at a screening for the second season of his BBC series Interviews.
‘If Lisa Marie Presley was still alive, she would be ideal as well,’ he added.
Louis said it impacted him being a ‘serious journalist’ (Picture: James Veysey/ Shutterstock for Edinburgh TV Festival)
‘Dave Chapelle would be a big get, but possibly controversial, [and I’d love to speak to] Erkyah Badu and John Travolta.’
After so many years meeting a range of stars, Louis also admitted that he still gets starstruck, but can usually play it down.
‘It feels a bit like playing favourites to say who, but in the rushes, I think I can play it off…but when we look at the material, my face gives me away and sometimes I can look too excited.
‘It can be a problem,’ he laughed.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.