This week sees the release of the third edition of Louis Theroux's America's Most Hated Family documentary where he once again investigates the beliefs and practises of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church. Surviving America's Most Hated Family deals with the effect that the death of the church's founder has had on its followers.
Louis Theroux at the BAFTA TV Awards 2019 / Photo Credit: Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images
A lot of us would probably normally avoid such a documentary on a Sunday night because we'd rather not spend the evening seething with anger. But why is it we can't stop watching this 49-year-old BBC legend? It's all down to the fact that Louis is a mass of contradictions; exceptionally polite yet hilariously wry, endearingly awkward yet jaw-droppingly intrepid, visibly geeky yet weirdly sexy. There is just nobody like him in the world.
Perhaps the most important thing about Louis' personality is that he's unjudgemental, but still has a strong moral code which he's unwilling to compromise on. He's not about to judge any individual for their lifestyle or their beliefs, but he's not afraid of stating his own values when asked - even if it would make life easier for him to keep quiet.
One moment that stands out as an example is his 2003 BBC2 special Louis and the Nazis, where he was accused of being Jewish when visiting the home of a neo-Nazi family. He refused to confirm or deny whether or not he was Jewish, stating that doing so would be acknowledging that it mattered. If he had been Jewish, we might have seen this as him trying to stay safe without compromising his honesty, but because he isn't Jewish, it was rather a sign of strong moral character as it would have been much easier to concede that he was not, in fact, Jewish.
In a world where people are constantly at each other's throats for daring to disagree with their own code of ethics, somebody like Louis popping up on TV every now and again is a breath of fresh air. Everyone should want to approach their adversaries like he does; unjudgemental, open to learning, staying kind, while still being very honest and clear about his own values. He refuses to ever get drawn into an argument, prefering instead to ask questions.
And yet, despite this impartial air that he possesses as an experienced documentary maker, there is an unusual warmth to him. We've seen him engage with disabled and autistic children with an enthusiasm and interest that far too few people show, comfort people in their darkest moments no matter who they are, and dutifully apologise for unintentionally causing offence whether the recipient of the apology deserves it or not.
He was branded "slimey and slithery" by a member of the Westboro Baptist Church in his latest documentary, but when there's people like Louis around, you better know you're about to be shut down. In the words of Louis Theroux: "Dude, why are you still here?"
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