Broadcaster, author and podcaster Louis Theroux is to deliver this year’s James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture, the flagship address of the Edinburgh TV Festival.
One of the industry’s most acclaimed filmmakers and interviewers, Theroux will reflect on his 25-year career and says he will share insight into what he has learned over that time.
Through series such as Weird Weekends, When Louis Met…, Forbidden America and Louis Theroux Interviews…, Theroux has examined communities from Scientology and the Westboro Baptist Church to porn stars and Neo-Nazis. He also famous from his encounters with the likes of Jimmy Savile, The Hamiltons and Max Clifford.
He also runs production company Mindhouse, producing his own documentaries as well as those by new documentary makers.
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Theroux said: “I am beyond thrilled to be asked to deliver this year’s MacTaggart lecture. The old Chinese curse runs, ‘May you live in interesting times.’ But I also believe interesting times – to those of us whose job it is to report on them and reflect them, while also providing an occasional distraction from them – can be a blessing. The many years I’ve spent reporting on the fringes have been an ample education on the nature of human psychology and the strange place the world now finds itself in. I look forward to sharing some insight into what I think I’ve learned.”
Edinburgh TV Festival advisory chair Kiran Nataraja said: “Louis is one of the defining documentary filmmakers of our times. Now also running an indie, nurturing breakout talent, and expanding into new areas, his 2023 MacTaggart Lecture will be a centrepiece of the Edinburgh TV Festival.”
Last year’s MacTaggart was delivered by Emily Maitlis, with previous speakers including Michaela Coel, Armando Iannucci, Rupert Murdoch, David Olusoga and Jack Thorne.
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