Louis Theroux has opened up about the negative impact his interview with Jimmy Savile had on his career. The renowned BBC presenter has conducted interviews with numerous well-known and controversial figures over the years. However, one of his most controversial interviews took place in 2000 on the show When Louis Met… Jimmy.
During the encounter, the 54-year-old Louis met with the disgraced figure Jimmy Savile, who had faced numerous allegations throughout his life. Despite allegations dating back to 1958, no charges were ever brought against Savile due to lack of evidence.
After Savile’s death in 2011, revelations emerged about his widespread abuse of hundreds of women and children. A joint report by the NSPCC and the Metropolitan Police, titled ‘Giving Victims A Voice,’ revealed that 450 individuals had lodged complaints against Savile from 1955 to 2009.
The victims ranged in age from eight to 47, including 28 children under 10, 10 eight-year-old boys, 63 girls aged 13 to 16, with the majority being under 18. The report documented 214 criminal offenses, including 34 rapes reported across 28 police forces.
Louis acknowledged that his interviews with Savile had a detrimental impact on his career, leading many prominent individuals to decline participation in his show. Reflecting on his experience during an episode of the Table Manners podcast with Jessie Ware and her mother, Lennie, Louis recounted the challenges he faced in securing guests post-Savile interview.
Louis mentioned encounters with celebrities like Paul Daniels, the magician, and his wife, Debbie McGee, and Neil and Christine Hamilton, expressing the difficulty in booking guests following the controversial interview. He emphasized his intention to have fair and humane conversations with his guests, aiming to present the truth without sensationalism.
In his 2000 documentary, Louis confronted Savile about allegations of his interest in children. Savile cryptically responded that denying interest in children deterred tabloid attention. Louis probed further, questioning Savile about the pedophile rumors, to which Savile evaded direct answers.
Despite Louis’s attempts to report Savile for abuse in 2001, no action was taken on his report. Savile passed away at the age of 84 in October 2011, leaving behind a legacy of heinous crimes. His burial and subsequent removal of his headstone marked the end of a scandal-ridden chapter in British media history.
If you need support after experiencing sexual assault, resources and assistance are available through www.rapecrisis.org.uk or by calling the national telephone helpline at 0808 802 9999.