To find Louis Theroux suddenly really annoying?

[mustytrusty]

I've always liked Louis Theroux. Enjoyed his delivery and interesting choice of subject matter but I've been listening to his podcasts and have got to the stage where I feel like he's really annoying. Just seems to be a bit up himself and try-hard. Anyone else noticed this or am I just a misery?

He often comes across as smug and patronising (in a winking-at-the-audience way). That in itself feels ‘lofty’ as he’s definitely looking down on his subjects, whether politically or intellectually. I don’t necessarily disagree with his loftiness, given some of the people he engages with, but the overall smugness and faux naive ‘who, little old me?’ delivery can get very cloying and irritating.

Agree with PP - I used to really like him until I read his biography. He's so self-centred + arrogant. Comes across as a total narcissist. I went right off him.

Te shine went off him, for me, after Weird Weekends. There’s always been an undercurrent of something superior and slightly sneery with him.

His Westminster school background really shapes him. He tries to be bumbling and self deprecating like a charming posh gent ( Boris Johnson style) but can’t resist letting people know how successful he is in ‘low key’ but unmistakable ways. His public school background also shapes his attitude to women. He seems like an over excited puppy if he’s interviewing an attractive woman and seemingly can’t help bring sexual elements into the conversation. It’s like he’s still 14 years old and the girls’ school are visiting for the end of term disco.

What do you mean by this, please?

I did see the doc he did with Saville but it was many years ago.

what was the fall out? What did he double down on etc?

I like him, but find him intensely irritating on his podcast. He seems pretentious and conceited.

I think the podcast is a bit paint by numbers, you only have to compare it to his friend Adam Buxton’s to see that. I also think he comes across as not having done his research, even a bit bored at times.
His docs are a totally different level imo

I rewatched both of his Savile docs recently with my son who’d never seen them.

I thought he did a good job actually.

I realised recently that I find him inordinately attractive, but I haven't watched or listened to a huge amount of his work.

I remember he was completely taken in by Jimmy Saville, and they formed some kind of friendship afterwards.

I haven't seen ln the Settlers documentary, maybe I should try to find it.

I real feel for Adam Buxton. He’s practically the god father of successful podcasting in the UK. He and LT are old friends from school. LT could have done anything after his TV programmes. Why choose to do a podcast series at the same time as his friend? Especially as his guests are more high profile. He also makes sure the guests say something about how successful he is in every episode. Adam Buxton must be so pissed off.

I always found him very annoying and a bit creepy.

There is a problem of podcasters sounding arrogant especially if they are rich,priveleged males …………..Alistair Campbell I’m looking at you

The Settlers documentary wasn’t too bad, but other than that he’s been an annoying twat for years.

Totally!!!! but I don’t find him annoying on his earlier tv shows. I watch the Louis Theroux Channel a lot and just love all the old stuff . But the podcast is really cringey, and I wonder if Louis has become a bit annoying with age of he just had really good editors in the past.
My worst bit is his silly tiktok song thing.

I've always found him falsely self-deprecating and creepy as all fuck.

I always thought he was a psychopath

I've always found him annoying.

Can never work out if he asks deliberately 'slow of thinking' questions because he is trying to catch the other person out, which irritates me because....just ask the fucking direct questions! Or if he is actually dense himself?

I've been listening to a lot of these Diary of a CEO and Begin Again podcasts - I think the trouble is that the soundbite became everything. Then you get people on a Long form interview and you realise they are quite dull. There was an interview with Jimmy Carr and everyone was saying how insightful he was. Honestly the whole interview he was just responding to the questions by para phrasing something from a top 10 self help or business development book. I know as I've read a lot of them. Everyone thought it was his original thought.

Edited to add - I realise the irony of saying the soundbite is everything, which is in itself a soundbite.

I do this too! I used to really like James Acaster but after reading his book (where he made no effort whatsoever to hide that it was Rose Matefeo he was talking about) I think he comes across as someone deeply self-absorbed who hides his arrogance behind tedious faux self-deprecation.

What did JA say about Rose Matefeo? I went off him when he went on a rant about terfs - he sounded such an idiot.

Yes I think most people aren’t actually interesting enough to make a good biography. I have read some really good ones but most are rubbish.

I think he is much more reflective and less smug now thar he's a bit older. I suspect what you mean OP is that you used to agree wirh his general viewpoint and now you don't!

It`s like a lot of other people that make shows. After a few years we find out most of the said shows are fake and staged with actors.

I used to like his old documentaries but majorly went off him when I saw his Ann Widdecombe one. He was constantly making remakes about her being a virgin and making sexsual remarks at her, she was so uncomfortable. He was doing this while she was on this Norwegian cruise that she had taken her elderly wheelchair bound mother on...

His mask really slipped for me there.

I’ve always liked Louis Theroux’s work, particularly Weird Weekends and his Grounded podcast which got me through lockdown. I’ve read all three of his books (more than once) and own several of his DVDs. I think some of his recent work isn’t as strong though (apart from The Settlers). I’m really sad for him about his alopecia.

Theroux is nothing if not a committed misogynist.