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{{More citations needed|date=March 2014}}

'''''When Louis Met...''''' is a series of documentary films made by [[Bafta]] award-winning film-maker [[Louis Theroux]]. The series was originally aired on [[BBC2]] from 2000 to 2002.

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox television

| image = When Louis Met...Keith Harris & Orville in Panto.png

| caption = Title card from When Louis Met... Keith Harris & Orville in Panto

| camera =

| runtime = 60 minutes

| creator =

| developer =

| executive_producer = David Mortimer, Kevin Sutcliffe

| starring = [[Louis Theroux]]

| narrated =

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| country = United Kingdom

| network = [[BBC Two]]

| first_aired = {{start date|2000|04|13|df=yes}}

| last_aired = {{end date|2002|03|26|df=yes}}

| num_series = 2

| num_episodes = 8 (3 + 5)

}}

'''''When Louis Met...''''' is a series of documentary films by [[Louis Theroux]]. The series was originally broadcast on [[BBC Two]] from 2000 to 2002. In the series, Theroux accompanied a different British celebrity in each programme as they went about their day-to-day business, interviewing them about their lives and experiences as he did so. His episode about the DJ and charity fund-raiser [[Sir Jimmy Savile]] ''(When Louis Met...Jimmy)'' was voted one of the top fifty documentaries of all time in a survey by Britain's [[Channel Four]]. In another episode ''("When Louis Met...The Hamiltons")'', the disgraced [[Tory]] [[MP]] [[Neil Hamilton]] and his wife Christine were arrested following false allegations of indecent assault during the course of filming.

Theroux's episode about [[Jimmy Savile]] (''When Louis Met Jimmy'') was voted one of the top 50 documentaries of all time in a survey by [[Channel 4]].<ref name="IMDBJimmy">{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/list/ls000124764/ | title=Channel 4's "50 Greatest Documentaries" | publisher=IMDB | date=18 April 2011 | access-date=20 March 2015}}</ref> In another episode (''When Louis Met the Hamiltons''), the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of parliament|MP]] [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|Neil Hamilton]] and his wife Christine, were arrested during the course of filming following allegations of indecent assault; these were subsequently found to be false. The show did not return for a third series, and Theroux said that he had difficulty in finding people to appear.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2522191.stm |title=Entertainment &#124; Theroux quits award-winning show |publisher=BBC News |date=2002-11-28 |access-date=2014-03-06}}</ref>

==Episode List==

===Season one===

'''When Louis Met...Jimmy'''

*Original airdate [[April 13]], [[2000]]

Louis visits his childhood hero – 73-year-old [[Jimmy Savile]] [[OBE]], the miner who became a TV and radio star – and gets to ride in Jimmy's Rolls-Royce which has golden hubcaps.

==Episodes==

'''When Louis Met...Paul And Debbie'''

*Original airdate [[February 2]], [[2001]]

Louis joins [[Paul Daniels]] and [[Debbie McGee]] in their beautiful home beside the [[River Thames]] and on the road as the magician appears on Celebrity [[Ready, Steady, Cook]] and his wife launches a ballet company.

===Series overview===

'''When Louis Met...The Hamiltons'''

<onlyinclude>{{Series overview

*Original airdate [[December 11]], [[2001]]

| color1 = #B10E1E

Louis follows the disgraced [[Tory]] [[MP]] and his notorious wife as they try to make a living as "objects of curiosity". The film features Louis canoodling on the sofa with a tipsy Christine and following the pair when they are arrested over a sexual scandal (both were cleared later).

| link1 = <includeonly>When Louis Met...</includeonly>#Series 1 (2000–01)

| episodes1 = 3

| start1 = {{Start date|2000|4|13|df=yes}}

| end1 = {{End date|2001|12|11|df=yes}}

| color2 = #FF7200

===Season two===

'''| link2 = <includeonly>When Louis Met...[[Ann</includeonly>#Series Widdecombe]]'''2 (2002)

| episodes2 = 5

*Original airdate [[March 3]], [[2002]]

| start2 = {{Start date|2002|3|5|df=yes}}

A prickly encounter with the Conservative politician in which Louis upsets her by asking about her possibly non-existent sex life and hears about her love of poetry and cats.

| end2 = {{Start date|2002|3|26|df=yes}}

}}</onlyinclude>

===Series 1 (2000–01)===

'''When Louis Met...[[Chris Eubank]]'''

{{Episode table |background=#B10E1E |overall=5 |series=5 |title= |director= |airdate= |country=UK |episodes=

*Original airdate [[March 12]], [[2002]]

{{Episode list

Louis joins the ex-boxer at home, in the ring and on a trip to buy jodhpurs. Eubank attempts a tongue twister and pontificates on being a role model for children.

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = When Louis Met [[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy]]

| DirectedBy = Will Yapp

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2000|4|13|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = Louis visits his childhood hero, 73-year-old Sir [[Jimmy Savile]] [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]], a TV and radio personality, at his homes in Leeds, Scarborough and Glencoe. Louis raises the rumours of paedophilia which became more widely known after Savile's death, which Savile denies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lawson |first1=Mark |title='I was gullible' – when Louis Theroux met Jimmy Savile again |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/sep/29/when-louis-theroux-met-jimmy-savile-again-gullible-bbc |access-date=19 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=29 September 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Greg Hassall |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/when-louis-met-jimmy-20121112-297tg.html |title=When Louis Met Jimmy |publisher=Smh.com.au |date=2012-11-12 |access-date=2014-03-06}}</ref>

| LineColor = B10E1E

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = When Louis Met [[Paul Daniels|Paul]] and [[Debbie McGee|Debbie]]

| DirectedBy = Will Yapp

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|2|20|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = Louis joins [[Paul Daniels]] and [[Debbie McGee]] in their home beside the [[River Thames]] and on the road as the magician appears on ''Celebrity [[Ready Steady Cook]]'' and his wife launches a ballet company.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mark Lawson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/feb/19/tvandradio.columnists |title=G2: Mark Lawson reviews TV programmes &#124; Culture |work=The Guardian|date=2001-02-19 |access-date=2014-03-06}}</ref>

| LineColor = B10E1E

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 3

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = When Louis Met the Hamiltons

| DirectedBy = Will Yapp

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|12|11|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = Louis follows the (by then) former Conservative [[Member of parliament|MP]] [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|Neil Hamilton]], and his wife [[Christine Hamilton]], as they try to make a living as "objects of curiosity". The film features Louis on the sofa with a tipsy Christine, and follows the pair when they are arrested over an alleged sexual scandal (both were later cleared).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1703426.stm |title=REVIEWS &#124; Theroux hits gold with Hamiltons |publisher=BBC News |date=2001-12-11 |access-date=2014-03-06}}</ref>

| LineColor = B10E1E

}}

}}

===Series 2 (2002)===

'''When Louis Met...[[Keith Harris]] and Orville'''

{{Episode table |background=#FF7200 |overall=5 |series=5 |title= |director= |airdate= |country=UK |episodes=

*Original airdate [[March 19]], [[2002]]

{{Episode list

Louis meets the ventriloquist who no longer enjoys the TV light entertainment limelight (and can't hide his bitterness about that) but is still earning a good living. He has a flash car, an ex-model missus, a large home and a role in [[Crewe]]'s pantomime.

| EpisodeNumber = 4

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

'''When Louis Met...[[Max Clifford]]'''

| Title = When Louis Met [[Ann Widdecombe]]

*Original airdate [[March 26]], [[2002]]

| DirectedBy = Kate Townsend

Louis meets the PR guru/media manipulator as he handles [[Pop Idol]] judge [[Simon Cowell]] and child star Declan Galbraith and organises a charity do involving [[Westlife]].

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|3|5|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = A prickly encounter with the Conservative politician in which Louis upsets her by asking about her possibly non-existent sex life and hears about her love of poetry and cats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/node/142586 |title=When Ann met Louis |publisher=New Statesman |date=2002-03-25 |access-date=2014-03-06}}</ref>

| LineColor = FF7200

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 5

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = When Louis Met [[Chris Eubank]]

| DirectedBy = Alicia Kerr

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|3|12|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = Louis joins the ex-boxer at home, in the ring and on a trip to buy jodhpurs. Eubank attempts a tongue twister and pontificates on being a role model for children.

| LineColor = FF7200

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 6

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = When Louis Met [[Keith Harris (ventriloquist)|Keith Harris]] and [[Orville the Duck|Orville]] in Panto

| DirectedBy = Guy Gilbert

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|3|19|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = Louis meets the ventriloquist who no longer enjoys the TV light entertainment limelight (and can't hide his bitterness about that) but is still earning a good living. He has a flashy car, an ex-model wife, a large home and a role in [[Crewe]]'s pantomime.

| LineColor = FF7200

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 7

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = When Louis Met [[Max Clifford]]

| DirectedBy = Alicia Kerr

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|3|26|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = Louis meets the PR guru/media manipulator as he handles [[Pop Idol]] judge [[Simon Cowell]] and child star [[Declan Galbraith]] and organises a charity do involving [[Westlife]].

| LineColor = FF7200

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 8

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = Living with Louis

| DirectedBy = Will Yapp

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2002|3|26|df=y}}

| ShortSummary = Produced exclusively for pay TV channel [[UK Horizons]]. The participants of the previous programmes (with the exception of Ann Widdecombe and Max Clifford) talk about being interviewed by Louis Theroux. Louis also provides insight into how he felt those five shows went and what those people were like to spend time with. The show is interspersed with clips from the shows.

| LineColor = FF7200

}}

}}

== Awards ==

'''Winner''' - 2002 [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]] TV Award - [[Richard Dimbleby]] Award for the Best Presenter (Factual, Features and News) - ''For the "When Louis Met..." series of films.''

'''Nominated''' - 2002 Flaherty Documentary Award - ''For "When Louis Met...The Hamiltons"''

''"When Louis Met... Jimmy"'' was voted number 50 in [[Channel 4]]'s 2005 poll of the 50 greatest documentaries.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

==Home releases==

All episodes of ''When Louis Met...'' are available on [[BBC iPlayer]] including the episodes featuring Max Clifford and Jimmy Savile.

When Louis Met... has been released on PAL DVD in a number of best-of sets. Originally, Vol.1/Vol.2 and Vol.3/Vol.4 were released as two disc sets, before being split. Later the 4 volumes were released as a limited edition box set.

* '''The Best of Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends'''

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Porn

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Survivalists

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Gangsta Rap

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: UFOs

** DVD Bonus: When Louis Met...[[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy]]

** DVD Bonus: In-Vision Commentary by Louis & [[Sir]] [[Jimmy Savile]] [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]

* '''The Best of Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends Volume II'''

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Swingers

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: South Africa

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Wrestling

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Hypnosis

** DVD Bonus: When Louis Met...[[Neil Hamilton (politician)|The Hamiltons]]

** DVD Bonus: In-Vision Commentary by Louis and [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|the Hamiltons]]

* '''The Best of Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends Volume I'''

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Porn

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Survivalists

** DVD Bonus: In-Vision Commentary by Louis and [[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy]] Taped in [[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy's]] Penthouse

* '''The Best of Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends Volume II'''

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Wrestling

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Hypnosis

** DVD Bonus: When Louis Met...[[Neil Hamilton (politician)|The Hamiltons]]

** DVD Bonus: In-Vision Commentary by Louis and [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|the Hamiltons]]

* '''The Best of Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends Volume III'''

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Swingers

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: South Africa

** DVD Bonus: In-Vision Commentary by Louis and [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|the Hamiltons]]

* '''The Best of Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends Volume IV'''

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Gangsta Rap

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: UFOs

** DVD Bonus: When Louis Met...[[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy]]

** DVD Bonus: In-Vision Commentary by Louis and [[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy]] Taped in [[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy's]] Penthouse

* '''The Best of Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends Volume I, II, III & IV'''

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Porn

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Survivalists

** DVD Bonus: In-Vision Commentary by Louis and [[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy]] Taped in [[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy's]] Penthouse

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Wrestling

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Hypnosis

** DVD Bonus: When Louis Met...[[Neil Hamilton (politician)|The Hamiltons]]

** DVD Bonus: In-Vision Commentary by Louis and [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|the Hamiltons]]

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Swingers

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: South Africa

** DVD Bonus: In-Vision Commentary by Louis and [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|the Hamiltons]]

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Gangsta Rap

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: UFOs

** DVD Bonus: When Louis Met...[[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy]]

** DVD Bonus: In-Vision Commentary by Louis and [[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy]] Taped in [[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy's]] Penthouse

* '''Louis Theroux: The Collection'''

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Porn

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Head for the Hills aka Survivalists

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Swingers

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Black Nationalism

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Wrestling

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: South Africa

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Thai Brides

** [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]: Gangsta Rap

** When Louis Met...[[Jimmy Savile|Jimmy]]

** When Louis Met...[[Paul Daniels|Paul]] and [[Debbie McGee|Debbie]]

** When Louis Met...[[Neil Hamilton (politician)|The Hamiltons]]

** When Louis Met...[[Ann Widdecombe]]

** When Louis Met...[[Chris Eubank]]

** [[Louis and the Brothel]]

** [[Louis and the Nazis]]

** [[TV Nation]]: New Klan

** [[TV Nation]]: Millennium

** [[TV Nation]]: Jerusalem Syndrome

** [[TV Nation]]: Cops for Christ

==See also==

* [[List of Louis Theroux documentaries]]

* [[Louis Theroux's BBC Two specials]]

* [[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*{{imdbBBC programme}}
*{{IMDb title|0304938|title=When Louis Met Jimmy}}

*{{imdbIMDb title|0304939|title=When Louis Met Paul and Debbie}}

*{{imdbIMDb title|0304940|title=When Louis Met the Hamiltons}}

*{{imdbIMDb title|0304937|title=When Louis Met Ann Widdecombe}}

*{{imdbIMDb title|0313778|title=When Louis Met Chris Eubank}}

*{{imdbIMDb title|0313779|title=When Louis Met Keith Harris and Orville}}

*{{IMDb title|1988837|title=When Louis Met Max Clifford}}

*{{IMDb title|1995360|title=Living with Louis}}

{{Louis Theroux}}

[[Category:BBC television documentaries]]

[[Category:Documentaries]]

[[Category:British films]

[[Category:English-language films]]

[[Category:Louis Theroux's BBC Two specials]]

{{documentary-stub}}

[[Category:BBC television documentaries]]

[[Category:Documentary films about entertainers]]

[[Category:English-language documentary films]]

[[Category:2000 British television series debuts]]

[[Category:2002 British television series endings]]

[[Category:Works about Jimmy Savile]]