Louis Theroux, to me, is unique in how he's managed to be embraced by the UK considering his self-effacing, overly-polite, fidgety nature. In any other context, Theroux would be brushed off as a goon, but such is the quality of his probing documentary work that he captivates both toffs and chavs.
Last night, his latest BBC documentary Drinking to Oblivion aired and next month we've got another one coming about brain injury. Later in the year, he will release his exposure of the Church of Scientology in My Scientology Movie.
VICE recently spun the journo treatment on Theroux and found out, among other things, that last Christmas he discovered he had one giant ball.
"I don't know how or why," Louis said. "I got something called orchitis. Basically, one of my testicles swelled up to two or three times its normal size and it was extremely painful.
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"Due to a bit of a mix-up, I ended up going to three different NHS hospitals, and at each one someone had to examine the feel of my 'ball.' I was very aware that they might know who I was. And I was aware that they might know I was aware that they might know who I was. Yet you've just got to do it; clearly the alternative is not getting critical medical attention.
"Anyway, I took antibiotics and it did go down after three or four days, but it was pretty embarrassing."
When asked whether he'd have sex with a robot, he replied: "I think I'd have a bit of a problem with it. Have you seen Ex Machina? Especially since I'm married, I just think it would be too creepy. It's maybe another way we've lost intimacy and ways of expressing closeness. It could be alien and ultimately unsatisfying."
A clip from 'Drinking to Oblivion' Credit: BBC
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And when it comes to drugs - well, at least weed - he's a liberal. Opening up about his belief in its decriminalisation as well as drinking, he said "Definitely (drugs and drink can make you happy), but only for short periods. If I have a few margaritas, especially the way I make them at home, I am happier. But it's like you've taken it out of the tank and it's not there the next day. You've depleted your reserves of serotonin.
"I'm in favour of legalising cannabis. I don't think that's controversial to say, is it? In America it's more or less legal in various places. I'm less keen on the idea of hard drugs."
Words by Josh Teal
Featured Image Credit:Topics: louis theroux