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Louis Theroux's New Documentary Looks At Prostitution In The UK

Louis Theroux's New Documentary Looks At Prostitution In The UK

The acclaimed documentary-maker speaks to three women who work in the sex industry

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Louis Theroux has announced his next documentary, Selling Sex, will delve into the world of prostitution in the UK.

The act of selling sex is legal in Britain, as long as it doesn't involve coercion, exploitation, or any kind of public nuisance.

So, fresh off the back of his recent special which saw him return to the Westboro Baptist Church, he has now come back to the UK to meet three women who provide a legal sexual service.

But rather than standing on street corners or working in illegal brothels, these women are selling sex from their own home or hotels, using the internet to share photos, make bookings and vet potential clients.

"I'm always drawn to stories that involve ethical wrinkles - issues that are deeply felt, but are also divisive, and in which good-hearted people can come to opposite conclusions," says Louis. "The debate around selling sex is exactly that kind of story.

Louis's new documentary will delve into the world of prostitution in the UK.
BBC

"It is one of the most straightforward, yet complex interactions that can take place between two people. On the one hand, none of the activities taking place here are illegal; everything is above board and both parties have mutually agreed on the arrangement.

"On the other, it's impossible to deny that for many - maybe most - people, there is something unsavoury in the idea of accepting money for an act that is so intimate. They have a problem with those who do it and see it as a symptom of a society that is controlled and dominated by men.

"For exactly this reason - because it is so controversial - I thought it would be revealing to speak to the women involved in the business of selling sex.

The Brit documentary maker recently returned to the Westboro Baptist Church for a one-off special.
PA

"Once we started looking we discovered that the sexual economy seems to have been turbo-charged by the prevalence of new websites and social media that allow users to meet up more easily, to write reviews of each other, and swap information."

He added: "What we ended up with was a very intimate look at three very individual women and the different paths that led them to this field of work. I found it revealing and thought-provoking to make - I hope viewers have the same experience. Mainly, I'd like to thank the women who so openly and honestly let me in to their lives and helped broaden my understanding of their lives and experiences."

A date for the new hour-long documentary Louis Theroux: Selling Sex has not yet been confirmed, but it will air on BBC Two soon.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, TV and Film, BBC, louis theroux, Interesting, UK Entertainment, Documentary