Louis Theroux accidentally insults Dame Judi Dench

Louis Theroux said broadcasters like the BBC had “a temptation to lay low” when it came to addressing important subjects in a bid to “play it safe”.

As part of his annual keynote MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the 53-year-old reflected on his own career with the corporation as well as its current state.

Having worked with the BBC for many years, the documentary maker said he knew “all-to-well” about the “no-win situation” in trying to avoid criticism and offending viewers.

Of his own work, he began: “It’s hard to imagine having a similar arrangement anywhere else in the world.

“Given all of that, I broach the next point hesitantly and gingerly.

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“Lately, there have been changes in the broader culture.

“We are, I’m happy to say, more thoughtful about representation, about who gets to tell what story, about power and privilege, about the need not to wantonly give offence.

“I am fully signed up to that agenda.”

With this however, he added that he wonders whether “the very laudable aims of not giving offence” had created an “atmosphere of anxiety” that could lead to a “less morally complex filmmaking”.

He continued: “As a result, programmes about extremists and sex workers and paedophiles might be harder to get commissioned.

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“I want to take the risk of going out speaking to people I profoundly disagree with and making documentaries about them.”

With this, he urged producers to: “Take risks. Sail close to the wind.”

Louis is no stranger to investigating a stigmatised or controversial subject, as proven in his many documentaries.

Such topics have included an insight into the porn industry, the far right, Nazis, gangs and sexual predators.

He also made two programmes about disgraced television presenter Jimmy Saville, one before his crimes were exposed and the other following his death.

Of his hard-hitting work, he spilled: “Often the stories made me nervous. They felt risky.

“But it was also true that those shows that had real moral complexity to them were the ones that worked best.

“The less morally fraught episodes – the ones that were safer – haven’t aged so well.”

Louis’ latest move sees him exploring disability, race, sex and perception of consent by looking back on the controversial case of philosophy professor Anna Stubblefield for new documentary Tell Them You Love Me.

Tell Them You Love Me will be released on Sky Documentaries in November this year.

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