The famous Therouxs
The name Theroux was already well-known when Louis was growing up, his father being the writer Paul Theroux. His dad's novels, which include 'The Mosquito Coast', tend to be set in far-flung locations, and Louis himself was born in Singapore. His brother Marcel is also a writer and TV presenter.

Growing up
After a period of globe-trotting, the Therouxs settled in London. Young Louis had a charmed early life, first attending the prestigious Westminster School and then going to Oxford University, where he gained a First Class degree in History. However, in spite of his credentials and well-known surname, Louis had no career lined up when he left Oxford.

Odd jobbing in America
Louis was initially reluctant to get into journalism. He wanted to take a different route from his friends and relatives. However, a period of menial work (including some months as a glass blower specialising in 'tasteless' goblets) soon changed his mind. He was a hack at a small San Jose newspaper before he made the leap to 'Spy', a satirical magazine in New York.

Into TV
Louis' interest in satirical journalism led him to working with the TV prankster and writer Michael Moore, whose show 'TV Nation' mingled comedy with social commentary. As a reporter for Moore, Louis found himself interviewing militant racists one moment and Avon ladies the next. Yet unlike Moore, Louis doesn't consider himself a crusader or critic. In his own words, he goes after 'subjects', not 'targets'.

The make-believe Louis
By spending quality time with all manner of people, Louis has sought to 'discover the genuinely odd in the most ordinary settings.' Yet the nervous man we see on screen isn't really him at all. What his interviewees get is 'a fictional persona called Louis' whose naïve manner encourages people to relax and reveal their true selves in front of the camera.