Louis Theroux is to humans what David Attenborough is to animals. It’s time we recognise that.
Following on from his incredible documentary on alcoholism last month, Britain’s favourite documentary filmmaker has produced another bona fide instant classic, this time meeting people living with the long-term effects of devastating brain injury.
New doc tonight, BBC2 9pm RT: BBC Two – Louis Theroux, Louis Theroux: A Different Brain https://t.co/jOH7iZ8jut
— Louis Theroux (@louistheroux) May 15, 2016
In this latest piece – A Different Brain – Louis meets Earl, a man whose mother claims his personality and interests have radically altered since he was involved in a car crash. He also speaks to Dan, a man left with reduced inhibitions after suffering a traumatic injury in the ’90s.
Spending time with the staff and patients of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, Louis learns (and so do we through watching him) how victims of horrific accidents can re-learn how to walk, talk, eat and reconstruct who they are – funny, honest and endearing.
One really touching scene was Louis’ friendship with Natalie, an upbeat and carefree Liverpudlian women who claims things have “only gotten better” since her accident.
The resultant conversations and the unravelling of Natalie’s story are some of the most engaging and heart-melting scenes to feature on a BBC doc to date.
Later in the show, Louis discovers that Earl’s brain injury has lead to him developing unusual habits like cleaning his teeth multiple times a day and only buying designer clothing.
Particularly touching was Louis relationship with Earl’s mum, who during one candid and teary-eyed chat in the kitchen says: “He’s a different person, but he’s still my son.”
As with most of Louis’ work, the Twitter reaction following the show has been a mixture of delight and dismay. Not a single negative comment has been hurled at the presenter though, who seems to have firmly cemented his reputation as a national treasure.
Give this man a knighthood already!
Bouta drop the hottest album of 2016🔥🔥 https://t.co/OYbdrR7x1n
— river (@ariabrrrr) May 15, 2016
Louis Theroux documentaries are 10/10 and I would bang Louis x
— river (@ariabrrrr) May 15, 2016
Louis Theroux so good with people managing unimaginably tough circumstances #ADifferentBrain
— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) May 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/LeePKelly/status/731942317339361281
This guy #ADifferentBrain pic.twitter.com/mn26l9Pi7b
— Peter Yeung (@ptr_yeung) May 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/joeswarbrick7/status/731947819955855360
Definitely think @louistheroux demonstrated the skills needed to work with people with ABI – empathy, positivity, feedback #ADifferentBrain
— Dr Caroline Knight (@CarolineKnight) May 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/sudeeni/status/731959497674084353
Feeling immensely grateful watching Louis Theroux #ADifferentBrain @BrainAppeal
— Charlie Wells (@CharlesWellsON) May 15, 2016
Louis Theroux 😂😂 "Did you support arsenal before the brain injury?" pic.twitter.com/RSca6nD1cx
— Adrian (@adrian_yan) May 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/JohnPudney/status/731943032367484928
Don’t worry if you missed A Different Brain – you can still catch it on the BBC’s iPlayer.
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