“It is one of the most straightforward yet complex interactions that can take place between two people.”
After recently returning to examine The Westboro Baptist Church for a third time, Louis Theroux is switching focus for his next BBC documentary.
The broadcaster will be returning to the UK for his next project as he meets women that are legally selling sexual services, either to make a living or to supplement their income.
However, rather than sell their services on the streets or in illegal brothels, these women sell sex from their own home or hotels, utilising technology to share photos, make bookings and vet potential clients.
The exchange of sex for money is legal in Britain, so long as it doesn’t involve coercion, exploitation, or any kind of public nuisance.
Speaking about the documentary, Theroux said: “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. The debate around selling sex is exactly that kind of story.”
As stated in the official synopsis, “the age-old issue of whether sex should ever be traded remains, with many believing it to be exploitative and damaging, driven by a society still shaped by the desires of men”.
“Yet there are those who feel that selling sex can be a valid, empowering choice for those who choose to engage in it. As Louis meets the women and men participating in the new sexual economy, he explores whether selling sex can ever be a healthy way to make money.”
Theroux added that the complex and intimate nature of the subject matter were key to his involvement.
“It is one of the most straightforward, yet complex interactions that can take place between two people,” he said.
“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. 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.”
At present, a premiere date hasn’t been announced but it’s bound to be a fascinating watch.
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