
Entertainment
Share
Published 14:50 2 Oct 2017 BST

"Touch wood, I've largely been quite lucky. The situations that have been the most frightening tend to be off camera, because you haven't reached that trust level where you feel comfortable starting to film, or the situation has broken down to the point where you no longer feel comfortable filming. One of the most nerve-racking moments I had was doing the alcohol documentary, Drinking to Oblivion, and we were in a south London flat" said Theroux.
That particular documentary aired in April 2016 and in that feature Theroux spends some time at King's College Hospital in London where he immerses himself in the lives of patients that are in the grips of alcohol addiction.
Speaking about the worrying encounter, Theroux adds: "There was a guy that was mentally ill and another guy that seemed emotionally unstable, and we were going to shoot a sequence, and it became clear that this is not going to go well, and the mentally ill guy was going, "I'm not having that fucking camera anywhere near me," so I said, "It's fine, mate, we'll just quietly go," then one of them put their arm around my neck as though to throttle me, and the other one said, "Oi, if anyone's going to do him then it's going to be me," and I remember just thinking, 'Wow, he's going to snap my neck.' He was ex-Army, too, which suggests that he might actually know how to do that. I don't remember how we got out of there, and not a frame of film was shot. I got out and thought, 'That was ridiculous.' It's one thing to be on location in the West Bank or Lagos and to feel nervous, but the idea that I was going to meet my dreary demise in a social housing estate in south London, close to where I grew up, just felt all wrong."
On a similar note, Theroux has previously talked about the one subject that he wouldn't film a documentary about."I would have been very curious to see what was going on in the Islamic State. I find religious extremism really bizarre, but also fascinating. But, I think it was mainly fear that prevented me going over there. I've seen too much about journalists being taken
"I would have been very curious to see what was going on in the Islamic State. I find religious extremism really bizarre, but also fascinating. But, I think it was mainly fear that prevented me going over there. I've seen too much about journalists being taken hostage and being beheaded, so I steered clear of that one," he said.
We can't wait to have him back on our screens.Explore more on these topics:
Entertainment

Bradley Walsh speaks out after revealing live on air new quiz show was a hoax
He published a statement on social media. Bradley Walsh has issued an explanation via one of his social media channels, after Channel 4 quiz show ‘The Million Pound Shot’ was revealed to be a hoax, a fact that was made clear to viewers live on air. The programme was advertised to viewers as a […]
Entertainment
8h
Martha Stewart apologises for inappropriate Halloween costume
She admitted that she “really screwed up” Martha Stewart has apologised for her Halloween costume this year, admitting that she “really screwed up” with her choice. The veteran lifestyle guru dressed as a homeless person. Stewart, 85, has now deleted a picture of herself where she is seen wearing torn clothes and with dirt on […]
Entertainment
9h
Jack Antonoff slams Ed Sheeran over Macklemore row
Entertainment