Louis Theroux returns with a new documentary investigating the UK sex trade.
The BBC Two documentary follows Theroux as he learns of the legality of the service and learns how social media and websites have fuelled new opportunities for the business of selling sex, making transactional sex more accessible to individuals who possibly wouldn’t have considered it previously.
The filmmaker will meet with people in the industry and explore the reasons behind their choice to sell sex, such as to supplement their income or make a living, potentially earning a lucrative income.
With many believing the trade is exploitative and driven by male desires, Theroux will look at both sides of the debate and speak to those that believe selling sex is an empowering decision for those who participate and a good way to earn money.
Theroux commented: “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.”
“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," he added.
"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.”