S5 EP7: Danny Dyer describes battling addiction, UFO obsessions, and tackling Shakespeare

The Louis Theroux Podcast

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Tuesday, 17 June 2025 - 1 hour 24 minutes

This week, Louis sits down with Danny Dyer, the Bafta-winning actor and all-round national treasure. The pair discuss Danny’s experience battling addiction while performing on stage, their shared fascination with UFOs, and whether Danny would ever do Shakespeare. Plus, Danny reveals what he really thinks about being described as ‘the people’s Louis Theroux’.  

Links/Attachments: 

Via – UK Drug and Alcohol Addiction Charity 

https://www.viaorg.uk/  

TV Show: ‘Who Do You Think You Are? (2007 – Present) - BBC 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007t575  

Book: Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel (2009) 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Hall-Shortlisted-Golden-Booker/dp/0007230206   

TV Show: ‘Wolf Hall’ (2015) - BBC 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p02gfy74/wolf-hall-series-1-1-three-card-trick  

Loving (1995) 

https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/loving/umc.cmc.46n84c1skr7ogikets6qczv2v  

Play: Hamlet, William Shakespeare (~1600) 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hamlet-William-Shakespeare/dp/1853260096  

Human Traffic (1999) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAPK6ZYq_p0  

The Football Factory (2004) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzuEkF1oLVE 

Goodbye Charlie Bright (2001) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217824/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 

The Business (2001) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVZX9I6y97k 

Book: The Football Factory, John King (1997) 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Football-Factory-John-King/dp/0099731916  

Article in shortlist 2017: https://www.shortlist.com/news/danny-dyers-deadliest-men-louis-theroux-documentary-tv 

TV Show: ‘Danny Dyer’s Deadliest Men’ (2008-2009) - Bravo 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2288499/  

TV Show: ‘Big Brother’ (2000 – Present) - ITV 

https://www.itv.com/watch/big-brother/10a4928  

‘What a touch! Danny Dyer wins Male Performance in a Comedy for Mr Bigstuff | BAFTA TV Awards’ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XQLYDZeYVg  

TV Show: ‘Mr Bigstuff’ (2024) - Sky Max 

https://www.sky.com/watch/mr-bigstuff  

TV Show: ‘Plebs’ (2012 – 2019) - ITV 

https://www.itv.com/watch/plebs/2a1873  

TV Show: ‘Rivals’ (2024) - Disney Plus 

https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/browse/entity-97399b9f-964e-444c-91f3-7db9f11efe5d  

I Believe in UFOs: Danny Dyer (2010) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7008276/  

TV Episode: ‘Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends: UFOs’ (1998) 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00hf8tg  

TV Show: ‘Prime Suspect’ (1991 – 2006) - ITV 

https://www.itv.com/watch/prime-suspect/1a1685  

TV Show: ‘Cracker’ (1993 – 1996) - ITV 

https://www.itv.com/watch/cracker/1a1918  

Three Quick Breaths (upcoming film) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35566934/ 

TV Show: ‘Eastenders’ (1985 – Present) - BBC 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006m86d/eastenders  

Podcast: ‘Desert Island Discs: Danny Dyer’ - BBC Sounds 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002c2hw  

Play: Celebration, Harold Pinter (2000) 

http://www.haroldpinter.org/plays/plays_celebration.shtml  

Play: The Dumb Waiter, Harold Pinter (1957) 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dumb-Waiter-Play-Acting-One/dp/0573042101  

Play: The Caretaker, Harold Pinter (1960) 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caretaker-Play-Harold-Pinter/dp/0573040028  

Play: The Birthday Party, Harold Pinter (1958)  

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birthday-Party-Pinter-Plays/dp/0571160786  

Play: The Room, Harold Pinter (1957) 

https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/room-book-harold-pinter-9780573022364  

Credits: 

Producer: Millie Chu  

Assistant Producer: Artemis Irvine 

Production Manager: Francesca Bassett  

Music: Miguel D’Oliveira  

Audio Mixer: Tom Guest 

Video Mixer: Scott Edwards  

Shownotes compiled by Immie Webb 

Executive Producer: Arron Fellows  

A Mindhouse Production for Spotify  

www.mindhouse.co.uk  

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