Louis Theroux Visits Oasis Academy Hadley for an Unforgettable Talk
- Futures For All
- Oct 7
- 3 min read
Written By Nahida Torafder and Huseyin Kurtul, Sixth Form Students, Oasis Academy Hadley.
On the 16th of September 2025, Renowned Documentary Maker and Journalist, Louis Theroux visited 200 Sixth Form Students at Oasis Academy Hadley School in Ponders End, London.
We were chosen to lead a thought-provoking interview with Louis, where we discussed lots of interesting topics. Our Headteacher, Zoe Thompson, introduced Louis, before giving the floor to us.
Attempting to unpick a 25 year long career within a few questions is a difficult feat, however, we really wanted to get to know Louis as an individual to understand his path to success, so we could apply it to our own journeys.
What inspired us:
Louis has met people from all walks of life, from prisoners to popstars but he always manages to stay true to himself to deliver a meaningful interview. For that reason, his authenticity is something we wanted to learn more about, taking into consideration he is a world-famous journalist. Additionally, having engaged with such a wide variety of individuals, Louis is uniquely positioned to relay the amalgamated life experience of these encounters.
Before the interview began, Louis’s advice was to ‘just listen’, which was the best thing he could have said, as it ensured we remained calm and focused throughout.
About our talk:
Below are some key highlights from the Interview:
Asking vs Answering questions
Louis shared that he prefers asking questions because of his deep curiosity about people and has grown to enjoy being interviewed as it helps him reflect on his own thoughts and experiences.
Authenticity matters
He spoke about the power of being genuine – he believes that showing vulnerability and being awkward or unsure at times has helped him connect with people and uncover deeper truths in his work. It’s a good message for anyone struggling with perfectionism or not feeling good enough to get started, which is very relevant for us as sixth formers.
Breaking into industry without connections
He emphasised that that both knowledge and connections matter. Sticking with education still offers valuable knowledge and opens doors that might otherwise remain closed. Particularly in a world where social media can promote inaccurate shortcuts to success like quitting school to trade crypto and the like. And to also be proactive – reach out to people, attend your courses, and look for mentors and allies. Don’t wait for opportunities – create them.
We also played a game of ‘Two Truths and One Lie’ and ‘Theroux the Keyhole’ where Louis had the very special chance to win a deluxe hamper of his favourite biscuits.
Student Q&A:
We then had time for a Q&A session, with our peers asking inspiring questions, such as:
“What’s the worst person you have interviewed?”
“I’m interested in being a Journalist myself. What’s your best advice from someone who has done all sorts of media?”
“Do you struggle when there’s a world view or a person you really disagree with?”
Our Thanks:
Louis’s overall message was a reminder that everyone has the capacity to change and that empathy and understanding are powerful tools. He inspired all of us to think critically, support each other and stay true to ourselves.
It was an invaluable experience and gave us big insight into how to read people well and appreciate their viewpoints, while also getting a breadth of knowledge from someone who has a wealth of experience. It was an experience we will never forget. We are truly grateful to Futures for All for the once in a lifetime opportunity to interview the man who has interviewed them all!
