Louis Theroux and Joe Exotic’s relationship timeline ahead of new BBC documentary

Louis Theroux’s new feature-length documentary Shooting Joe Exotic is set to air on BBC Two tonight, delving deep into the life of the notorious Tiger King.

This 90-minute special sees the presenter travel to America to investigate one of the most controversial and captivating icons of recent times one decade after the pair first met.

Ahead of the programme, Joe made a ‘desperate plea’ to Louis urging the filmmaker to tell his side of the notoriously chaotic story – and the doc is packed full with bombshells.

At one point, Louis discovers a ‘veiled threat’ by Joe, warning that either he or Carole Baskin would end up dead from their feud.

But just how far back do Louis and Joe go? What is their history?

Louis and Joe first met for Louis’s 2011 documentary America’s Most Dangerous Pets, where the Tiger King star showed the filmmaker around his zoo.

At one point, while being interviewed by Louis, Joe joked he should ‘shoot’ the presenter if he somehow found himself in the claws of a lion.

Joe stressed this would be a humane response, telling the star that he wouldn’t stand a chance against the wild cat.

A lot has happened since Louis and Joe first met. The big personality ran for Governor, got married, and ended up being sentenced to 22 years behind bars after he was found guilty of plotting to kill Carole and animal abuse.

Last year, Louis confessed that he regrets not pressing Joe further on his love life.

Speaking on The Graham Norton show at the time, he said: ‘I knew him before he was famous.

‘I spent the best part of a week with him for a documentary on dangerous pets in 2011. If I have any regrets, it’s not talking to him more about his two husbands and his rules of engagement for three-person lovemaking!’

Shooting Joe Exotic follows Louis as he meets with Joe’s old friends and family members of Joe’s. He also tells the story of Joe’s captivating charisma and the way in which it became a key ingredient in a viral television sensation.

Looking back at his original documentary, Louis reflects on hours of unseen footage and sets out to understand who the real Joe is and how he used his considerable charm and wiles to assemble a vast menagerie of animals and humans, all roped into a grand project of vanity and deception.

Shooting Joe Exotic airs tonight at 9pm on BBC Two.

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