Documentarian Louis Theroux – best known for his BBC interviews with fringe political groups, cults and gangs – will sit down with singer Pete Doherty, boxer Anthony Joshua and whistleblower Chelsea Manning for his latest series.

Louis Theroux Interviews … will return for a second series as it explores the careers and lives of public figures across six documentaries.

The latest season features British celebrities such as Top Boy actor and rapper Ashley Walters, Dynasty star Dame Joan Collins and singer-songwriter Raye.

“The six guests are all distinctive and brilliant in different ways, all of them people who have endured setbacks and huge successes, and who have something to share with the world based on their journeys through life,” Theroux said.

“We have tried to build on the success of the first six Louis Theroux Interviews, while pushing further this time into terrain that is gritty and difficult, exploring subjects like mental health, brushes with the law, and political controversy.

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“The tone of the shows is always open-minded and generous-hearted, while hopefully being funny, and always mindful of the need to keep viewers interested.

“I like them, and I’m notoriously hard to please.”

The first series featured the investigative journalist and documentary-maker, 53, sitting down with famous names including Stormzy, Dame Judi Dench and Rita Ora.

Most of the interviews were set in the famous faces’ homes and this time he will visit two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua at his local boxing gym in North London.

They also spend time together in the Watford estate Joshua was raised on.

The interview comes after his fight this year with American boxer Jermaine Franklin, which he won.

Theroux returns to the United States, where his previous documentaries about prisons and conspiracy theorists have been set, to talk to Manning in New York City.

In 2010, US Army intelligence analyst Manning leaked thousands of classified documents said to expose “outrageous, even murderous wrongdoing, war crimes, torture and atrocities on civilians” which were then published by WikiLeaks.

She was sentenced to 35 years in a military prison for her actions and later freed by Barack Obama.

Theroux heads to France to meet both Dame Joan, at her holiday home near St Tropez, and The Libertines and Babyshambles frontman Doherty, in Normandy where he now lives with his wife and their baby daughter.

“I am delighted that Louis is back with such an exciting and eclectic mix of new interviewees,” said Clare Sillery, BBC head of commissioning, documentaries.

“Louis’s genuine curiosity and warmth mean that each of these meetings will bring us something very new and different and I can’t wait to see him take us deeper into the worlds of these hugely engaging cultural figures.”

-PA