In a one-hour film, Joanna Lumley returns to BBC One to spend time with a man who has intrigued her since she saw him carrying the flame on the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay across Britain.

Joanna travels to Los Angeles, California to meet will.i.am on his home turf – spending time with him at his mansion in Los Feliz, meeting his friends and family, and returning with him to his childhood home in the social housing projects of Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles.

She accompanies will.i.am as he journeys back to his old elementary school where the course of his life was changed forever by an inspirational teacher John Wright, and watches him compose and create a special song about his mother.

Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, says: “In this very special documentary for BBC One, Joanna Lumley spends time with the intriguing will.i.am, hanging out with his friends and family and delving into his background to find out just what motivates this extraordinarily driven individual who seems more than anybody else to define the pace, energy and creativity of the time in which we live.”

Joanna will be talking to will.i.am about his childhood growing up in one of the toughest areas of Los Angeles, his school days and early moves into the music business, his massive success with The Black Eyed Peas and subsequently as a solo artist too, his relationship with President Obama, his work on The Voice, and the many ventures to which he devotes his time.

Emma Willis, Head of Documentary Commissioning for the BBC, says: “We’re absolutely delighted to be welcoming Joanna Lumley back to factual television on the BBC. Joanna is one of Britain’s most popular personalities and will bring warmth and insight to this unique documentary.”

Joanna Lumley Meets will.i.am (1x60-minute) was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Controller, BBC One and Emma Willis, Head of Documentary Commissioning. The film will be executive produced by Mark Wells for Rain Media Entertainment, Steven Lapping for Big Red Productions and Maxine Watson, Commissioning Editor for the BBC. It will be produced and directed by Adrian Sibley.