Richard Gadd Opens Up About His Terrifying New Role in BBC Drama Half Man
After Baby Reindeer's success, Richard Gadd returns with Half Man — a bold new BBC series exploring broken brotherhood, repressed identity, and decades of secrets.
Richard Gadd Steps Far Outside His Comfort Zone for Half Man
Following the global phenomenon that was Baby Reindeer, writer and actor Richard Gadd has returned with an ambitious new BBC drama — and this time, he pushed himself further than ever before. The six-part series, titled Half Man, explores the decades-long and ultimately fractured bond between two men from Glasgow, and Gadd admits the experience of playing his new character genuinely frightened him.
"It terrified me," Gadd confesses, describing the role as "so far away from me and anything I'd done before."
What Is Half Man About?
Half Man spans thirty years in the intertwined lives of two Glaswegian men — the self-conscious Niall and the volatile Ruben — who were once as close as brothers during their teenage years. The story unfolds across two timelines, cutting between the 1980s and the present day, piecing together how a seemingly unbreakable friendship gradually fell apart.
At the heart of the series lies a powerful exploration of shame and repression. Niall quietly wrestles with his sexuality, while Ruben carries the weight of an unresolved trauma. Their connection begins under unusual circumstances — the two are forced to share a home as teenagers after their mothers enter a relationship. Despite their differences, they form a deep bond. But hidden truths and buried pain slowly erode what they once shared, culminating in a violent confrontation at Niall's wedding that sets the entire series in motion.
A Role That Demanded Total Transformation
Gadd, who rose to international acclaim playing comedian Donny Dunn in Baby Reindeer — which won the Emmy in 2024 — initially questioned whether he should act in Half Man at all. The emotional intensity of his previous project gave him pause, but ultimately, he chose to face the challenge head-on.
To convincingly inhabit Ruben, a hard-edged embodiment of a certain kind of masculinity, Gadd knew he had to completely reinvent his physical appearance. He grew what he calls an "awful beard," restyled his hair, and committed to a rigorous muscle-building regimen.
"I just knew if people were going to buy the guy from Baby Reindeer as this hard-man epitome of masculinity, I needed to really transform," he explains.
The stakes felt deeply personal. Gadd acknowledged that if he fell short in the role, he would "look like a fool" — but he refused to let that fear dictate his creative choices.
Glasgow as a Character in Its Own Right
Beyond the personal drama of its two leads, Half Man uses the city of Glasgow itself as a mirror for its themes. Gadd was drawn to the idea of setting the story in a city that has undergone remarkable transformation over the decades — evolving into what he describes as a "cultural capital of the world" with a vibrant, progressive identity and a prominent LGBTQ+ community.
For Niall, that contrast is painfully ironic. The city around him grows more colourful and accepting with each passing year, yet he remains trapped by his own internal struggles.
"This city is progressing around him, becoming more vibrant, more colourful, more accepting — and yet he still can't get past his own demons," Gadd reflects.
Gadd also addressed lingering misconceptions about Glasgow, noting that growing up in a small Scottish village, he was led to believe the city was a "scary" place. That perception, he says, couldn't be further from today's reality.
Jamie Bell Joins the Cast
Although Gadd says he never writes with specific actors in mind, one name kept surfacing as he developed the character of Niall — Jamie Bell, best known for his celebrated roles in Billy Elliot and Rocketman, and set to appear in the upcoming Peaky Blinders series.
"He's a very celebrated actor, but in my mind, still underrated," Gadd says of Bell, adding that he simply "looked right" for the part.
Gadd Wants Viewers to Draw Their Own Conclusions
In keeping with the layered, thought-provoking nature of his work, Gadd is deliberately leaving the ending of Half Man open to interpretation. Rather than guiding audiences toward a fixed reading, he wants viewers to bring their own experiences to the story.
"Whatever they think the ending is, whatever they think the show's about — that's probably what it is," he says.
Half Man is available to stream on BBC iPlayer, with new episodes releasing every Friday from 24 April.
