Richard Gadd's Half Man Arrives on BBC: Everything You Need to Know About the Baby Reindeer Follow-Up
Richard Gadd's highly anticipated follow-up to Baby Reindeer is almost here. Half Man, a six-episode drama co-produced by HBO and the BBC, premieres on BBC iPlayer and BBC One from 24 April — and early buzz suggests it could be one of the most talked-about British dramas of the year.
The series stars Gadd alongside Billy Elliot actor Jamie Bell, and spans three decades of a complex, volatile male friendship — from a shared childhood marked by loss to a violent confrontation at a wedding thirty years later.
Background
Gadd became a global name with Baby Reindeer, the semi-autobiographical drama that swept the 2024 Emmy Awards and sparked widespread conversation about stalking, trauma, and male vulnerability. Half Man is his next major project, written and executive produced by Gadd, and filmed in and around Glasgow, where it wrapped production in July 2025.
Key Developments
Half Man tells the story of Ruben (Gadd) and Niall (Bell), two men who, despite not being blood relatives, share a bond as close as brothers. Their inseparable youth is marked by death and circumstance, leaving them with only each other. The narrative is triggered when Ruben appears at Niall's wedding three decades later, appearing on edge and shifty — and an explosion of violence propels the story back through their lives.
The series explores themes of brotherhood, violence, and the fragility of male relationships, illustrating how the closest bonds can break the hardest when things fall apart. Gadd's character, Ruben, is described as a departure from his Baby Reindeer role — embodying toxic masculinity rather than vulnerability — while Bell's Niall is his kind and gentle opposite.
The series is directed by Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck, and produced by Mam Tor Productions, a Banijay UK company, in association with Thistledown Pictures. Screen Scotland supported the production. In the US, it premieres on HBO and Max on 23 April.
Half Man has already generated significant Emmy buzz, with the series surging in odds for Best Limited Series and both Gadd and Bell attracting attention in the acting categories.
Why It Matters
After the cultural phenomenon of Baby Reindeer, expectations for Gadd's next project are extraordinarily high. Half Man represents a significant creative risk — a shift from autobiographical trauma to a fictional exploration of male friendship and violence — and its reception will be closely watched by the British television industry. The BBC-HBO co-production model also reflects the growing ambition of British drama to compete on a global stage.
What's Next
Episodes of Half Man will be released weekly on BBC iPlayer from 6am on 24 April, with BBC One and BBC Scotland transmissions following within the week. The series is expected to be a major talking point throughout April and May. More details are available from BBC Media Centre and Deadline.
