Half Man: Inside Richard Gadd’s New BBC Project

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The Baby Reindeer creator will return to our screens in 2026

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Baby Reindeer was all we could talk about when it debuted on Netflix back in April. Its creator, Richard Gadd, landed in the spotlight thanks to his creating and writing the series, and also for that pesky ‘based on a true story’ subtitle – which turned out to be pretty costly for the streamer. In 2026, though, it’s over to the BBC where Gadd’s latest project, Half Man, will air. Here’s what you need to know.

Richard Gadd’s Half Man: Plot, Cast, Release Date

After the explosive success of Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd is back with an original drama – this time on the BBC. Made up of six episodes, Half Man is a co-production with HBO, similar to Industry, meaning it’ll definitely air across the Atlantic, too.

What Is Half Man About?

‘Brothers’ Niall and Ruben are estranged: they forged a bond as teenagers, but haven’t spoken in years. So when Ruben shows up unexpectedly at Niall’s wedding, it’s pretty unsettling. In fact, it leads to an explosion of violence that catapults us back through their lives.

We flash back 40 years, tracing the boys’ childhood in the ‘80s and working our way back to the present day, from them meeting as teenagers to their falling out as adults – with all the good, bad, terrible, funny, angry, and challenging moments along the way.

Set in Glasgow, Half Man will capture the wild energy of a changing city – and changing world. At its heart, though, it will tackle a difficult question: what does it mean to be a man?

The Cast

Richard Gadd will lead the series as Ruben, while Jamie Bell (All of Us Strangers) will join him as Niall. And that’s all we know so far. With the series announced in February 2024 – before Baby Reindeer – this casting news follows series creator, writer and executive producer Gadd insisting he would not star in Half Man, which was previously known under the working title, ‘Lions’.

‘No, I’m not going to act in that for a couple of reasons,’ Gadd told The Hollywood Reporter. ‘For Baby Reindeer, it added a layer of intrigue because it happened to me and I think it made the piece more interesting. But I want Lions to exist as a piece of art, as a piece of work without my sudden recognition getting in the way, which is why we’ll cast people who aren’t me in the principal roles.’ Guess the sudden recognition is exactly what the BBC and HBO want after Baby Reindeer’s massive success…

‘I am delighted to confirm I will be playing Ruben in the newly crowned Half Man for the BBC and HBO alongside the incomparable Jamie Bell,’ Gadd says now. ‘When I wrote the show, I did it with him in mind, never thinking for a second we would manage to land him. So I could not be happier for everything that has come to pass in getting him on board. He is one of the greatest actors of his generation and I am so looking forward to seeing what he does with the role. Thanks to all the staff at the BBC, HBO, and Mam Tor Productions for making it all happen. I cannot wait to work with you all in the months ahead.’

‘I’m so excited to join this incredible creative team,’ Bell adds. ‘Richard has once again crafted something poignant and singular. I’m honored to have been asked to bring this to life with him.’

Is It Based On A True Story?

No more true stories for Gadd – for now, at least. ‘All of the stuff I’ve done has an emotional truth to it, but [Half Man] is not based on my life at all,’ Gadd told The Hollywood Reporter. ‘It’s a fictional world and a new challenge that I’m really looking forward to.’

Release Date

Half Man will be filmed in Glasgow, Scotland in 2025 and will air in 2026 on BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BBC Scotland in the UK, and on HBO in the US.

‘Half Man is a brilliant example of BBC Scotland’s ambition to bring high quality drama, rooted in Scotland, to audiences in Scotland, the UK and the world,’ says Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland. ‘We’re delighted to be announcing this exciting casting news today and look forward to seeing Richard and Jamie bring these complex and powerful characters to life.’

‘It’s been such a privilege to see Half Man take shape, and to know that cameras will be rolling soon,’ shares Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. ‘In Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell we have the perfect Ruben and Niall – two characters like no other, whose epic journey through the decades we can’t wait to have on the BBC.’