First look at Baby Reindeer creator’s new TV series Half Man

The first pictures from Half Man, the new TV series by Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd, have been released.

Filming for the six-episode BBC drama took place in and around Glasgow this year.

It stars Gadd opposite Jamie Bell, best known for his performance in the 2000 film Billy Elliott and, more recently, for All Of Us Strangers and Rocket Man.

The two play half brothers Ruben and Niall, who reunite after years of estrangement, prompting an exploration of the highs and lows of their relationship from the 1980s to present day.

The BBC said the series will capture the “wild energy of a changing city” and “plumb the depths of what it means to be a man”.

Jamie Bell and Gadd play brothers in Half Man [BBC]

[BBC]

The show, written by Gadd, was first announced in November last year, with further cast members confirmed in February.

It stars Neve McIntosh (Tin Star, Chemistry of Death) as Niall’s mother Lori, and Marianne McIvor (Screw, The Nest) as Ruben’s mother Maura.

It also features Charlie De Melo (Rivals), Bilal Hasna (The Agency), Julie Cullen (Traces), Amy Manson (The Nevers), Philippine Velge (The Serpent Queen), Stuart McQuarrie (The Rig), Piers Ewart (The Primrose Railway Children), Scot Greenan (T2 Trainspotting), and newcomers Charlotte Blackwood and Calum Manchip.

Mitchell Robertson (Curfew, Mayflies) and Stuart Campbell (SAS Rogue Heroes, The Winter King) play the brothers in their younger years.

It is due to air in 2026 on the BBC and on HBO Max.

Baby Reindeer lawsuit

Half Man follows both successes and much controversy over Gadd’s first project, Baby Reindeer, which was shown on Netflix.

Adapted from his one-man show, Baby Reindeer is based on the true story of how the comedian, from Wormit in Fife, was stalked by a woman after a brief, innocuous encounter in a London pub.

The drama also depicts how he was groomed and raped by an older man he considered a friend, and the harrowing impact on his life.

It won six Emmys, two Golden Globes and received the most nominations at this year’s Bafta TV awards – though won only one for Jessica Gunning as best supporting actress.

Although steps were taken to prevent identification of some of the characters, viewers speculated about the real identity of stalker, Martha, as well as that of a male TV writer who rapes Gadd’s character, Donny.

It led to real-life figures getting touch with police after being linked with the programme.

Last year Netflix has failed in its attempt to persuade a judge to throw out a defamation lawsuit brought by Fiona Harvey, the woman who inspired the stalker character in Baby Reindeer.

Ms Harvey claims the streaming giant told “brutal lies” about her to more than 50 million viewers around the world.

The show is billed as “a true story”, but a judge concluded certain key events, like a conviction for stalking, did not happen in real life.

Netflix has vowed to “defend this matter vigorously”.