For other uses, see Half Man (disambiguation).

Half Man
Release poster
Genre Drama
Created by Richard Gadd
Written by Richard Gadd
Directed by
  • Alexandra Brodski
  • Eshref Reybrouck
Starring
  • Richard Gadd
  • Jamie Bell
Composers
  • Evgueni Galperine
  • Sacha Galperine
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language English
No. of episodes 1
Production
Executive producers
  • Richard Gadd
  • Gaynor Holmes
  • Gavin Smith
  • Tally Garner
  • Morven Reid
  • Sophie Gardiner
  • Anna O'Malley
Producer Wendy Griffin
Running time 52 minutes
Production companies
  • Mam Tor Productions
  • Thistledown Pictures
Original release
Network HBO (United States)
Release 23 April 2026 (2026-04-23) –
present
Network BBC iPlayer (United Kingdom)
Release 24 April 2026 (2026-04-24) –
present
Network BBC One (United Kingdom)
Release 28 April 2026 (2026-04-28) –
present

Half Man is a British six-part television drama miniseries created by, written, and starring Richard Gadd, also starring Jamie Bell. It is a co-production by Thistledown Pictures and Mam Tor Productions for the BBC and HBO. The series premiered on 23 April 2026 on HBO and 28 April on BBC One (24 April on BBC iPlayer).

Premise

Niall and Ruben grew up as brothers despite not being related by blood—one strong and fiercely loyal, the other quiet and gentle. Thirty years later, they reunite at Niall’s wedding, but Ruben seems uneasy and on edge; when a sudden act of violence erupts, it sends the story back through their shared past, revealing how their bond was shaped and how even the closest relationships can ultimately fall apart.

Cast and characters

  • Richard Gadd as Ruben Pallister
    • Stuart Campbell as young Ruben
  • Jamie Bell as Niall Kennedy
    • Mitchell Robertson as young Niall
  • Marianne McIvor as Maura Pallister, Ruben's mother
  • Neve McIntosh as Lori Kennedy, Niall's mother
  • Stuart McQuarrie as Mr. Jenkins
  • Charlotte Blackwood as Young Mona
  • Piers Ewart as Young Gus
  • Scot Greenan as John
  • Calum Manchip as Drew
  • Charlie De Melo as Alby Safadi
    • Bilal Hasna as young Alby
  • Julie Cullen as Joanna
  • Amy Manson as Mona
  • Philippine Velge as Celeste
  • Tim Downie as Daniel
  • Ruchika Jain as Mrs. Safadi, Alby's mom
  • Gordon Brown as Murray

Production

Development

The series was announced by BBC One in February 2024. It has Richard Gadd as writer and executive producer. Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck are attached to direct. The series comes from the London-based Mam Tor Productions and Thistledown Pictures with Tally Garner and Morven Reid executive producers for Mam Tor alongside Gaynor Holmes for the BBC and Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland. Wendy Griffin is producer.[1] In June 2024, HBO joined the project.[2][3] In November 2024, the project was revealed to have the title Half Man with filming scheduled to commence in Scotland in 2025.[4] Gadd has described the series, previously titled Lions, as being about a pair of brothers.[5]

Casting

Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell were confirmed in the lead roles in November 2024.[6][1][7] In February 2024, Mitchell Robertson, Stuart Campbell, Neve McIntosh, Marianne McIvor, Charlie De Melo, Bilal Hasna, Julie Cullen, Amy Manson, Philippine Velge, Stuart McQuarrie, Piers Ewart, Scot Greenan, Charlotte Blackwood, and Calum Manchip joined the cast.[8]

Filming

Principal photography began in February 2025.[9][10] Filming locations include Glasgow, Scotland.[11][12] In July 2025, it was revealed that filming had been wrapped.[13]

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original release date [14] U.S. airdate [15]
1 "Episode 1" Alexandra Brodski Richard Gadd 24 April 2026 (2026-04-24) (BBC iPlayer)
28 April 2026 (2026-04-28) (BBC One)		 23 April 2026

Release

Half Man will have its world premiere as the opening series of the 2026 Canneseries.[16] The series premiered on 23 April 2026 on HBO in the US and on BBC iPlayer on 24 April 2026 in the UK, with the BBC One and BBC Scotland broadcast the following week.[8][17][18][19]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 74% based on 43 critic reviews.[20] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the series holds a score of 66 out of 100 based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[21]

Reviewing for The Guardian, Lucy Mangan gave the series five stars out of five, stating: "Half Man is a bleak and brilliant thing. It has its weak spots – the women are underwritten... and I’m not sure I buy the final detonation, which sets up the scene in the barn – but these are quibbles. Gadd’s drama is brave and blazing... If Jack Thorne’s Adolescence is to be shown in schools, Half Man needs to be shown in any place men gather."[22]

The Independent critic Nick Hilton was more critical, awarding the series two out of five stars, stating: "It feels like a show in search of meaning, a plot looking for a story – and, frankly, it’s a huge misfire... it’s hard to escape the nagging suspicion that Gadd’s sophomore programme is a calculated attempt to make something brave and startling and important and all the other adjectives that were applied, more authentically, to Baby Reindeer."[23]

In her review for the BBC, Caryn James gave the series four out of five stars, writing: "Even when the characters are unrelatable, though, Gadd's power as a writer comes through. He doesn't ask for pity for these damaged men. He successfully asks for understanding and sympathy, and does that in his distinct, jolting, culturally resonant voice."[24]

References

  1. ^ a b "BBC announces new Richard Gadd drama Lions (w/t)". BBC. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  2. ^ White, Peter (27 June 2024). "'Baby Reindeer' Creator Richard Gadd's BBC Drama Series 'Lions' Boarded By HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  3. ^ Goldbart, Max (21 February 2024). "BBC Unveils Mega 12-Show Drama Slate Featuring 'Dear England' Adaptation Starring Joseph Fiennes, Aimee Lou Wood's Debut Writing Project & Rebecca Hall-Led Series From Element". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  4. ^ Zee, Michaela (25 November 2024). "Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell to Star in HBO, BBC Drama Series 'Half Man'". Variety. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  5. ^ Williams, Zoe (18 April 2024). "'I was severely stalked and severely abused': Richard Gadd on the true story behind Baby Reindeer". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  6. ^ Porter, Rick (25 November 2024). "'Baby Reindeer' Creator Richard Gadd to Star With Jamie Bell in HBO-BBC Series 'Half Man'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell to star in new BBC drama Half Man". BBC. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  8. ^ a b "BBC announce cast joining Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell in Half Man". BBC. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  9. ^ Luxford, Victoria (6 February 2025). "'Baby Reindeer' creator Richard Gadd is filming his new series 'Half Man'". NME. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  10. ^ Calnan, Ellie (19 February 2025). "2025 film and high-end TV productions shooting in the UK and Ireland: latest updates". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  11. ^ Trainer, Paul (7 January 2025). "Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell to film new HBO drama in Glasgow this year". Glasgow World. Archived from the original on 20 February 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  12. ^ Myles, Amy (7 February 2025). "Top Netflix actor filming in Glasgow this week". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  13. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (14 July 2025). "'Baby Reindeer' Creator Richard Gadd Reveals Cut Episode Where Donny Visited Family in Scotland: Execs Said 'You Need to Give the Audience a Respite'". Variety. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  14. ^ Hibbs, James (24 April 2026). "Half Man release schedule: When is episode 2 out on BBC iPlayer and BBC One?". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  15. ^ "Shows A-Z - half man on hbo | TheFutonCritic.com". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  16. ^ Leffler, Rebecca (31 March 2026). "Canneseries 2026 to showcase Apple TV's 'Star City', Richard Gadd's 'Half Man', Disney's 'Alice And Steve'". Screen International. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  17. ^ King, Jack (12 March 2026). "Half Man, Richard Gadd's Baby Reindeer follow-up, is a dark odyssey into the heart of male rage". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 19 March 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  18. ^ Goldbart, Max (23 March 2026). "Richard Gadd's New Show 'Half Man' Gets HBO & BBC Premiere Dates". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  19. ^ "Half Man official trailer released for Richard Gadd's new drama". BBC. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  20. ^ "Half Man: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  21. ^ "Half Man Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  22. ^ Mangan, Lucy (21 April 2026). "Half Man review – more brave, brutal, blazing TV from the maker of Baby Reindeer". Retrieved 24 April 2026 – via The Guardian.
  23. ^ "Half Man review – Richard Gadd's Baby Reindeer follow-up is brutal, pointless misfire". The Independent. 22 April 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  24. ^ "Half Man review: Baby Reindeer creator's violent new series is brutal and 'unbearably intense' ★★★★☆". www.bbc.com. 23 April 2026. Retrieved 23 April 2026.