Richard Gadd argues pivotal scene of new series Half Man is the best thing he’s ever written

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It’s tough to create something new after the massive success of Baby Reindeer, which was a global hit on Netflix and received numerous awards.

Richard Gadd, the creator and star of the new BBC/HBO series Half Man, has taken a bold approach. He not only wrote the series, but also plays a leading role alongside Jamie Bell.

In a recent exclusive interview for our video series, The TopMob Writers’ Room – where we explore the minds of screenwriters – creator Jack Gadd revealed that the upcoming series features what he believes is his best scene yet, appearing in the very last episode.

When asked about his best scene, Gadd admitted he often thinks of scenes that didn’t make the final cut. He explained this is because he tends to be self-critical and often believes those discarded scenes were his strongest work.

You know, I’ve been thinking about his work, and I honestly believe the scene where those two characters finally talk it out, face to face, might be his best writing yet. It’s hard to say for sure, of course – judging art is always tricky and depends on how you look at it – but that scene really stood out to me. It just felt incredibly powerful and well-crafted.

In the film Half Man, Gadd portrays Ruben, a tough and often aggressive character who is fiercely loyal. He shares a brotherly bond with Niall, played by Jamie Bell, despite them not being related by blood; Niall is a much gentler and quieter person.

The show follows the characters’ lives over three decades, culminating in a violent event at Niall’s wedding. To portray them across this timeframe, actors Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson play younger versions of Ruben and Niall.

During a recent discussion about the show, Gadd shared that he initially created the script for Half Man before he started working on Baby Reindeer.

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I’m a constant idea generator, but if an idea doesn’t seem solid after a day, I quickly dismiss it as not worth pursuing.

I couldn’t get this particular idea out of my head – it really stuck with me. Throughout the entire process of making Baby Reindeer, I kept wondering if it would still be possible. I was hoping the BBC would be interested in the project, and I really wanted to work with them, so I was constantly checking to see if the opportunity was still available. Thankfully, it was.

During a conversation for The TopMob Writers’ Room, Gadd talked about his projects, including Half Man and Baby Reindeer, his stand-up comedy, the Sex Education episode he helped write, and what he’s planning next.

Half Man will arrive on BBC iPlayer at 6am on Friday 24 April.

You’ll be able to watch Richard Gadd’s complete interview for The TopMob Writers’ Room starting Friday, April 24th, 2026.

Don’t miss ‘Half Man’! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive features, and more.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the TV production company Fremantle. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a journalism diploma.

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2026-04-19 11:11