Richard Gadd, the creator and writer of the new BBC drama Half Man, also plays a leading role. The show follows a close, thirty-year friendship between two men.
Gadd stars as Ruben, and Jamie Bell plays Niall. The roles of Ruben and Niall in their youth are portrayed by Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson, respectively.
The series also features Neve McIntosh, Marianne McIvor, Charlie de Melo, Amy Manson, and Anjli Mohindra. But what are their roles, and who else appears in the show?
Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Half Man.
Half Man cast guide: Full list of actors
Meet the stars of Half Man! Below, you’ll find details about the main cast and their characters, including where you might recognize the actors from.
- Jamie Bell as Niall
- Richard Gadd as Ruben
- Mitchell Robertson as Young Niall
- Stuart Campbell as Young Ruben
- Neve McIntosh as Lori
- Marianne McIvor as Maura
- Charlie de Melo as Alby
- Bilal Hasna as Young Alby
- Julie Cullen as Young Joanna
- Amy Manson as Mona
- Anjli Mohindra as Ava
- Tim Downie as Daniel
- Tom Andrews as Butch
- Philippine Velge as Celeste
- Stuart McQuarrie as Mr Jenkins
- Sandy Batchelor as Gus
- Piers Ewart as Young Gus
- Scot Greenan as John
- Charlotte Blackwood as Young Mona
- Calum Manchip as Drew
- Kate Robson-Stuart as Joanna
Jamie Bell plays Niall
Niall was a quiet, unassuming person in school, and he was upset when Ruben moved in with him. Despite this difficult start, they formed a strong brotherly bond and shared a thirty-year friendship. However, this culminates in a shocking outbreak of violence at Niall’s wedding.
You probably recognize Jamie Bell from his breakout role in Billy Elliot. Since then, he’s been in a lot of popular movies like King Kong, Jumper, Jane Eyre, The Adventures of Tintin, Snowpiercer, and Rocketman. He’s also appeared in films like Filth, Nymphomaniac: Vol 2, Fantastic Four, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, and All of Us Strangers, and has starred in TV series including TURN: Washington’s Spies, Shining Girls, and DI Ray.
Richard Gadd plays Ruben
Ruben is a man with a troubled past, having spent time in a youth offenders institution and struggling with anger. After his release, he moved in with Niall, beginning a thirty-year friendship and shared life.
Okay, so you might be wondering where you recognize Richard Gadd from. He really broke through with Baby Reindeer, but he’s been steadily building a career with appearances in shows like Tripped, Humans, Clique, Outlander, Code 404, and Wedding Season. He’s definitely a face you’ve probably seen popping up here and there!
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Mitchell Robertson plays Young Niall
Who is Young Niall? Niall in his younger years.
Okay, so I was racking my brain – where do I recognize Mitchell Robertson? Turns out, he’s been in a bunch of great shows! I’ve spotted him in things like ‘A Very British Scandal,’ ‘Marriage,’ ‘Mayflies,’ ‘Grace,’ ‘Curfew,’ and ‘Moonflower Murders.’ That’s why he seemed familiar!
Stuart Campbell plays Young Ruben
Who is Young Ruben? Ruben in his younger years.
You might recognize Stuart Campbell from shows like Outlander, Clique, Hetty Feather, Baptiste, Professor T, The Winter King, Shetland, SAS Rogue Heroes, and Karen Pirie. He’s appeared in a variety of popular series.
Neve McIntosh plays Lori
Who is Lori? Lori is Niall’s mother.
You might recognize Neve McIntosh from her appearances in several popular TV shows. She’s been in series like Bodies, Dracula, Doctor Who, Critical, Death in Paradise, Lucky Man, Traces, Tin Star, Shetland, Chemistry of Death, and All Creatures Great and Small.
Marianne McIvor plays Maura
Who is Maura? Maura is Ruben’s mother.
You might recognize Marianne McIvor from her appearances in several TV shows and films. She’s been in series like Waterloo Road, The Nest, Screw, Karen Pirie, and The Bombing of Pan Am 103, and also films including Outlaw/King, Wild Rose, and Lady Chatterley’s Lover.
Charlie de Melo plays Alby
Who is Alby? Alby is someone Niall met at university.
You might recognize Charlie de Melo as Imran Habeeb from Coronation Street. He’s also appeared in several other TV shows, including The Interceptor, EastEnders, Still Up, Doctor Who, Rivals, Ellis, and The Chelsea Detective.
Bilal Hasna plays Young Alby
Who is Young Alby? A younger version of Alby.
You might recognize Bilal Hasna from his appearances in several popular shows and movies. He’s been in series like Screw, Extraordinary, Dead Hot, 3 Body Problem, The Agency, Black Mirror, and Slow Horses. He also appeared in the films The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim and Christmas Karma.
Julie Cullen plays Young Joanna
Who is Young Joanna? Joanna is someone Niall meets at university.
You might recognize Julie Cullen from her roles in The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star and the series Traces.
Amy Manson plays Mona
Who is Mona? Mona is an old flame of Ruben’s from childhood.
You might recognize Amy Manson from her work in a variety of popular TV shows and films. She’s appeared in series like Torchwood, Casualty, Being Human, Outcasts, Young James Herriot, Raw, Atlantis, Once Upon a Time, The White Princess, The Nevers, Chemistry of Death, The Diplomat, Bodies, and Rebus. She’s also been in films including T2: Trainspotting and Spencer.
Anjli Mohindra plays Ava
Who is Ava? Ava is someone who comes into Niall’s life in his adult years.
You might recognize Anjli Mohindra from a number of popular TV shows and films. She’s appeared in series like The Sarah Jane Adventures, The Missing, Bodyguard, Doctor Who, Vigil, and The Lazarus Project, as well as the films Munich: The Edge of War and Get Millie Black. She’s also been in Cucumber, Wild Bill, The Suspect, The Peripheral, and The Red King.
Tim Downie plays Daniel
Who is Daniel? Daniel is someone who is involved in Niall’s adult professional life.
You might recognize Tim Downie from a variety of TV shows and films! He’s appeared in series like Hollyoaks, Doctors, Peep Show, Toast of London, Outlander, and Good Omens, as well as films including The King’s Speech, Les Misérables, and Paddington. More recently, he’s been in The Reckoning, Bodies, The Way, Big Mood, and Geek Girl, plus Transformers: The Last Knight and How to Date Holly Walsh.
Tom Andrews plays Butch
Who is Butch? Butch is someone who comes into Niall’s life in his adult years.
You might recognize Tom Andrews from a variety of TV shows and films. He’s appeared in series like Psychoville, The Thick of It, Coronation Street, Feel Good, We Hunt Together, I Hate Suzie, Showtrial, After Life, This England, A Thousand Blows, and Lynley, and has been in films including Yesterday and The Strays.
Philippine Velge plays Celeste
Who is Celeste? Celeste is someone Niall meets at university.
You might recognize Philippine Velge from her roles in shows like Station Eleven, The Bastard Son and the Devil Himself, and The Serpent Queen. She’s also been in the movie Jurassic World: Rebirth.
Stuart McQuarrie plays Mr Jenkins
Who is Mr Jenkins? Mr Jenkins is Niall and Ruben’s school teacher.
You might recognize Stuart McQuarrie from his appearances in popular TV shows like Peep Show, Silent Witness, Extras, Hustle, The Crown, Foundation, Shetland, Des, The Tower, The Rig, and Outlander: Blood of My Blood. He’s also been in films including The Nest, Terminator: Dark Fate, and Mr. Turner.
Sandy Batchelor plays Gus
Who is Gus? Gus is someone who bullied Niall at school.
You might recognize Sandy Batchelor from shows like Ordeal by Innocence, Shetland, The Capture, and SAS Rogue Heroes. She’s also appeared in the film 28 Years Later.
Piers Ewart plays Young Gus
Who is Young Gus? Gus in his younger years.
Where have I seen Piers Ewart? Ewart previously appeared in The Primrose Railway Children.
Scot Greenan plays John
Who is John? John is someone who bullies Niall at school.
You might recognize Scot Greenan from his appearances in films like Macbeth, T2: Trainspotting, Mary Queen of Scots, and Robin Hood.
Charlotte Blackwood plays Young Mona
Who is Young Mona? Mona in her younger years.
Where have I seen Charlotte Blackwood? Half Man is Blackwood’s first on-screen credit.
Calum Manchip plays Drew
Who is Drew? Drew is someone who bullies Niall at school.
Where have I seen Calum Manchip? Half Man is Manchip’s first on-screen credit.
Kate Robson-Stuart plays Joanna
Who is Joanna? Joanna in her adult life.
Where have I seen Kate Robson-Stuart? Half Man is Robson-Stuart’s first on-screen credit.
Half Man will arrive on BBC iPlayer at 6am on Friday 24 April.
I just added ‘Half Man’ to my watchlist on the TopMob app – it’s great for getting daily TV recommendations and finding new shows! You can download it now if you want to check it out too.
Authors
I follow James Hibbs, who’s a Drama Writer at TopMob. He covers shows on all kinds of platforms – from streaming services to traditional TV. Before this, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a big international TV production company. He has a strong background in both the arts and journalism, with a BA in English and Theatre Studies and a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
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2026-04-24 08:40