Richard Gadd explains how much new show Half Man is influenced by toxic masculinity and the manosphere

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Richard Gadd’s new drama, Half Man, delves into the complexities of brotherhood, violence, and the often delicate nature of relationships between men. It’s a timely show, arriving as these themes are already being widely discussed in society and the media.

Last year, the Netflix series Adolescence explored issues of violence among young men, including references to the online “manosphere” and “incel” culture. More recently, in March, Louis Theroux’s documentary Inside the Manosphere directly examined this internet subculture.

Despite all the attention the topic has received, Gadd has explained that Half Man wasn’t meant to be a direct commentary on toxic masculinity or the manosphere. He says it was inspired by a broader issue he observed in men, which he wanted to explore.

During a question-and-answer session about the show, Rob Gadd was asked if he’d drawn inspiration from ideas about harmful masculinity or online communities known as the ‘manosphere.’ He responded that he was familiar with these concepts, and actually became even more aware of them after writing the series.

I’d heard about the negative effects of traditional masculinity for a while, but I only recently – within the last few months, really – started becoming aware of the ‘manosphere’ and its ideas.

You know, it’s rare for me to find direct inspiration in words themselves, but these particular phrases really struck a chord. They’re loaded with meaning, dealing with some pretty complex ideas. But honestly, sometimes I don’t need to analyze things; I just need to feel them, let them resonate internally. It’s about intuition, not intellectualizing.

I was generally interested in understanding the challenges men face and wanted to explore that topic further, but I hadn’t really developed any specific ideas beyond that.

I wasn’t actively looking for a specific word to build a story around. Instead, something in the atmosphere at the time simply triggered an idea that I couldn’t shake.

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Half Man features Tom Gadd as Ruben, a tough and aggressive but ultimately devoted character, and Jamie Bell as Niall, who is gentle and reserved. Their paths cross as children, portrayed by Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson, due to a series of events.

The story follows the lives of these men and the strong bond they form as brothers over thirty years, culminating in a violent event at Niall’s wedding.

Half Man will arrive on BBC iPlayer at 6am on Friday 24 April 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 international production company Fremantle. He has a BA degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-04-20 09:06