Richard Gadd explains why Half Man doesn’t “pull punches” and why its most violent scenes are essential

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Richard Gadd describes his new BBC series, Half Man, as the result of constant collaboration. He explains that television production always involves a lot of back-and-forth and discussion.

As a movie and TV fan, I was really interested in what Tim Davie had to say about the violence in this new drama. He was talking about whether showing that level of intensity was the right thing for the BBC, especially considering it’s a collaboration with HBO, who are known for being a bit bolder with that kind of content. It’s a valid question – the BBC and HBO definitely have different approaches sometimes!

He explained that we had a long conversation about the violence in the show. He believes the violence in ‘Half Man’ isn’t pointless or just for shock value; it always serves a purpose.

Half Man tells the story of Niall and Ruben, two very different young men whose lives unexpectedly become intertwined. Ruben is strong-willed and devoted, while Niall is quiet and gentle. They forge a brotherly bond, but a shocking act of violence erupts when Ruben unexpectedly appears at Niall’s wedding three decades later.

The series delves into the complexities of brotherhood, the impact of violence, and how easily male relationships can be broken.

Gadd explained that when depicting a show centered on male violence, it wouldn’t make sense to shy away from showing it. To truly understand a character like Ruben, the audience needs to witness the full extent of his actions, rather than just being told about them. He believes that failing to do so would have undermined the entire show, and he felt strongly about this approach.

He believes the biggest mistake filmmakers make with violence is using it simply to shock or disturb audiences, or to make a scene look cool and generate buzz. You can often sense when violence is added without a real purpose, and it feels unnecessary on screen.

Whenever there was a particularly violent moment in the show, I always questioned whether it was necessary for the character’s development or the story’s progression. And I consistently believed that it was.

Gadd made the comments as he joined us as our latest guest for The TopMob Writers’ Room.

Gadd began his career in stand-up comedy while he was a student at Glasgow University, performing at a student union event.

He began his comedy career performing every year at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, then relocated to London to take it further. He soon found work writing for television programs such as The Last Leg and Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier.

While bartending in London, Richard Gadd gathered experiences that would later become the basis for his critically acclaimed and award-winning 2019 Edinburgh Fringe show, Baby Reindeer.

Around this time, Gadd began landing acting roles in TV shows like Humans, Outlander, and Code 404. He also helped write an episode of Sex Education.

Richard Gadd gained international recognition when his story was turned into the seven-episode Netflix series, Baby Reindeer. The show was a huge and unexpected success, receiving widespread critical praise and winning numerous awards. Gadd has described the overwhelming response as deeply unsettling.

In his new film, Half Man, Gadd not only wrote and directed, but also takes on the role of Ruben. Stuart Campbell portrays Ruben when he was younger, and Jamie Bell and Mitchell Robertson both play Niall at different points in his life.

The series boasts a talented cast beyond the four main actors, including Neve McIntosh, Marianne McIvor, Charlie De Melo, Bilal Hasna, Julie Cullen, Amy Manson, Anjli Mohindra, Tim Downie, Tom Andrews, Philippine Velge, Stuart McQuarrie, Sandy Batchelor, Piers Ewart, Scot Greenan, Charlotte Blackwood, Calum Manchip, and Kate Robson-Stuart.

Gadd discussed his plans for the future, including writing, acting, stand-up comedy, and possibly directing. He also talked about the types of stories he likes to write and explained why he thought Michael Bell was perfectly suited to play Niall, highlighting Bell’s ability to show vulnerability.

He discussed the complex, time-shifting narrative of Half Man, how a famous quote by Franz Kafka influenced his work, and what he considers the most rewarding part of creating Baby Reindeer.

He expressed great pride in the project’s results, particularly its positive effect on charities. He specifically recalled that donations to abuse charities increased by 53% and to stalking charities by 47%.

I’m really proud that the show seems to have an impact on people. Seeing those kinds of numbers is especially rewarding, because it feels like the work is truly connecting with an audience.

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Watch the complete video at the beginning of this article, and stay tuned for future visits to The TopMob Writers’ Room!

While you wait, feel free to revisit our past interviews with Mark Gatiss, Harry and Jack Williams, Noah Hawley, Neil Cross, Steven Knight, Chris Chibnall, Jack Thorne, Sarah Quintrell, and Stefan Golaszewski.

Half Man will release new episodes each Friday on BBC iPlayer at 6am.

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 content, 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 in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-04-25 08:35