We need to talk about Half Man.
Find us a person who hasn’t heard of Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd’s breakout TV show about his own experiences of victimisation, stalking and trauma. It was the defining Netflix hit of 2024, closely followed by Beef season one. Both are still dominating group chats, TikTok breakdowns and long pub debriefs.
Now, Gadd is back with a follow-up series that already feels destined for the same cultural chokehold. Half Man sees childhood friends reconnect with devastating consequences. Gadd both creates and stars, acting opposite Jamie Bell as two men who once knew everything about each other, and now, almost nothing at all.
The Half Man trailer had us instantly hooked, promising another raw, gut-punch viewing experience. Expect a similarly unflinching exploration of modern masculinity and trauma, like we saw in Baby Reindeer.
So, where can you watch Half Man in the UK, or anywhere else in the world? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
What is Half Man about?
Ruben and Niall were once as close as brothers, now navigating adulthood apart. But when Ruben turns up at Niall’s wedding, 30 years on from their carefree youth, it’s clear something has shifted between them, until an explosion of violence rocks them both.
The series charts Ruben and Niall’s relationship from the 1980s to the present day, unpacking male friendship and toxic masculinity through the intersecting lenses of violence, brotherhood and love. It interrogates just how fragile even the most seemingly unbreakable bonds can be, and how easily they fracture under the weight of time, silence and unspoken emotion.
Oh, and there are a lot of boxing scenes, not that we're complaining in the slightest.
“All of my stories explore human feelings, but this time, I wanted to come up with an idea that explores what it means to be a man in this ever-changing world through these two characters,” explains Gadd. “I think that much of how society has been structured can lead to men having an inability to express themselves and express love and vulnerability, so it felt interesting to posit that conversation through Niall and Ruben.”
Starring The Night Manager's Camila Morrone.
Who is in the cast of Half Man?
Richard Gadd plays Ruben, while Jamie Bell takes on the role of Niall. You may remember Bell from 2000’s Billy Elliot or Fantastic Four. Their younger selves are portrayed by Mitchell Robertson (Niall) and Stuart Campbell (Ruben), which is an uncanny casting.
The cast is rounded out by Neve McIntosh as Lori, Mariana McIvor as Maura, and Charlie de Melo as Alby.
Who is Woosh really? Who goes to jail? Who ends up together?!
When will Half Man be released?
Half Man will premiere on April 24, with a new episode dropping weekly every Friday at 6 am, so block off your Friday evenings.
Where can you watch Half Man in the UK?
Half Man will stream for free on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, with one new episode released each week.
Where can you watch Half Man outside of the UK?
If you’re travelling and don’t want to miss a single moment of Half Man, you can use a VPN to access episodes while abroad.
Alternatively, the series will also be available on Max in the US and Stan in Australia, so international viewers won’t be left out of the drama.
Watch the Half Man trailer below:
Half Man will be streaming on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from the 24th of April.
