You probably never thought of Richard Gadd as a TV writer until his show Baby Reindeer landed on Netflix earlier this year. The show was, of course, a runaway hit – thanks not only to the remarkable performances, but also to Gadd's truly nuanced take on mental health, stalking and fame.
But, as it turns out, this isn't Gadd's first time writing superb television. Although the comedian is primarily known for his work on stage and screen, he's no stranger to the writer's room. In fact, four years ago, Gadd co-wrote one episode of Sex Education.
"That's not the point of our show."
Richard Gadd penned the fifth episode of season 2 alongside Laurie Nunn, the show's creator and writer. Other comedians have also joined Nunn in the writer's room over the years, including Rosie Jones and Mawaan Rizwan.
Gadd's episode contained a few pivotal moments — Maureen, Adam's mother, decides to leave her husband, Headmaster Groff, after a dull, decades-long marriage. Eric also confesses to Otis that he has been secretly dating his former bully, Adam. Later in the episode, Ola breaks up with Otis after realising she is pansexual and has feelings for Lily.
Like Baby Reindeer, Sex Education is another hugely successful dramedy from Netflix. It deals with plenty of thorny subjects — gender identity, mental health, and, yes, the complexities of sex — while always maintaining its wry, sharp comedy. If this all sounds a lot like Gadd's latest show to you, you're not wrong.
In fact, there are a few interesting similarities between Gadd's episode of Sex Education and his latest hit show. Like Baby Reindeer, Gadd's work on Sex Education explores the ups and downs of every individual's journey with their own sexual identity. Both works also examine the complexities of human relationships — Gadd seems to suggest that our relationships with other people are never merely one thing. Donny and Martha share a complicated bond. On one hand, it is toxic and dangerous — on the other, it is strangely intimate and even caring. While Eric and Adam have a very different relationship in Sex Education, their relationship is also unexpected and complex.
Both Baby Reindeer and Sex Education are available to watch on Netflix now.
