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Richard Gadd’s ‘Half Man’ Gains Traction as BBC Thriller Unfolds Weekly

Early praise centers on standout performances and an unflinching take on modern masculinity.

Overview

  • The six-part series, which opened on BBC iPlayer on Friday, April 24, began its BBC One run on Tuesday, April 28, with new episodes following the same Friday and Tuesday cadence.
  • Viewers report intense first impressions and the show holds a 76% Rotten Tomatoes score, with many calling the debut episode “phenomenal.”
  • The Los Angeles Times spotlights young leads Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson, cast as teen Ruben and Niall after a nine‑month, five‑round search that paired them in a final chemistry read.
  • Richard Gadd says he initially did not plan to play Ruben but took the role after Jamie Bell urged him to do it, a choice that shaped the show’s on-screen dynamic.
  • Filmed primarily in Glasgow with shoots in Gibshill, Greenock, the production leans on the city’s strong identity, which Gadd says reflects the characters’ evolving inner lives.