Richard Gadd says ‘there was a time when the darkness got too much’ as he reflects on drink and drug problems and how writing became his therapy

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Richard Gadd has spoken openly about a difficult period in his life when he battled with alcohol and drug use, admitting things became overwhelming.

The 36-year-old comedian and producer has revealed that writing helped him cope with trauma, which he then used as inspiration for shows like the Netflix hit Baby Reindeer and his new BBC series, Half Man.

Although Richard’s new six-part drama isn’t based on his own life, he’s mentioned that it explores themes he personally understands, including confusion, trauma, and abuse.

I’ve been following this actor’s journey for a while now, and it’s incredibly inspiring. He openly shared that his twenties were really tough – he struggled with a lot. Thankfully, he’s now sober, and what’s really struck me is how he views those difficult times. He actually believes, and it sounds paradoxical, that facing those dark thoughts ultimately helped him build his career. It’s a powerful reminder that even our struggles can contribute to our success.

Looking back on that period, he explained that although it was a difficult time, he learned a lot and matured as a person.

I still experience difficult days sometimes. I’m still growing and learning, but there was a period in my life when I felt overwhelmed by sadness and hopelessness.

In a recent interview with The Times, Richard shared that neither therapy nor simply distracting himself were helpful in overcoming his challenges. He found that focusing on his work was what ultimately allowed him to process and move forward.

He explained that he longed for a way to avoid the suffering, to find some distraction, but couldn’t. Writing, he said, was what finally helped him process the pain and move forward.

Jamie Bell and Richard will star in the upcoming project ‘Half Man,’ which tells the story of two estranged brothers, Niall and Ruben. The plot begins when Ruben unexpectedly appears at Niall’s wedding, as reported by the BBC.

A sudden fight at the wedding sends everyone – and the audience – on a journey through the couple’s past, exploring themes of what it means to be a man, who they are as individuals, and the lasting impact of family relationships.

This story spans over 40 years, from the 1980s to today, and explores all kinds of experiences – the joyful, the difficult, and everything in between.

Richard became internationally famous after creating the Netflix series Baby Reindeer, which has been watched over 250 million times on the platform.

The show tells the story of a woman who stalked and harassed a man named Gadd from Wormit, Fife, for several years.

The show centers around Donny, a pub worker who finds himself persistently pursued by a woman named Martha (Jessica Gunning) after simply offering her a complimentary cup of tea. The seven-episode series is based on his stand-up show of the same title, which he originally performed at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe festival.

The series Baby Reindeer was a major awards contender last year, winning six Emmys and two Golden Globes. It received the most nominations at the Bafta TV awards, ultimately winning one award for Jessica, who was recognized as best supporting actress.

Previously Richard spoke with DailyMail.com about a surprise star he’s interested in working with. 

I was really thrilled to hear Gadd mention Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson! Even though he’s already getting attention from a lot of big names in British and American cinema, it’s clear Gadd is especially excited about the possibility of working with The Rock – and honestly, who wouldn’t be? It feels like a really dynamic pairing that could be amazing.

When asked about a possible collaboration with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Gadd jokingly said he was hoping for a call from the ‘Jumanji’ star.

Gadd confirmed he hadn’t heard from the person, but said he’d welcome a call – he’s a huge wrestling enthusiast.

He confessed that, surprisingly, he’s always dreamed of taking a road trip with himself, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, John Cena, and Bret Hart.

He wasn’t sure what they’d discuss, but he was ready to go along with it. He expected others to do most of the talking, and he’d simply be present.

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2026-04-06 20:43