CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Half Man: Richard ‘Baby Reindeer’ Gadd’s drama is utter dross – rancid schoolboy erotica and repulsive adult masochism crowbarred into a weak story

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(ZERO STARS) 

Previews for the new BBC series ‘Half Man,’ created by and starring Richard Gadd – known for ‘Baby Reindeer‘ – included a warning that the show features extremely offensive language, violent scenes, and depictions of sexual abuse involving minors.

This is a first for the BBC. They’ve never previously seemed worried about protecting journalists’ feelings.

Okay, so when I started tracking all the info about when and how this thing was going to air, the publicists kept sending out these super confusing schedules, and every single time, they hammered home the same warning. It was like, ‘Yes, we get it! It’s complicated!’ Honestly, it just made me even more obsessed with figuring it all out, you know? I needed to understand everything.

This suggests that those in charge at the BBC were starting to worry about the six-part series. In their attempts to be innovative and connect with audiences, they may have mistakenly greenlit a poorly written show by an author whose initial success was undeserved and unlikely to be repeated.

Let me tell you, after reading ‘Half Man,’ a simple trigger warning just doesn’t cut it. Honestly, it should have said something like this: ‘Be warned – this book contains intensely unpleasant content. Think really disturbing and poorly written erotica, combined with graphic and frankly repulsive scenes, all wrapped up in a thin, unoriginal story. And you won’t find a single character you’ll actually want to root for.’ It’s just… a lot. I’d steer clear if you’re easily disturbed.

Honestly, I’ve been so excited for this show to start! Everyone’s been saying it’s amazing, and I really don’t think it’s something we need to shy away from – it’s perfectly okay to enjoy it when the first episode drops on iPlayer this Friday, or if you prefer to watch it when it’s on BBC1 next Tuesday. I’m definitely planning to tune in!

Honestly, steer clear of it. As someone who spends a lot of time recommending good content, I can tell you this is just…bad. It feels completely disconnected, cheap, incredibly slow-paced, and relies on shock value instead of substance. There’s no cleverness, and frankly, it’s just unpleasant to experience.

Let me tell you about this fascinating new film! It stars Jamie Bell, who many of you will remember as the young dancer from ‘Billy Elliot.’ He plays a man named Niall, and the movie opens with a really intriguing – and initially confusing – scene. Just minutes after his wedding, he suddenly finds himself alone in this really gloomy, old barn. It takes a while to understand why he’s there, but trust me, it’s a mystery that pulls you right in!

Gadd is right in front of him, staring intensely, his hands wrapped in rags like those of a boxer.

Niall is dressed in a kilt and tie, his hair combed neatly, but he appears to have rushed his shave that morning – not ideal for a wedding day.

The man across from him is Ruben, his mother’s partner’s son. He’s shirtless, with a shaved head and extensive tattoos covering his upper body.

He looks like Robert de Niro in the remake of Cape Fear, but without the charisma.

Ruben unexpectedly reached up Niall’s kilt, playfully called him a ‘little minx’, then hugged and stroked his cheek before suddenly punching him, knocking him unconscious.

It seems like everyone is doing this to reminisce about the past. Niall isn’t thrilled, but he’s not trying to leave either.

This lasts about four minutes, because nothing is over quickly in Half Man. 

This allows us to see the full range of Gadd’s acting skills, including both his serious, frowning expressions and his ability to frown even while laughing.

It also provides plenty of time to see his torso, with muscles that didn’t happen by accident. 

I learned this from a recent BBC press release, which shared that I followed a very strict fitness routine: I exercised six days a week, often with two workouts each day, and worked with both a personal trainer and a nutritionist.

They went to great lengths to support my diet, even having meals prepared in England and delivered to Scotland, precisely tailored to my calorie needs. I stuck to it perfectly without any deviations.

When we see Niall again, he’s seventeen and dealing with bullies at school. These three kids remind you of Draco Malfoy and his followers from Harry Potter, but they’re much more ordinary and unpleasant.

It’s the mid-1980s – think dry wit from teachers and spaghetti from a can for dinner.

Ruben has recently gotten out of juvenile detention and will now be sharing a room – and occasionally a bed – with Niall.

Niall is experiencing a confusing mix of fear and attraction. As for whether this plotline was inspired by adult content, official statements haven’t addressed that.

When Ruben brings a prostitute back to their room to help Niall lose his virginity, it becomes clear this is just a disturbing and exploitative fantasy fueled by someone with questionable morals.

That’s when I just couldn’t watch anymore and started skipping ahead. Honestly, after fast-forwarding through the last fifteen minutes, all I learned was that Niall and Ruben smoke weed, and they take their sweet time getting to school – they’re super slow!

Okay, let me be blunt: I checked out episode two, where Niall starts university, and honestly? It doesn’t improve. In fact, things actually get worse. I’ve seen enough to know this isn’t a promising trend.

To be fair, I also really disliked Baby Reindeer. It felt like it only made fun of a woman who was clearly struggling and very unhappy.

It was unacceptable that the story was presented as true when it had been heavily altered. Equally troubling was how easily the woman involved was identified, which generated unwanted publicity.

That show was commissioned by Netflix, a business with no public remit other than to make money. 

The BBC, funded by the public, paid for the program ‘Half Man,’ but didn’t make sure it met the minimum standards of good taste we expect for our money.

Half Man airs weekly on iPlayer from Friday April 24 and on BBC1 from Tuesday April 28

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2026-04-26 12:34