The BBC's highly-anticipated new drama Half Man premieres today, with creator Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer) once again starring in his own work. He has described his role of Ruben as being a "big challenge", also stating that it "terrified" him at first (via BBC News).
"I just knew if people were going to buy the guy from Baby Reindeer as this hard-man epitome of sort of masculinity, I needed to really transform," he added, also acknowledging the physical changes – which, he noted, included an "awful beard" – that went into embodying the character.
The other half of the drama's central duo, Niall, was taken on by BAFTA-winner Jamie Bell, and Gadd has spoken about having the actor in mind for that part from early on.
The volatile push and pull between these two characters is at the heart of what Half Man is all about, with Gadd also explaining: "It's about two men who can't find the ability to love each other or themselves."
Describing the two main characters, whose bond goes back to their teenage years, Gadd has said: "Ruben is violent and volatile, whilst Niall is very sensible and self-conscious. They're polar opposites but in a strange way they form an alliance – for better or worse – which catapults them through the ages. They both have something that the other does not and they crave what each other has."
Richard Gadd as Ruben
In Half Man, Gadd stars as the grown-up version of the formidable and intimidating Ruben, and the character makes his penchant for violence known from the start.
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Richard Gadd is perhaps best known for his work on Baby Reindeer, which became a surprise hit for Netflix and one of the most talked-about shows of 2024. But his acting CV also includes past roles in Sky's Code 404 (starring Stephen Graham and Daniel Mays) and season five of Outlander. Gadd also previously wrote an episode of Sex Education.
Jamie Bell as Niall
We first meet Jamie Bell's Niall, Ruben's "brother from another lover", on his wedding day in episode one.
Bell has a lengthy career across the big and small screen, with his breakout role in Billy Elliot, which premiered in 2000, seeing him scoop a BAFTA.
More recently, Elliot starred in the 2019 musical drama Rocketman, and alongside Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott and Claire Foy in the critically-acclaimed film All of Us Strangers.
Who plays the younger Ruben and Niall in Half Man?
With Half Man filling in parts of its story through flashbacks, the younger versions of Ruben and Niall are integral, and played brilliantly by Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson, respectively.
"It felt that in order to have a conversation around masculinity and how we got to where we are now, we needed to go back to their adolescence, which is when Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell play young Niall and Ruben in the 1980s," Gadd explained of his decision to tell the story across different eras (via BBC).
"I thought the 1980s was an interesting time to set it as it is often the decade which is cited as being one of the most problematic in our history due to certain ignorances or subtle prejudices. It felt like a good way to start the characters' journeys and explore what they learn and inhabit from our less than accepting times.
"I also think seeing the characters in their youth establishes their relationship early on. The connections we make when we are young can be hugely formative and emboldening and I wanted to give meaning to their shared camaraderie and connection."
Stuart Campbell has previously portrayed the character of Captain Bill Fraser in Steven Knight's historical drama SAS Rogue Heroes, as well as appearing in Shetland and ITV's Karen Pirie.
Meanwhile, you may recognise Mitchell Robertson from murder-mystery series Moonflower Murders and Paramount's thriller Curfew, with Sarah Parish.
The role of Niall's mother Lori goes to Neve McIntosh, who has previously appeared in detective drama Shetland, as well as Tin Star and Traces.
As for Ruben's mother Maura, that role is portrayed by Marianne McIvor, seen before in Channel 4 prison drama Screw, as well as the BBC's The Bombing of Pan Am 103.
There are plenty of other characters that each make their mark on Ruben and Niall's lives, with Half Man's impressive ensemble cast also including:
- Charlie de Melo (Rivals, Doctor Who)
- Bilal Hasna (Slow Horses, Extraordinary)
- Anjli Mohindra (Bodyguard, Vigil)
- Philippine Velge (The Serpent Queen, Jurassic World: Rebirth)
- Amy Manson (Remus, The Diplomat)
Half Man has six episodes in total, which will be releasing weekly across BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
Digital Spy's five-star review named it the "best show of 2026", going on to say that "Half Man will be a lot of things to a lot of people, and that's where its brilliance lies".
Half Man premieres on BBC iPlayer on 24 April, and will air on BBC One later.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
