‘Half Man‘, the new drama from Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer, Against The Law), now has confirmed UK and US launch dates, with the six-part series arriving on BBC iPlayer in the UK this April and debuting in the US on HBO and HBO Max.
The series stars Jamie Bell (All of Us Strangers, Rocketman) alongside Gadd, with the pair leading what looks set to be another intense and emotionally bruising drama from the BAFTA-winning writer. Newly released artwork shows Gadd and Bell in their roles as Ruben and Niall, two men bound together by a relationship that runs deep, complicated, and increasingly volatile.
In ‘Half Man’, Niall and Ruben are brothers, not by blood, but by circumstance and loss. Growing up, they are inseparable. One is fierce and fiercely loyal, the other quieter and more reserved, but their bond shapes both of their lives. However, when Ruben unexpectedly appears at Niall’s wedding three decades later, something is badly wrong. He seems unsettled, unpredictable, and unlike himself. What follows is an explosion of violence that sends the story spiralling back through 30 years of their lives, charting the fractures, pain, and emotional weight carried by both men.
Spanning the 1980s through to the present day, ‘Half Man’ explores brotherhood, violence, trauma, and the fragility of male relationships. Given Gadd’s previous work, it sounds like this will be another raw, character-driven piece that digs deep into emotional damage and the connections that both sustain and destroy us.
Joining Gadd and Bell in the cast are Mitchell Robertson (Curfew, Mayflies) and Stuart Campbell (SAS Rogue Heroes, The Winter King), who play younger versions of Niall and Ruben respectively. They are joined by Neve McIntosh (Tin Star, Chemistry of Death) as Niall’s mother Lori, and Marianne McIvor (Screw, The Nest) as Ruben’s mother Maura.
The wider cast includes Charlie De Melo (Rivals), Bilal Hasna (The Agency), Julie Cullen (Traces), Amy Manson (The Nevers), Anjli Mohindra (The Lazarus Project), Tim Downie (Outlander), Tom Andrews (Feel Good), Philippine Velge (The Serpent Queen), Stuart McQuarrie (The Rig), Sandy Batchelor (SAS Rogue Heroes), Piers Ewart (The Primrose Railway Children), Scot Greenan (T2 Trainspotting), along with newcomers Charlotte Blackwood, Calum Manchip and Kate Robson-Stuart.
Gadd created, wrote and executive produces the drama. Sophie Gardiner and Anna O’Malley also serve as executive producers, alongside Gaynor Holmes for the BBC and Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland. The series is directed by Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck, with Tally Garner and Morven Reid executive producing for Mam Tor Productions. The drama is produced by Mam Tor Productions in association with Thistledown Pictures for BBC iPlayer, BBC One, BBC Scotland and HBO.
‘Half Man’ premieres Thursday, 23rd April 2026, on HBO and HBO Max in the US.
‘Half Man‘ premieres Friday, 24th April 2026, on BBC iPlayer in the UK, with BBC One and BBC Scotland transmissions following later that week.
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