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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Entertainment • Film

Half Man

Half Man is a British six-part television drama series created, written, and starring Richard Gadd.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Half Man is a British six-part television drama series created, written, and starring Richard Gadd. It follows the troubled relationship between two men across several decades, with themes including brotherhood, violence, and masculinity. The series premiered in 2026 on HBO and BBC platforms.

Premise

Half Man follows the emotionally fraught relationship between Ruben Pallister and Niall Kennedy from youth to adulthood. The narrative moves between past and present, including a wedding-day crisis that triggers the story’s central conflict.

Production

The series was created and written by Richard Gadd and directed by Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck. It was produced as a collaboration between BBC and HBO, with Thistledown Pictures and Mam Tor Productions involved in production.

Cast

Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell headline the series, with Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson portraying younger versions of the central characters. Reviews and announcements also note additional supporting cast members, including Marianne McIvor and Neve McIntosh.

Release

The series premiered on HBO on 23 April 2026, followed by BBC iPlayer on 24 April and BBC One on 28 April 2026. A trailer and early reviews were published shortly before release.

Key facts

  • It is a British six-part television drama series.
  • Richard Gadd created and wrote the series and also stars in it.
  • The story centers on two men whose relationship is traced over roughly three decades.
  • The series focuses on themes of brotherhood, violence, masculinity, trauma, and sexual violence.
  • Jamie Bell co-stars alongside Gadd, with younger and older versions of the characters portrayed by different actors.
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Canadian context

The series is relevant to Canadian viewers through international HBO distribution and broader English-language television coverage, but no Canada-specific production or setting details are established in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is Half Man?
Half Man is a British six-part television drama series created by Richard Gadd.
Who created Half Man?
Richard Gadd created and wrote the series, and he also appears in the cast.
What is Half Man about?
It follows the relationship between two men over several decades, with a focus on brotherhood, violence, and masculinity.
When did Half Man premiere?
It premiered on 23 April 2026 on HBO, then on BBC iPlayer on 24 April and BBC One on 28 April 2026.
Who stars in Half Man?
The main cast includes Richard Gadd, Jamie Bell, Stuart Campbell, and Mitchell Robertson.
How many episodes does Half Man have?
The series has six episodes.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_Man_(TV_series)
    Supports: Series type, creator, main cast, episode count, release dates, and broad premise.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter — https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/hbo-half-man-trailer-richard-gadd-jamie-bell-1236557449/
    Supports: Trailer announcement, plot synopsis, cast, production details, and premiere timing.
  3. Exclaim! — https://exclaim.ca/film/article/half-man-series-review-richard-gadd
    Supports: Premise, themes, and character names.
  4. The Hollywood Reporter — https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/half-man-review-richard-gadd-hbo-baby-reindeer-1236569849/
    Supports: Six-episode structure and thematic focus.
  5. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_Man
    Supports: Original title and broadcast details in France/Europe context.