The BBC has released the first trailer for Half Man, a six-episode drama from Richard Gadd, creator of Baby Reindeer. The series will premiere on BBC iPlayer on 24 April at 6am, with episodes released weekly. BBC One and BBC Scotland will broadcast the series later that week. It is a co-production with HBO, which will air the show in the US, Latin America and Europe. Filming took place in and around Glasgow.
The trailer introduces Ruben and Niall, played by Gadd and Jamie Bell respectively. The pair are brothers not by blood but by bond, brought together through death and circumstance. At Niall's wedding three decades later, Ruben appears troubled, and a violent incident triggers a narrative spanning 30 years. The drama explores brotherhood, violence and male relationships.
Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell portray the younger versions of Niall and Ruben. The cast also includes Neve McIntosh as Niall's mother Lori, Marianne McIvor as Ruben's mother Maura, along with Charlie De Melo, Bilal Hasna, Julie Cullen, Amy Manson, Anjli Mohindra, Tim Downie, Tom Andrews, Philippine Velge, Stuart McQuarrie, Sandy Batchelor, Piers Ewart, Scot Greenan, and newcomers Charlotte Blackwood, Calum Manchip and Kate Robson-Stuart.
Half Man is created, written and executive produced by Richard Gadd. Executive producers include Sophie Gardiner, Anna O'Malley, Gaynor Holmes for the BBC, and Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland. The series is directed by Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck. Produced by Mam Tor Productions in association with Thistledown Pictures, the drama is supported by Screen Scotland. Banijay Rights handles international distribution.
