Richard Gadd, the creator and executive producer of the new BBC drama Half Man, was not originally planning to star in the series. The Baby Reindeer star revealed that it took a nudge from his co-star Jamie Bell to persuade him to take on the role of Ruben.
Gadd's Reluctance to Act
Speaking at a Q&A with the BBC, Gadd explained: "I wasn't going to do it to begin with. I wasn't going to do Ruben, because acting in something and directing and doing everything else is a lot. You have to see a show from the inside and the outside which is actually the main pressure of the role. So I wasn't going to do it, I didn't want to do it. Baby Reindeer was out and that'd take one thing off my plate."
Jamie Bell's Intervention
However, it was Jamie Bell, who plays Niall in the series, who first suggested Gadd should take the part. Gadd recalled: "Jamie was the first to suggest it. He was like 'have you ever thought about doing this?' And it sort of terrified me in a way. I was like 'Wow. That's real far.' But I often feel that what scares you in life, you should probably do it."
About Half Man
Half Man follows the lives of Ruben (played by Gadd) and Niall (Bell) over 30 years. The story begins when they unexpectedly become like brothers after living together, with Ruben being fierce and loyal, while Niall is meek and mild-mannered. Over six episodes, the series tracks their journey up to Niall's wedding day, when the violent Ruben brings trouble.
The cast also includes Stuart Campbell as young Ruben and Mitchell Robertson as young Niall. Half Man premieres on Tuesday, April 28, at 10.40pm on BBC One.
