Following the phenomenon of Baby Reindeer, breakout creator Richard Gadd is back with another uncompromising series, Half Man.
Spanning nearly 40 years from the 1980s to today, the six-part series stars Gadd and Rocketman star Jamie Bell as 'brothers' Ruben and Niall, whose surprise reunion after years of estrangement sparks a violent reckoning.
What begins with an explosive confrontation quickly unravels decades of buried trauma, catapulting viewers back through their shared past.
Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell star as the younger versions of Niall and Ruben, exploring their turbulent bond over the years.
Read on for everything you need to know about the series, including a potential release date, cast and latest news.
Half Man release date
An exact release date for the series hasn't been confirmed just yet, but we do know that Half Man will air in 2026.
The series will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BBC Scotland in the UK & Ireland, and on HBO Max in the US, Latin America and Europe.
Filming for the series wrapped in July 2025, so we could be getting a release date pretty soon!
We'll update you right here once we know more, so keep your eyes peeled.
What is Half Man about?
The official synopsis reads: "Half Man explores the highs and lows of Ruben and Niall’s relationship, from meeting them as troubled teenagers to witnessing their falling out as adults - with all the good, bad, terrible, funny, angry, and challenging moments along the way. The series will capture the wild energy of a changing city - a changing world, even - and plumb the depths of what it means to be a man."
Half Man cast
The cast is led by Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell.
Below is the full list:
- Richard Gadd as Ruben
- Stuart Campbell as young Ruben
- Jamie Bell as Niall
- Mitchell Robertson as young Niall
- Marianne McIvor as Maura, Ruben’s mother
- Neve McIntosh as Lori, Niall’s mother
- Charlie De Melo
- Bilal Hasna
- Julie Cullen
- Amy Manson
- Philippine Velge
- Stuart McQuarrie
- Piers Ewart
- Scot Greenan
- Charlotte Blackwood
- Calum Manchip
Where is Half Man filmed?
While all the locations for the new series haven't been revealed, we do know that Half Man was filmed in Glasgow, Scotland. We'll update you with specific locations once we know more.
Is there a trailer for Half Man?
A trailer hasn't been released just yet, but on Wednesday 20th August, the BBC shared a first look at the new series, showing Gadd and Bell as Ruben and Niall.
You can see some of the images below:
Half Man will air on BBC One in 2026.
