Miniseries · BBC One
Half Man
Some bonds may break you.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Jamie Bell
Niall
6 eps
Richard Gadd
Ruben
6 eps
Neve McIntosh
Lori
6 eps
Piers Ewart
Young Gus
1 eps
Calum Manchip
Drew
1 eps
Scot Greenan
John
1 eps
Stuart McQuarrie
Mr. Jenkins
1 eps
Gordon Brown
Murray
1 eps
Charlotte Blackwood
Young Mona
1 eps
Julie Cullen
Young Joanna
2 eps
Philippine Velge
Celeste
1 eps
Bilal Hasna
Young Alby
2 eps
Charlie de Melo
Alby
5 eps
Tony Cownie
Vicaire
1 eps
Anjli Mohindra
Ava
4 eps
Kate Robson-Stuart
Joanna
1 eps
Amy Manson
Mona
3 eps
Marianne McIvor
Maura
4 eps
Stuart Campbell
Young Ruben
3 eps
Mitchell Robertson
Young Niall
3 eps
Sandy Batchelor
Gus
3 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Half Man actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Half Man reads strongest on Character Depth, Bingeability and Serialized.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
When Niall's estranged 'brother' Ruben shows up at his wedding, it leads to an explosion of violence that catapults us back through their lives.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E02 · Signature episode
Episode 2
1989. Niall is struggling at university when he invites Ruben to join him and his flatmates for freshers week. What begins with excitement ends in devastating consequences.
- Directed by Alexandra Brodski
- Written by Richard Gadd
S01E04 · Signature episode
Episode 4
2008. After a breakdown, Niall learns that Ruben has returned. Obsession takes hold, and a charged confrontation forces the brothers to face their fractured past.
- Directed by Eshref Reybrouck
- Written by Richard Gadd
S01E03 · Signature episode
Episode 3
1993. Niall is conflicted when asked by his mother to lie in court about Ruben's violence. Ruben seems to have changed for the better, so the decision weighs heavily on him.
- Directed by Alexandra Brodski
- Written by Richard Gadd
S01E01 · Signature episode
Episode 1
1987. When their households merge, Niall and Ruben form a close and unsettling bond. An intimate yet epic exploration of what it means to be a man.
- Directed by Alexandra Brodski
- Written by Richard Gadd
S01E05 · Signature episode
Episode 5
2010. Niall and Ava face major life changes as Ruben struggles with his relationship. An impulsive choice between Mona and Niall has serious consequences for all involved.
- Directed by Eshref Reybrouck
- Written by Richard Gadd
S01E06
Episode 6
2014. Niall has built a new life, but old ties resurface when Mona reconnects with Ruben. Events spiral toward an intense and devastating conclusion.
- Directed by Eshref Reybrouck
- Written by Richard Gadd
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
S01E05 · Signature episode
Episode 5
- Directed by Eshref Reybrouck
- Written by Richard Gadd
S01E04 · Signature episode
Episode 4
- Directed by Eshref Reybrouck
- Written by Richard Gadd
S01E03 · Signature episode
Episode 3
- Directed by Alexandra Brodski
- Written by Richard Gadd
S01E02 · Signature episode
Episode 2
- Directed by Alexandra Brodski
- Written by Richard Gadd
S01E01 · Signature episode
Episode 1
- Directed by Alexandra Brodski
- Written by Richard Gadd
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
Richard Gadd
Showrunner
- Photo unavailable
Lindsay Salt
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Gaynor Holmes
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Tally Garner
Executive producer
Gavin Smith
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Morven Reid
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Anna O'Malley
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Sophie Gardiner
Executive producer
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Lindsay SaltExecutive Producer
- Gaynor HolmesExecutive Producer
- Tally GarnerExecutive Producer
- Wendy GriffinProducer
- Gavin SmithExecutive Producer
- Morven ReidExecutive Producer
Writing
- Richard GaddWriter
Direction
- Alexandra BrodskiDirector
- Eshref ReybrouckDirector
Cinematography
- Carlos CatalánDirector of Photography
Music
- Sacha GalperineOriginal Music Composer
- Evgueni GalperineOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- HBO Max Amazon ChannelStreaming
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Fandango At HomeBuy
- YouTube TVStreaming
- Spectrum On DemandStreaming
- HBO MaxStreaming
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Never stop watching
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