Following the meteoric success of Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd is speaking candidly about the emotional toll that fame has taken on him.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Gadd described the experience as “a hurricane”, revealing that the intense public attention since the Netflix breakout series launched has been both disorienting and exhausting. “There have been a lot of challenging moments,” he admitted. “There have been times when I’ve felt like the pressure was intolerable… I don’t think I’m at the point of reflection yet. I need some real time off to figure out how to get my feet back on the ground because I feel very squeezed.”
Gadd’s semi-autobiographical series, which dropped in April 2024, quickly shot to the top 10 most streamed shows on Netflix and has gone on to sweep major awards, including six Emmys, two BAFTAs, two Golden Globes, and two Critics Choice Awards. But the overnight acclaim brought with it an abrupt and overwhelming shift in Gadd’s day-to-day life.
“It came out on a Thursday, and by Sunday people were knocking on my door asking for autographs,” Gadd said. “I was an arthouse comedian, performing to five people every night, so it was a huge adjustment. I’m still getting used to it. Going to the supermarket comes with a million caveats now.”
Despite the whirlwind, Gadd is already deep into his next ambitious project: Half Man, a six-part drama series co-produced by HBO and BBC and slated for a 2026 release. The story follows a volatile sibling relationship that spans four decades, exploring what it truly means to be a man across shifting eras and identities. Per the official synopsis, the show will “capture the wild energy of a changing city — a changing world, even.”
