Created by Richard Gadd.
Half Man officially premiered on 23 April 2026.
Distributed by HBO (United States) and BBC (United Kingdom).
Half Man (2026) TV Series Review
Half Man is a serious drama about two men whose friendship becomes painful and complicated over the years.
Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell give emotional performances that make the story feel real and powerful.
The series talks about trauma, anger, family problems, and emotional struggles.
Some scenes are difficult to watch because the story is very dark and intense.
However, the acting and writing keep viewers interested from beginning to end.
Overall, it is a deep and emotional show that explores friendship, pain, and human behavior in a realistic way.
CR Ratings: 8/10.
Half Man Actors
Richard Gadd as Ruben Pallister
DOB: May 11, 1989.
Bio: Scottish actor, comedian, playwright, and writer from Wormit, Fife.
He first gained major recognition in live comedy and theatre before becoming internationally known for creating and starring in Baby Reindeer, the acclaimed adaptation of his autobiographical stage show.
Role: Ruben Pallister is the emotional center of Half Man (2026).
Returning home for Niall’s wedding after years of separation and unresolved pain, Ruben is forced to confront the fractured relationship that defines the series.
Episodes: 6 eps.
Interesting facts: Gadd said he put “absolutely everything” into Half Man and described it as a story he needed to tell.
Notable Works: Baby Reindeer, Wedding Season, Against the Law, Clique, Code 404.
Jamie Bell as Niall Kennedy
DOB: March 14, 1986.
Bio: English actor from Billingham, County Durham, who rose to international fame with his breakout performance in Billy Elliot, earning the BAFTA Award for Best Actor at just 14 years old.
Originally trained as a dancer, Bell successfully transitioned from child star to respected adult actor with roles across prestige drama, action films, and independent cinema.
Role: Niall Kennedy is Ruben Pallister’s adoptive brother and one of the emotional anchors of Half Man (2026).
Loyal, protective, and deeply scarred by their shared past, Niall carries much of the emotional burden that drives the series.
Episodes: 6 eps.
Interesting facts: Bell began his performing career as a dancer before acting, and his transition into dramatic screen work is considered one of the strongest child-star evolutions in modern British cinema.
Notable Works: Billy Elliot, Rocketman, All of Us Strangers, Snowpiercer, Fantastic Four.
Neve McIntosh as Lori Kennedy
DOB: April 9, 1972.
Bio: Scottish actress from Paisley, Scotland, trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, formerly known as the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
She is widely recognized for her work in Doctor Who, where she portrayed multiple Silurian characters.
Role: Lori is Niall’s mother and one of the main emotional anchors in the family story.
She is trying to stay present for her son while also dealing with the aftermath of his father’s death and her own complicated connection to the Pallister side of the story.
Episodes: 6 eps.
Interesting facts: McIntosh has spoken openly through the years about theatre, returning to Doctor Who, and the range of intense character roles she enjoys.
Notable Works: Doctor Who, Shetland, Case Histories, The Replacement, All Creatures Great and Small.
Marianne McIvor as Maura Pallister
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Scottish actress known for her work in television drama and character-driven ensemble productions.
Her recent screen credits include The Bombing of Pan Am 103, Screw, and The Nest.
Role: Maura is Ruben’s mother.
She carries the domestic, emotional side of Ruben’s background and helps show the family pressures that shaped him long before the present-day wedding collapses into violence.
Episodes: 4 eps.
Interesting facts: Recent cast coverage described her as one of the key family presences in the series, especially in the material that moves between teen years and adulthood.
Notable Works: The Bombing of Pan Am 103, Screw, The Nest.
Charlie de Melo as Alby Safadi
DOB: September 26, 1989.
Bio: British actor from London, England, best known for his long-running role as Imran Habeeb in Coronation Street.
Trained at the University of London before studying acting, de Melo built his screen career through British television dramas and crime series.
Role: Alby is Niall’s university friend, and his storyline gives the series one of its most important younger-adult emotional threads.
He is also the character whose relationship with Niall becomes increasingly disrupted by Ruben’s return.
Episodes: 5 eps.
Interesting facts: De Melo spent years on Coronation Street as Imran Habeeb before moving into Half Man.
Notable Works: Coronation Street, The Interceptor, Doctor Who, Project Bläckfisk.
Tim Downie as Daniel
DOB: July 14, 1977.
Bio: English actor and writer from Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
He has built a long career across British television, film, radio, and theatre, becoming known for his versatility in both comedy and drama.
Role: Daniel is one of the adult supporting characters in the world around Niall and Ruben.
The part helps widen the series beyond family trauma and into the broader social and emotional landscape of their lives.
Episodes: 4 eps.
Interesting facts: Downie has done everything from theatre to radio drama to TV comedy, which explains why he works so well in ensemble pieces.
Notable Works: Outlander, Toast of London, Upstart Crow, Good Omens, The King’s Speech.
Anjli Mohindra as Ava
DOB: February 20, 1990.
Bio: English actress from Hendon, London, who trained at the Central Junior Television Workshop.
She first gained recognition through children’s and genre television before moving into major British dramas and thrillers.
Role: Ava is one of the key adult supporting figures in the series.
She helps broaden the show’s emotional and social range, especially in the parts of the story that deal with community, friendship, and the pressure of the brothers’ history.
Episodes: 4 eps.
Interesting facts: Mohindra has spoken in interviews about identity, self-acceptance, and growing up in a mixed-cultural household, and she brings that same intelligence to her screen roles.
Notable Works: The Sarah Jane Adventures, Bodyguard, Vigil, Dark Heart, The Lazarus Project.
Amy Manson as Mona
DOB: September 9, 1985.
Bio: Scottish actress from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
She has built a wide-ranging television career across fantasy, historical drama, and genre series.
Role: Mona is one of the emotional touchpoints in the younger storyline and is listed in the cast table with her own younger version.
The role helps the series move across time while still staying tied to the same family and social tensions.
Episodes: 3 eps.
Interesting facts: Manson has played everything from witches to royals to fantasy heroines, which makes her good at roles that need quick emotional shifts.
Notable Works: Desperate Romantics, Atlantis, Once Upon a Time.
Bilal Hasna as Young Alby
DOB: 1999.
Bio: British actor and playwright from London, England.
He studied at the University of Cambridge and quickly emerged as one of the notable younger performers in British television and theatre.
Role: Young Alby gives the series a look at the earlier friendship between Niall and his university circle.
The role matters because Alby’s connection to Niall becomes emotionally disrupted when Ruben reenters the story.
Episodes: 2 eps.
Interesting facts: Hasna writes for the stage, and received a BAFTA TV nomination for Extraordinary.
Notable Works: Extraordinary, Layla, Dead Hot, The Agency.
Mitchell Robertson as Young Niall
DOB: 1998.
Bio: Scottish actor and writer from Cumbernauld, Scotland.
He has been building a growing television profile through British drama productions, with credits including Curfew, Grace, and Half Man.
Role: Young Niall lets the series show how the adult version of the character was formed.
His scenes are essential because the show depends on the emotional contrast between teenage hope and adult damage.
Episodes: 3 eps.
Interesting facts: Robertson and Stuart Campbell both discussed the emotional difficulty of the episode 2 material in recent interviews, which shows how demanding the younger timeline is.
Notable Works: Curfew, Grace.
Tom Andrews as Butch
DOB: February 24, 1981.
Bio: British actor born in London, England.
He studied drama and film at the University of Manchester before continuing his acting training professionally.
Andrews has worked across television, film, and stage productions.
Role: Butch is someone who comes into Niall’s adult life.
The series uses him as part of the web of people and relationships that show how the brothers’ lives keep colliding over time.
Episodes: 4 eps.
Interesting facts: Tom Andrews has a background that combines academic film studies with professional acting training.
Notable Works: Lynley, A Thousand Blows.
Stuart Campbell as Young Ruben
DOB: October 17, 1998.
Bio: Scottish actor who has built a strong résumé in British television drama from a young age.
He is known for performances in SAS: Rogue Heroes, Hetty Feather, Baptiste, and Clique.
Role: Young Ruben shows the beginning of the bond, rivalry, and emotional dependence that shape the adult story.
His performance has to carry the earlier tension that later explodes at the wedding.
Episodes: 3 eps.
Interesting facts: Campbell has said in coverage around the show that the material is emotionally intense, and critics have already singled out his younger version performance as important to the series.
Notable Works: SAS: Rogue Heroes, Hetty Feather, Baptiste, Clique.
More Actors
• Kate Robson-Stuart as Joanna.
• Sandy Batchelor as Gus.
• Charlotte Blackwood as Young Mona.
• Piers Ewart as Young Gus.
FAQ – Half Man (2026) TV Series
What is Half Man about?
Half Man follows two men, Ruben and Niall, whose deep friendship turns toxic over time. The story jumps between past and present, showing how their bond shapes their lives.
What genre is Half Man?
It is a psychological drama with heavy emotional and thriller elements.
How many seasons does Half Man have?
It is currently a limited series with 1 season, made up of six episodes.
How many episodes are in Half Man?
The series has 6 episodes in total.
Where can I watch Half Man?
It streams on HBO Max in the US and BBC iPlayer in the UK.
Conclusion
Half Man is a powerful and emotional drama that tells a dark story about friendship, trauma, and personal struggles. Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell deliver strong performances that make the characters feel real and believable. While the series can feel heavy and intense, its honest storytelling and emotional depth make it memorable. It is a good choice for viewers who enjoy serious psychological dramas with strong acting and meaningful themes.