Story perspectives

Richard Gadd’s Bleak Glasgow Series “Half Man” Debuts

4/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Richard Gadd’s limited series “Half Man” premieres on HBO and HBO Max Thursday, April 23, 2026.
The six-part drama set in Glasgow spanning the 1980s to present airs weekly on Thursdays through May 28, 2026, with Gadd writing, producing and starring as Ruben and Jamie Bell co-starring as Niall.
Directed by Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck for Mam Tor Production, early reviews describe it as bleak, brutal and unrelenting, focusing on male rage and fragile brotherhood.

History

Historical Context

The 1984 miners' strike in the UK, involving over 140,000 miners, underscored deep class divisions and male identity crises amid economic decline. This period of social upheaval resonates in Richard Gadd's upcoming series "Half Man," which explores themes of male rage and fragile brotherhood in Glasgow, reflecting the lasting impacts of these historical tensions on contemporary masculinity and community dynamics.

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Story summary

Richard Gadd’s limited series “Half Man” premieres on HBO and HBO Max Thursday, April 23, 2026.
The six-part drama set in Glasgow spanning the 1980s to present airs weekly on Thursdays through May 28, 2026, with Gadd writing, producing and starring as Ruben and Jamie Bell co-starring as Niall.
Directed by Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck for Mam Tor Production, early reviews describe it as bleak, brutal and unrelenting, focusing on male rage and fragile brotherhood.

1 / 2