Naman Shrestha
Following the success of ‘Baby Reindeer,’ Richard Gadd created HBO’s ‘Half Man,’ a British psychological drama series that revolves around the brotherly bond between Niall and Ruben. Having been estranged for several years, the floodgates of memories open when Ruben shows up at Niall’s wedding unannounced. From their bond as teenagers in the 1980s to the non-existent relationship in the present day, the two brothers revisit their first meeting in their teenage years, their eventual fallout as adults, and everything in between.
Amidst an explosion of violence that Niall and Ruben undergo after their unplanned reunion, the narrative also follows their present lives in different cities. The show also features Gadd, alongside Jamie Bell, Mitchell Robertson, Stuart Campbell, Neve McIntosh, and Marianne McIvor. The tale of complicated familial bonds unfolds mainly in and around Glasgow, which serves as a calming visual presence in contrast to the intense narrative.
Half Man Filming Locations
The shooting for ‘Half Man’ was conducted entirely in Scotland, primarily in and around Glasgow. A minor chunk was also shot in Motherwell and Cumbernauld. Principal photography for the miniseries reportedly commenced in early February 2025 and continued for about five months before wrapping up in July of the same year. Creator Richard Gadd expressed his gratitude towards all the cast and crew members who helped him bring his vision to life. He stated, “That’s a belated wrap on Half Man! Thanks to everyone who worked on this show. I was blessed with the most outstanding producers, directors, cast and crew. Thanks to each and every one of them!”
Glasgow, Scotland
Complementing the setting, the filming of ‘Half Man’ takes place in and around Glasgow in west central Scotland. Both Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell were spotted shooting a tense sequence in the city, particularly in the area packed with the traditional reddish-brown tenement flats. In the sequence, Bell’s character, Niall, appears visibly upset as he storms across the road into a building. Some shots were taped in the West End of the port city, which is a bohemian district renowned for its vibrant nightlife, shopping attractions and stunning architecture. About 10 miles north of Glasgow, the production team visited Lennoxtown, in the East Dunbartonshire council area. In the town, they lensed a few scenes at St Machan’s Primary School at St Machan’s Way.
In an interview with the BBC, creator Richard Gadd, who plays Ruben, expressed his love for Glasgow when asked about the motivation for setting the show in the city. Showering the Dear Green Place with heaps of praise, he said, “Not only do I have fond memories of my time at university in Glasgow for four years, but I think it’s an amazing cultural city with a huge personality. It’s the biggest city in Scotland and Glasgow has also undertaken a huge shift of its own over the decades to become one of the UK’s most formidable cultural hubs. It almost marries the change that you want to see in the characters across the show – Glasgow evolves and changes around these guys as they struggle to change themselves.”
Richard was raised in a quiet Scottish town just across the water from Dundee. Talking about it, he shared that it just had a small shop around the corner, highlighting the urge his younger self harbored to move out in search of a bright future and opportunities. “I wouldn’t change it for the world now, but I felt like I needed to get out and escape when I was younger,” the actor stated. He tried to infuse the show with a sense of realism drawn from his real experiences. “That feeling is reflected in some of the earlier episodes where we see Niall and Ruben growing up in a smaller town outside the city. I think that adds a teenage hotbed of emotion and intensity to what the characters go through. I’ve loved working with an amazing cast and crew here and it has been such a brilliant backdrop for the show.”
Jamie Bell, who essays the role of Niall, echoed Richard’s sentiment in relation to the breathtaking beauty and charm of Scotland. In the same interview, he expressed: “There isn’t a newfound love for Scotland – I have always loved Scotland! I’ve worked here multiple times before and so I came here knowing that the people are amazing, the crews are super talented and dedicated and Glasgow can provide so much for a production, so I was well-versed in just how great the spirit of Scotland is and it’s always great to return. I find that spirit incredibly unique and palpable, and you really feel it in Glasgow, so I think people will find the west of Scotland is a secondary character within Half Man.”
Other Locations in Scotland
For the purpose of shooting, the filming unit ‘Half Man’ also traveled to other locations across Scotland, including the town of Motherwell. To be specific, numerous important scenes for the Richard Gadd creation were taped in and around the Motherwell Civic Centre on Windmillhill Street in Motherwell. As per reports, the cast and crew members also set up camp in the town of Cumbernauld, as revealed by Mitchell Robertson, who portrays young Niall. During a conversation with BBC, he opened up about his experience of filming in Scotland.
Describing it as magical, he added, “We actually filmed part of it in Cumbernauld, which is where I’m from. There’s a place in Cumbernauld called Abronhill and the first ever flat that I lived in as a wee baby was there. So, it felt like a full circle moment. All my family are still there, and there was one day when we were filming on the streets and my cousin’s wife’s mum – I don’t know what that makes her to me! – she lives there with my cousin’s wife’s brother and I heard someone shout my name. I looked up and they were at the window like giving me the thumbs up. So, it was funny filming this show that felt like a really big thing in my life, whilst at the same time being back, where it all started for me, in Cumbernauld.”
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