‘At times, the pressure was intolerable': Baby Reindeer's Richard Gadd on paranoia, portraying abuse and the madness of sudden fame
In the space of a year, Richard Gadd has gone from niche Scottish comedian to global megastar, thanks to the viral success of his autobiographical miniseries Baby Reindeer, documenting his experience of stalking and sexual abuse. Since its release on Netflix in April last year, it has become one of the streamer's Top 10 most viewed shows of all time, won six Emmys, four Golden Globes, and bagged six TV Bafta nominations.
It has also been mired in controversy: social media sleuths identified Fiona Harvey as the woman depicted as Gadd's stalker, and she has filed a $170m (£127m) lawsuit against Netflix for defamation. Gadd, 35, is now working on new BBC show Half Man, co-starring Jamie Bell. When we meet in a London hotel, he has the air of a man who is still trying to catch his breath, talking slowly as if still slightly dazed by the whirlwind of the last 12 months.
How does it feel to be nominated for six TV Baftas?
It was a lovely surprise. Baby Reindeer has been out for quite a while, so my worry was that everyone would have forgotten about it. The biggest surprise was the fact that it blew up in the first place, because nothing about it screamed commercial hit.
How has your life changed since Baby Reindeer was released?
It came out on a Thursday, and by Sunday people were knocking on my door asking for autographs. 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.
Baby Reindeer is about trying to find fame, which you've done. How does it compare with your expectations?
Weirdly, I never wanted fame. I just liked the idea that, one day, I would make a piece of art that was culturally important, because then maybe I would learn to like myself. The biggest emotion that comes with fame is a sort of paranoia in public.
It sounds a bit like being stalked …
There are people who want to ask you stuff in the worst kind of situations – having a meal and someone pulls up a chair. It can be really awkward.
When you made your Edinburgh fringe show in 2016, on which Baby Reindeer is based, the conversation about sexual assault was quite different. Are things improving?
It was pre-#MeToo, and quite rare to have someone talk about sexual abuse in art, especially in comedy, and as a man. It felt like social suicide; I thought I would be ostracised. We've now realised how commonplace assault is. The shame around it is dwindling.
Last year, Fiona Harvey filed a lawsuit against Netflix. How have you been feeling since?
There have been a lot of challenging moments. The show has reached such an extreme pitch – there have been times when I've felt like the pressure was intolerable. It's been a hurricane. 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 ground, because I feel very squeezed.
Would you ever go back to standup?
I get a lot of offers, but think my standup days are over. I never really fitted in – the standup I did was so different and quite dark. People wouldn't book me, because I was a risk, so there was no future in it for me.
What TV show have you binge-watched this year?
When I'm doing a TV show, I don't watch TV because it influences my writing. Weirdly, I switch off to Hell's Kitchen. Seeing Gordon Ramsay shout at people chills me out before bed.
The Bafta Television Awards with P&O Cruises is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer tonight at 7pm.
Catch the full lineup of our Bafta TV special launching across the weekend and starring best actor nominees David Tennant, Lennie James, Monica Dolan, Billie Piper, Richard Gadd, Marisa Abela and Sharon D Clarke
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