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Richard Gadd reveals he cut Baby Reindeer episode to make it 'even darker'
Richard Gadd reveals he cut Baby Reindeer episode to make it 'even darker'

Metro

time14-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Metro

Richard Gadd reveals he cut Baby Reindeer episode to make it 'even darker'

Richard Gadd has revealed there is one episode of Baby Reindeer that never made it to air. The writer and actor, 36, was propelled to global fame last April when his seven-part drama series hit Netflix. In a plot inspired by Gadd's own trauma, the hit series follows struggling comedian Donny (played by the creator) and his encounters with a female stalker, Martha (Jessica Gunning), who, among other behaviours, sent him over 41,000 emails and 350 hours of voicemails. The black comedy proved somewhat of an overnight success for the streamer, breaking into its all-time most viewed shows with 335.2million viewing hours in 2024 alone. However, the series would have turned out very differently if not for Gadd insisting that one episode be removed. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Appearing at the Future Visions conference in Melbourne, Australia, the star said he 'fought hard' for the ep to be cut as it would have—somehow—made Baby Reindeer even darker. 'I remember when we were developing it, there was the note that kept coming in, and probably rightfully so, about 'The show is just too dark. You need to give us a respite',' he revealed today. Spilling details of the lost episode, Gadd said it showed his character 'escaping' Martha by visiting his parents outside of London. 'There's a whole episode where I go to the football with my dad, and I spend a day with my dad (played by Mark Lewis Jones).' However, Gadd felt like Martha's absence was felt the moment she left the screen. He continued: 'But I felt like a lot of the note that was coming in was that we needed a break from Martha because she's so relentless. 'But really, when we got to the edit, I thought, 'You miss her every time she's not on screen.' And I thought, in a lot of ways, the sooner you get back to her, the better.' Since its debut, Baby Reindeer and its cast have gone on to scoop several prestigious awards. These include six Primetime Emmys, two for outstanding writing and outstanding lead actor for Gadd, and another being outstanding supporting actress for Gunning. It also won two Golden Globes, again, with a best supporting actress gong for Gunning, and triumphed in major categories at the TV Baftas. Although Gadd has not been able to ride the wave of success of the show as blissfully as he might have liked, as the 'real Martha', Fiona Harvey, launched a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against him and Netflix. It didn't take long for social media sleuths to uncover her identity and expose her old posts, with the woman claiming to be her later giving interviews and making public appearances. She is now seeking monetary damages of at least $170million (£132m) for alleged defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and violations of her right of publicity. The legal battle has been quietly rumbling on in the background of Baby Reindeer's awards show glory, with Harvey claiming the show, billed as a 'true story,' portrayed Martha as a 'twice-convicted stalker who was sentenced to five years in prison.' Harvey herself has never been convicted of stalking Gadd, branding the show 'the biggest lie in television history.' The case is yet to reach court; however, US District Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled last September that Harvey's case had legs, saying it was wrong to label Baby Reindeer a 'true story', with 'no effort' made to conceal Harvey's identity. Appealing in response, Netflix lawyers argued that Harvey 'did not allege a provably false statement of fact was made about her', saying damage had already been done to her reputation due to past news stories relating to her alleged hounding of other public figures. In his own court filing, Gadd stated that Baby Reindeer is a 'fictionalised retelling of [his] emotional journey through several extremely traumatic real experiences'. He wrote that 'the series is a dramatic work' and it is 'not a documentary or an attempt at realism'. In May this year, the Scottish comedian opened up about the struggles of penning a smash hit show, comparing the aftermath to a 'hurricane'. 'There have been a lot of challenging moments,' he confessed to The Guardian. '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 the ground, because I feel very squeezed.' Gadd said, over a year later, he is 'still getting used to' people knowing who he is, having had people 'knocking on [his] door for autographs' just days after Baby Reindeer premiered last spring. '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.' Following Baby Reindeer, Gadd is set to star in a new BBC series, of which he is the creator, writer, and executive producer. More Trending Titled Half Man, the original six-episode drama series also stars Jamie Bell as Niall, while Gadd plays his 'estranged brother' Ruben. When Ruben shows up unexpectedly at Niall's wedding, it leads to an explosion of violence that catapults viewers back through 40 years, from the 1980s to present day. Revisiting all the ups and downs of their lives, it aims to explore what it means to be a man. A release date is yet to be announced. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: One of Pride and Prejudice's most iconic scenes 'won't be in Netflix reboot' MORE: All 6 episodes of 'compelling' mystery thriller are streaming now on Netflix MORE: Netflix adds outstanding crime-thriller that you 'need to watch immediately'

Richard Gadd reveals he ditched missing final episode of Baby Reindeer set in Scotland
Richard Gadd reveals he ditched missing final episode of Baby Reindeer set in Scotland

Daily Record

time14-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Record

Richard Gadd reveals he ditched missing final episode of Baby Reindeer set in Scotland

Richard said he scrapped the last scene which was set back in Scotland. Richard Gadd has revealed there is a missing final episode of his hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer that was based entirely in Scotland. The star and creator of the 'true story' about his alleged stalker ditched the eighth episode, which was cut before the series was released. ‌ Gadd, who stars opposite Jessica Gunning as his stalker, said he made the decision to get rid of the final part of the story after receiving notes from Netflix to include a trip to Scotland. ‌ Network executives had suggested including lighter material to offset the series' intense stalking narrative, leading to the creation of an episode where Gadd's character Donny Dunn escapes to his Scottish homeland to visit family. Gadd rarely gives interviews about the show which has proved controversial, not least because he is the subject of a multi-million lawsuit in the US, filed by real-life Martha, Scots lawyer Fiona Harvey. Speaking at a TV summit in Australia, Gadd said: 'I really fought to cut an episode of Baby Reindeer. I really wanted to cut it.' He claimed the episode had been written as a pressure release of sorts, as Gadd's hapless standup comedian Donny Dunn is reeling from the relentless attention of former lawyer-turned-stalker Martha Scott. He returns to Scotland to be with his family, but decided against it being the last episode and dropped it. Baby Reindeer revolves around Martha becoming dangerously obsessed with Gadd after he serves her a free cup of tea in a London bar in the first episode. ‌ Gadd was working as a barman in the Hawley Arms in London and failing as a comedian when he first met Harvey. He said: 'I remember when we were developing it, there was the note that kept coming in – and probably rightfully so – that the show was just too dark, you need to give the audience a respite from it all. And so there was an episode where I escape London to get away from Martha and everything, and I go and visit my parents. ‌ 'There's a whole episode where I go to the football with my dad, I spend a day with my dad, and stuff kind of happens.' Realising that Martha, who attacks a trans girlfriend of Gadd's and sexually assaults him in Baby Reindeer before being imprisoned for a second time for stalking him, was 'sort of relentless', Gadd said, and he decided the advice that the audience needed a break from her seemed reasonable. 'When we got to the edit, I felt you miss her every time she's not on screen, and I felt in a lot of ways, the sooner you get back to her, the better. And so episode three is an amalgamation of a few episodes. ‌ 'The episode that's missing ended with her in my kitchen, which is actually how we started episode three. So the edit was almost a complete rewrite of what was in the script.' The series has been viewed 96 million times on Netflix, won three BAFTA awards and six Emmys, including three for Gadd. Of the missing episode, which involves his father, played by Mark Lewis Jones, Gadd said: 'It's a shame, because Mark Lewis Jones, who plays my dad, is one of the best actors I've ever worked with,' Gadd said. 'He's astonishing. And it's a shame because people will never quite realise how much he gave to that project.' ‌ Baby Reindeer is based on two stage shows Gadd produced, Monkey See, Monkey Do, which won the top comedy prize at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016, and Baby Reindeer, which debuted in Edinburgh in 2019. Both shows draw on his own experience of sexual abuse and stalking, and in its marketing for the TV series, Netflix insisted everything in it was true. ‌ Within days of the show being streamed in April 2024, Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey was quickly identified by internet sleuths as the real-life Martha. London-based Harvey, who has never been convicted of stalking, is suing Netflix for defamation in the Central District Court of California. She is seeking up to £132 million damages and claims her health has deteriorated significantly since the show aired. ‌ Her case hinges on the show's depiction of her as a twice-convicted stalker. To prove her defamation case, her legal team has produced a document that shows Harvey has no recorded convictions. Netflix is represented by lawyers including Marvin S. Putnam, who has represented J.K Rowling and a 'who's who of Hollywood royalty'. Harvey is represented by Richard Roth of New York law firm Roth Law. ‌ Last night, Roth hit out over the latest revelation and claimed it only goes to strengthen Harvey's case against Netflix. He said: "The most recent disclosure about the cutting of an episode of BR is consistent with our investigation and further confirms: (i) the amount of thought and work that went into every decision, every scene and every episode; and (ii) the inner working conflict between Netflix and Gadd throughout the process. It, thus, strengthens the case as it, once again, makes clear that the decision to deem the story 'true,' when it was not, was intentional and malicious.' Gadd has completed production on his next major project, Half Man, a new BBC and HBO collaboration featuring Jamie Bell. The six-episode series, filmed in Glasgow, examines fractured family relationships.

Revealed: The missing episode of Baby Reindeer, and why it was cut
Revealed: The missing episode of Baby Reindeer, and why it was cut

Sydney Morning Herald

time14-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Sydney Morning Herald

Revealed: The missing episode of Baby Reindeer, and why it was cut

Richard Gadd, the writer and star of the seven-part hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer, has for the first time revealed the existence of an eighth episode, which was cut from the show before release. Speaking at the Future Vision television summit, presented by Australians in Film and Screen Australia at ACMI in Melbourne, the triple-Emmy-winning Scot told interviewer and fellow showrunner Tony Ayres (Clickbait, The Survivors, Stateless) that an entire episode set in Scotland was scrapped – at his insistence. 'I really fought to cut an episode of Baby Reindeer,' Gadd told a stunned audience. 'I really wanted to cut it.' The episode had been written as a pressure release of sorts, as Gadd's hapless standup comedian Donny Dunn is reeling from the relentless attention of former lawyer-turned stalker Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning), a woman he met while working in a London bar. 'I remember when we were developing it, there was the note [from Netflix] that kept coming in – and probably rightfully so – that the show was just too dark, you need to give the audience a respite from it all,' Gadd said. 'And so there was an episode where I escape London to get away from Martha and everything, and I go and visit my parents [in Scotland]. There's a whole episode where I go to the football with my dad, I spend a day with my dad, and stuff kind of happens.' Martha was 'sort of relentless', he said, and the advice that the audience needed a break from her seemed reasonable. But Gadd said: 'When we got to the edit, I felt you miss her every time she's not on screen, and I felt in a lot of ways, the sooner you get back to her, the better. And so episode three is an amalgamation of a few episodes. 'The episode that's missing ended with her in my kitchen, which is actually how we started [the final version of] episode three. So the edit was almost a complete rewrite of what was in the script.'

Revealed: The missing episode of Baby Reindeer, and why it was cut
Revealed: The missing episode of Baby Reindeer, and why it was cut

The Age

time14-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Age

Revealed: The missing episode of Baby Reindeer, and why it was cut

Richard Gadd, the writer and star of the seven-part hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer, has for the first time revealed the existence of an eighth episode, which was cut from the show before release. Speaking at the Future Vision television summit, presented by Australians in Film and Screen Australia at ACMI in Melbourne, the triple-Emmy-winning Scot told interviewer and fellow showrunner Tony Ayres (Clickbait, The Survivors, Stateless) that an entire episode set in Scotland was scrapped – at his insistence. 'I really fought to cut an episode of Baby Reindeer,' Gadd told a stunned audience. 'I really wanted to cut it.' The episode had been written as a pressure release of sorts, as Gadd's hapless standup comedian Donny Dunn is reeling from the relentless attention of former lawyer-turned stalker Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning), a woman he met while working in a London bar. 'I remember when we were developing it, there was the note [from Netflix] that kept coming in – and probably rightfully so – that the show was just too dark, you need to give the audience a respite from it all,' Gadd said. 'And so there was an episode where I escape London to get away from Martha and everything, and I go and visit my parents [in Scotland]. There's a whole episode where I go to the football with my dad, I spend a day with my dad, and stuff kind of happens.' Martha was 'sort of relentless', he said, and the advice that the audience needed a break from her seemed reasonable. But Gadd said: 'When we got to the edit, I felt you miss her every time she's not on screen, and I felt in a lot of ways, the sooner you get back to her, the better. And so episode three is an amalgamation of a few episodes. 'The episode that's missing ended with her in my kitchen, which is actually how we started [the final version of] episode three. So the edit was almost a complete rewrite of what was in the script.'

The last time Richard Gadd was here he bombed. Now he's a superstar
The last time Richard Gadd was here he bombed. Now he's a superstar

The Age

time14-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Age

The last time Richard Gadd was here he bombed. Now he's a superstar

The last time Richard Gadd was in Australia, it didn't go so well. 'I got absolutely panned,' says the creator of Netflix smash Baby Reindeer. 'It was 2017, I was at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, and some of the reviews were savage.' Writing for this masthead, reviewer Craig Platt gave his show Monkey See, Monkey Do two-and-a-half stars, noting it was 'not really a comedy', but rather 'performance as therapy'. Some other reviews were kinder, some a lot more savage. 'We got the full scorecard,' says Gadd, who has just finished shooting his new series, Half Man, for the BBC and HBO (in Australia, it will air on Stan*). 'I actually got five, four, three, two, and one [stars], so we put the full rainbow of reviews on the posters, and said 'come down, make up your own mind'. And we started to actually sell tickets.' Gadd has, of course, gone on to master the art of transforming negative experiences into gold. His series – which was in part based on Monkey See, Monkey Do – was the TV sensation of 2024, won him three Emmys, and sparked enormous controversy. It has also embroiled Netflix in a $US170 million lawsuit about which he can say nothing. Now he's in Australia for the Future Vision television summit at Melbourne's ACMI, alongside fellow international guests Sally Wainwright (creator of Happy Valley) and Soo Hugh (Pachinko) and a vast array of local talent (Harriet Dyer of Colin From Accounts, The Kates of Deadloch, uberproducers Tony Ayres and Bruna Papandrea, and many others). Loading The three-day event is open to the public on Monday, before switching to an industry-only gabfest for the other two days, in which the discussion will focus on how Australia can grab a sustainable piece of the global TV action. The theme is 'Optimism', but Hugh says there's precious little of that among the creatives she knows in the States right now. 'Everyone's so depressed because they realise the market has turned and the industry is changing, and these shows that took so much time and love to make would never sell any more. And there's something a little heartbreaking about knowing that.' Apple commissioned Pachinko, a multi-generational saga set in Korea, Japan and the US, seven years ago. If she tried to pitch it now, she says with absolute conviction, 'It would never sell'. Why? 'I think [TV commissioners] are like, 'Oh, the audience doesn't want anything difficult'.' But the success of shows like Baby Reindeer and Adolescence suggests otherwise. For Wainwright – who has just finished editing her new series, Riot Women, 'about five menopausal women who form a sort of ad-hoc punk rock band' – the problem is simple. 'There's too much content and it's pretty homogenous, and a lot of it is very silly.' The ones that stand out, she says, 'are incredibly well written. There are things that get through that are difficult and challenging.' Her Happy Valley is a crime drama, one of the most tried and tested genres on TV. But it is also exceptionally well-written and acted, with an incredibly strong sense of place. And that's what she loves about Deadloch, the show that is, to some degree, why she has come to Australia (as soon as she's done at the summit, she's off to Tasmania, to visit the town in which the first season was set). 'Police procedurals can be very dark and intense and intelligent, or they can be – in England anyway – very lightweight and a bit silly,' she says. 'What I thought was very clever about Deadloch was the way it mixed the two. 'I think you can be dark and funny at the same time. However dark life is, people try to be funny. So if you can mix the two, that's gold dust.' Gadd's advice to Australians wanting to find an international audience is simple: stay true to yourself and your culture, while tapping into the things that bind us all, no matter where we live. 'If you look at Parasite, nobody would have expected a Korean film about the societal divide to have such international renown,' he says. 'But aside from being a fantastically original piece of art, it also tapped into so much humanity – poverty, desire, struggle, a craving for a better life – and in such a unique way too.' His own show was deemed similarly unique. But 'the themes are still universal: loneliness, shame, the need for connection, coming to terms with the past. 'I think a show can be shot anywhere and be a success,' he adds, 'as long as it taps into the human condition in unique and interesting ways.'

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