Richard Gadd has announced that an entire episode of his acclaimed Netflix series, Baby Reindeer, was ultimately cut from the show. The 36-year-old comedian, who both wrote and starred in the series, based the storyline on his real-life experiences with a stalker. During a recent appearance at the Future Visions conference in Melbourne, Australia, Gadd explained that the decision to remove the episode stemmed from notes received during the show’s development, which suggested the narrative was “too dark.”
In the episode, Gadd’s character, Donny Dunn, attempts to escape the relentless harassment from Martha, played by Jessica Gunning, by visiting his parents. Gadd reflected on the feedback he received while developing the series, stating, “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.'”
The cut episode featured scenes of Donny spending quality time with his father, including a day at a football match. Gadd noted, “There’s a whole episode where I go to the football with my dad, and I spend a day with my dad.” However, he ultimately decided to eliminate the episode due to the absence of Martha’s character. He remarked, “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.”
Gadd expressed surprise at the show’s success, admitting he never anticipated Baby Reindeer would resonate so strongly with audiences. In a previous conversation with the Guardian newspaper, he shared, “The biggest surprise was the fact that it blew up in the first place, because nothing about it screamed commercial hit.”
The sudden fame has been a significant adjustment for Gadd, who described himself as an “arthouse comedian” prior to the show’s release. He recalled, “It came out on a Thursday, and by Sunday people were knocking on my door asking for autographs.” Gadd has struggled to adapt to his newfound visibility, stating, “Going to the supermarket comes with a million caveats now.” He added, “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 comedian has found that increased recognition comes with its challenges, resulting in numerous awkward encounters. “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,” he explained.
Gadd’s experience reflects the complexities of sudden fame in the entertainment industry, where the balance between creative expression and public scrutiny can often become overwhelming. As he navigates this new chapter of his career, Gadd remains focused on crafting meaningful art while coming to terms with the unexpected attention that comes with it.
