How many episodes are in Half Man?

Half Man has 6 episodes in this listed season.

When does Half Man premiere?

Half Man premieres on 2026-04-23.

Is Half Man a new series?

Half Man is a new series (Season 1).

NEW

Half Man(2026)

Also known as Polbrat • Lions • Hombre a medias

Archived · BBC One

8.0186 eps

S01

Drama

ON AIR: APR 23Season 1Archived listing

What to Expect

PremiereLens read

Half Man pairs sudden violence with the long, uneven history of a brotherly bond. Funny, tender moments share space with anger and brutality, giving Niall and Ruben’s relationship more texture than a simple tale of estrangement. Their closeness can be affectionate and destructive, and the drama traces how friendship becomes rivalry without losing sight of what once connected them.

The wedding-day rupture sends the story backward, so the aftermath of their relationship arrives before its beginnings. Across nearly forty years, chapters move through their teenage meeting, adult conflict and eventual separation, with a changing British city around them. That structure makes the earlier years carry a hard question: how did two people who grew so close come to hurt each other this badly?

Best for

volatile brotherhood, estranged brothers and Drama

Story lane

Drama

Commitment

Season 1 · 6 episodes

Where

BBC One

Official Premise

Half Man follows estranged 'brothers' Niall and Ruben. When Niall's estranged 'brother' Ruben shows up at his wedding, it leads to an explosion of violence that catapults us back through their lives. Spanning almost forty years from the 1980s to the present day, this ambitious series will cover the highs and lows of the brothers' relationship, from them meeting as teenagers to their falling out as adults - with all the good, bad, terrible, funny, angry, and challenging moments along the way. It will capture the wild energy of a changing city - a changing world, even - and try to get to the bottom of the difficult question... What does it mean to be a man?

Watch Next If This Is Your Lane

Start with the closest match, then check out two more shows with a similar feel, pace, mood, or theme.

The Party

ITVX • Oct 11, 2026

DramaThriller

Having met at an elite boarding school, Martin and Ben have an unbreakable bond. Three decades on, Martin is invited to Ben's lavish birthday party at the Fitzmaurice's country pile, but Martin fears that the publicity of Ben's bid for Conservative leader will dredge up the secrets of their past with tragic consequences.

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Strongest Match

Half Man makes a close bond feel tender, funny, and dangerous as years of loyalty and resentment surface; The Party has that same tension between old affection and buried hurt. Its country-house conversations and loaded glances keep a polished reunion uneasy, with a political campaign adding pressure.

House of Guinness

Netflix • Sep 25, 2025

DramaHistory

Follows the aftermath of the death of brewery mogul, Sir Benjamin Guinness, and the profound impact of his will on the fate of his four adult children: Arthur, Edward, Anne and Ben.

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Why this pick

Half Man is compelling when family-like loyalty turns into rivalry, with affection and anger sharing the same scenes; House of Guinness brings that friction to a wealthy family divided by inheritance. Its candlelit rooms and sharp sibling confrontations make the drama more lavish and period-bound.

This City Is Ours

BBC iPlayer • Oct 25, 2026

DramaCrime

Michael, a longtime member of organized crime, falls in love with Diana, prompting him to reevaluate his life and contemplate a future beyond his criminal activities. His newfound love becomes both a motivation and a potential liability.

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Why this pick

Half Man keeps close relationships raw, letting tenderness sit beside sudden danger and hard choices; This City Is Ours brings that mix to a criminal family where love and loyalty can leave someone exposed. Its brooding city scenes and sudden menace make the story darker and more crime-focused.

Want the bigger picture?

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