- True crime drama “Baby Reindeer” was one of Netflix’s biggest hits of the year.
- Its creator, Richard Gadd, said he “couldn’t escape” the show after it became a hit.
- Gadd, who also starred in the show, sent his parents on holiday to avoid journalists.
Writer and actor Richard Gadd said he “couldn’t escape” from “Baby Reindeer” when the show was at its height of popularity.
The Netflix series, which was released in April, quickly became a huge hit. Gadd said he drew from his own experiences when writing the series about aspiring comedian Donny Dunn (Gadd) who had an older stalker, Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning).
“Baby Reindeer” was watched over 88 million times on Netflix, making it one of the streamer’s most-viewed shows of 2024, and arguably the one that got the most people talking.
After true crime fans to try to find the person on whom Scott was based, a Scottish woman named Fiona Harvey, came forward. She gave her version of events in an interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” which has been watched over 15 million times on YouTube.
Harvey is suing Netflix for defamation. Netflix filed a motion to dismiss the case, and told Business Insider in June: “We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”
Richard Gadd ‘couldn’t escape’ “Baby Reindeer”
In an interview published on November 4, Gadd told GQ of “Baby Reindeer”: “I couldn’t escape from it.”
Referring to a UK grocery store, he added: “Turn on the TV, there’d be something on the TV. Turn on the radio, they’d be talking about it. I’d go to Sainsbury’s — I’d be in the newspapers.”
Gadd said he sent his parents on holiday after journalists harassed them at home.
He said: “I was getting really upset at that point. I was really worried for them.”
The show went on to win three Emmys in September: Outstanding lead actor in a limited series, outstanding writing for a limited series, and outstanding limited series.
Following the ceremony, Gadd gave his mother the award for outstanding lead actor because she encouraged him to audition for “Macbeth” at school, and he gave his dad the award for outstanding writing because he “encouraged me to beaver away at the laptop.”
Gadd added that he never expected “Baby Reindeer” to be so successful.
He said: “I wake up every morning and I am just… I think the phrase is kind of — I feel windswept? I almost don’t know. I just feel knocked off my feet.”
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