Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd has been warned against a stint in reality TV, after being tipped for I’m A Celebrity.
The comedian and writer, 35, stars in the hit Netflix series as Donny Dunn, and follows a fictionalised version of his own experiences.
It explores the emotional distress caused by a woman named Martha – who internet sleuths quickly discovered to be based on Fiona Harvey – stalking and sexually assaulting him.
Over the seven-part series, Dunn’s ordeal grows when Martha begins waiting outside his house, sending him thousands of emails, and even harassing his parents and turning violent towards his girlfriend.
Gadd and Martha actress Jessica Gunning have been catapulted into fame after the show’s roaring success, while the ‘real Martha’ has given several interviews herself, including an explosive Piers Morgan grilling, and is now suing Netflix for $170,000,000 (£132,000,000).
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A Netflix spokesperson said in response: ‘We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.’
Following this, Gadd is tipped to continue telling his story and sharing his experiences in a series of juicy reality programmes – but that may not be the right way to go, he’s been warned.
According to OLBG, Gadd stands at odds of 6/1 of appearing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and the same for Strictly Come Dancing.
He’s also tipped for a Dancing On Ice stint with odds at /1, and 10/1 for Celebrity Big Brother, which returned earlier this year, crowning David Potts as champion.
But, according to an expert, reality TV isn’t the right way to go for Gadd’s career.
Andy Barr, co-founder and head of digital PR agency 10 Yetis, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Gadd and Netflix are now mired in legal red tape over Baby Reindeer and its depiction of being a true story.
‘The aggressive US lawyers representing Fiona Harvey will be watching everything that Richard Gadd now says, for a chance to drive their case home and win that big payout.
‘I’m A Celebrity always involves controversial, off-the-cuff, remarks and no matter how much he tries, Gadd won’t be able to dodge questions from his celebrity jungle-mates.’
He went on: ‘The I’m A Celebrity move could end up costing him far more than he would earn from going on the show and definitely would not make it worth being filmed chewing on the odd animal testicle or bug.
‘Right now, Gadd needs to circle the wagons and get ready for the legal and mental health onslaught that will come from the pending legal action that will comb through his every accusation and statement, rather than trying to amplify his fame via a reality TV show.’
He added that Gadd’s career as a comedian and writer could be at risk with appearances on reality TV, saying: ‘With Gadd’s career now firmly in the mainstream he stands at a crossroads in terms of potentially going on to become a serious actor or globally renowned comedian.
‘History tells us that a stint on a celebrity reality show rarely ends up in the type of long-term serious career that he seemingly craves, and is instead a slippery slope to a merry-go-round of lookalike reality TV shows.’
Previously speaking about the process of turning his ordeal into a TV show, Gadd told Metro.co.uk he wanted Baby Reindeer ‘to be three-dimensional’.
‘I wanted it to be nuanced. I just remember my idea of stalking in life was so different to what actually happened,’ he said.
‘My idea of what a stalker was, was that they are fundamentally, sort of, psychopathic characters. But it just wasn’t that case. I saw someone very vulnerable, really.’
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He added there was no ‘moral point for people to take away’ but there was ‘a subtle reference to the fact that this is a vulnerable person who needs help’.
He’s since said he doesn’t plan on speaking about the real-life identities of his characters, telling The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I don’t think I’ll ever comment on it ever again.’
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Baby Reindeer is available to watch on Netflix.
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