Episode
How Richard Gadd Gained 40kg For Half Man
- Podcast
- Men’s Health: Built For Life
- Published
- May 14, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2504
- Processing state
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- https://traffic.megaphone.fm/THENATIONALMAGAZINECOMPANYLIMITED8341994483.mp3?updated=1777559048
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Summary
On this episode of the Built For Life podcast, Richard Gadd joins Andrew Tracey to break down the reality behind his extreme body transformation for Half Man. After dropping to 68kg for Baby Reindeer, Gadd pushed his body to over 100kg, training six days a week, eating relentlessly and even dehydrating himself for scenes. But despite the scale of the change, he admits he ‘never felt as big as I wanted to be.’ They unpack the psychology of bulking, why progress is so hard to see even when it’s obvious to everyone else, and how quickly training can become addictive. The conversation also digs into the pressure of physique transformations and the link between exercise and mental health. Alongside the physical side, Gadd talks about masculinity, identity and the thinking behind his new show Half Man – and why the most interesting stories are the ones that don’t give you a clean answer. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices