Richard Gadd has spoken out about fan speculation over the real-life people who inspired the characters of Martha and Darrien in his Netflix series. The new show is based on Richard’s own experiences, as well as the sexual abuse he experienced when first starting out in the comedy industry.
Since the show premiered on the streaming platform earlier this month, viewers have been speculating about the real identities of both Martha (played by Jessica Gunning) and Darrien (played by Tom Goodman-Hill), and have taken to social media with their theories.
On Monday evening, Richard shared a message on his Instagram Story, urging viewers to stop speculation, adding that people he ‘loves’ and ‘admires’ have been caught up in the rumors.
‘Please don’t speculate on who the real-life people could be. That’s not the point of our show,’ penned the 34-year-old.
For those who have yet to watch the drama, which is currently Netflix’s number one show, it follows struggling comedian Donny Dunn, who gives a troubled woman named Martha a cup of tea for free during a pub shift. This kind gesture sparks a years-long obsession as Martha begins to relentlessly stalk Donny, forcing him to confront a buried trauma.
The seven-parter is an adaptation of Richard’s one-man stage play, which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019 and earned him a Stage Award for Acting Excellence and the Scotsman Fringe First Award.
