Topics: Crime, Netflix, TV And Film, True Crime, Baby Reindeer
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
It's the latest Netflix banger that seemingly everyone is talking about, but the creator and lead of psychological thriller Baby Reindeer has issued a very stark warning to viewers.
For those who haven't yet sunk their teeth into this binge-worthy series - written, directed and starred in by Scottish comedian Richard Gadd - here's a general summary.
The show tells the story of a writer and performer's warped relationship with a middle-aged woman named Martha (played by Jessica Gunning), who becomes his stalker after they meet at the pub in which he works.
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After the obsessive gets her hands on his contact information, she bombards him with increasingly-terrifying messages, all through the day and night.
But something that has kept audiences members hanging off the edges of the seats is the fact that the entire premise for the show is based on a real life experience endured by Richard himself.
The nationally-renowned funny-man was previously stalked in a similar way before he adapted his story for his very own one-man production, upon which the Netflix version is based.
In his real life, a woman to whom he once handed a free cup of tea began repeatedly visiting the pub he worked at, during which she became convinced of a romantic connection between the two of them.
For some time afterwards, he received over 40,000 emails, 740 tweets, 350 hours of voicemail, 100 letters and 45 Facebook messages from the woman in question.
Since then, Richard's stalker has been legally prevented from ever approaching him or any members of his family again, and the adaptation of some of his darkest days has hit home with a multitude of viewers.
However, audience members who have taken an interest in the real life case have been intrigued by the people that inspired the story, leading some to try and identify the people involved themselves.
But in the face of this speculation, Richard has issued a warning to fans, pleading with them not to dive deep into identifying the real criminal and insisting that that's 'not the point'.
Taking to Instagram, the 34-year-old comic penned an emotional statement: "People I love, have worked with, and admire (including Sean Foley) are unfairly getting caught up in speculation.
"Please don’t speculate on who the real life people could be. That’s not the point of our show."
Since the show landed on the streaming service, Richard has spoken publicly about his experience on several occasions, and has consistently used his platform to emphasise that the show aims to raise awareness of mental illness, not to launch an attack.
"Stalking on television tends to be very sexed-up," Gadd told Netflix. "It has a mystique, it’s somebody in a dark alley way. It’s somebody who’s really sexy, who’s very normal, but then they go strange bit by bit.
"But stalking is a mental illness. I really wanted to show the layers of stalking with a human quality I hadn’t seen on television before."
Alternatively, if you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.
