Topics: Baby Reindeer, TV And Film, Netflix
In some ways, it feels like a lifetime since Baby Reindeer aired on 11 April, and in other ways it feels like it's been just two minutes.
Creator, writer and star Richard Gadd has since been propelled to fame and is now taking the time to give an answers to viewers' burning questions.
Ever since the Netflix hit dropped, viewers have been obsessed with the seven-part series that follows the jaw-dropping tale of stalking and heart wrenching abuse experienced by comedian Gadd's fictionalised version of himself, Donny Dunn.
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Baby Reindeer recounts how Gadd's character, Donny, fell victim to a relentless case of stalking after giving a woman, named Martha in the show and portrayed by Jessica Gunning, a free cup of tea at the pub where he worked.
Gadd has since confirmed he actually did receive over 40,000 emails, 740 tweets, 350 hours of voicemail, 100 letters and 45 Facebook messages from his real-life stalker.
In the series, Donny is also sexually abused by a character named Darrien in the show, who masquerades as somebody who wants to help his comedy career.
It's been a rollercoaster ever since, with viewers attempting to work out who the 'real life' versions of Martha and Darrien are, despite Gadd's pleas to the contrary.
He issued a statement shortly after the series aired which included: "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. Lots of love, Richard x X."
Now, in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gadd mulls over his new found fame off the back of a hugely successful Netflix show and provides answers to some viewers' questions.
One is why he never changed his phone number, as some viewers were confused as to why Gadd didn't take this precaution, considering how many calls, texts and voicemails he was receiving from 'Martha'.
Gadd started by saying that 'the stalking was at its worst when she managed to get my number'.
He continued: "I stubbornly refused to change my number, because I believed it was their responsibility to stop calling me.
"Then came the voicemails and I listened to them in the hope of expediting the case by finding something threatening.
"It was weird, I would go to meetings around town and listen to them on the way. The meeting would end and I would put my headphones back in.
"I would go to bed at night and still hear the echoes of the voicemails. It was almost maddening, hearing the voicemails bouncing around my eyelids."
Baby Reindeer has inspired much web-sleuthing from viewers, as well as people making false claims that they are characters in the show, including Donny's girlfriend Teri.
Gadd added: "I don’t agree with the sleuth thing. I’ve put out a statement publicly saying I want the show to be received as a piece of art, and I want the show to people to enjoy as a piece of art.
"I’m called Donny Dunn. It exists in a sort of fictional realm, even though it’s based on truth, it exists in a fictional realm, let’s enjoy the world that I’ve created."
Gadd's interview comes after Piers Morgan faced criticism for interviewing the 'real-life Martha' last week.
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.
