Lawyer warns Baby Reindeer fans of risks of trying to find show's real characters

Netflix subscribers who have watched its latest hit show, Baby Reindeer, are being warned not to try to find the real people behind the characters from the show. Since the release of the true stalker series, featuring Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning, viewers have had their detective hats on trying to track down who the real Martha Scott is.

In Baby Reindeer, which is currently the most watched show on the streaming platform worldwide, Gadd, who plays as Donny Dunn, becomes loner Martha's obsession, played by Gunning. It all goes downhill after Donny gave Martha a free cup of tea at his workplace pub as he 'felt sorry for her'.

Gadd says over several years Martha hounded him daily and sent 41,000 emails, 350 hours of voicemail messages, 106 pages of letters and countless social media posts. At the end of the series, we see Martha put in prison for her behaviour.

Gadd claims he put a lot of effort in to hide the real identity of the woman who stalked him in real life. However, the popularity of the show has spurred many to try to find out who Martha is in real life, as the series is a re-enactment of Gadd's own experiences.

Many of his fans are fixated on finding Martha, which has promoted Gadd to beg people to avoid searching for her and any of the other people the characters are based on. Taking to his Instagram story, Gadd issued a statement.

He said: "Hi everyone. People I love, have worked with, and admire (including Sean Foley) are unfairly getting caught up in speculation. Please don't speculate on who any of the real life people could be. That's not the point of our show."

Lawyers have also pointed out the importance of not trying to find the true identity of the people in the show. A legal representative from Howells has discussed the consequences of falsely accusing individuals of such grave offences and cautioned viewers against seeking out the real-life individuals implicated in the case.

Mark Woloshak, Head of Litigation at Howells Solicitors told LadBible: "Seeking out and potentially naming individuals involved in a case, especially if they turn out to be the wrong person, carries significant legal and ethical implications. In the case of Baby Reindeer, where real-life events are portrayed, it is important to recognise the delicate balance the programme makers are treading between storytelling and real-world consequences.

"The portrayal of characters in a fictionalised drama should not result in people seeking to ascertain who the individuals portrayed in that drama are based upon. The frenzy surrounding the attempt to uncover the real identities of individuals depicted in Baby Reindeer would not only cause unwarranted harm to anyone wrongly identified but could also undermine the privacy and safety of individuals who may have no connection to the events portrayed."

Woloshak hinted that individuals falsely accused may pursue compensation for damages incurred. "However, the damage caused by false accusations and online harassment can extend beyond legal remedies, affecting individuals' personal and professional lives irreparably.

"In light of these considerations, it is imperative for viewers and the public alike to respect the boundaries between fiction and reality, and to approach discussions surrounding true-life events with sensitivity and caution. Ultimately, the pursuit of truth should never come at the expense of innocent individuals' well-being and rights."

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. You can call the national stalking helpline on 0808 802 0300 or find more information here.