'Real Martha' admits Baby Reindeer nickname is a fact in Piers ...
The woman who allegedly inspired Richard Gadd’s hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer has admitted she had a real toy which inspired the name of the series in her her first TV interview.
Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey, 58, who has been labelled the “real Martha”, has appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored to “set the record straight after being unmasked by fans” – news of which was met with controversy.
In the series, comedian Richard Gadd plays a fictionalised version of himself who gets stalked by a lonely and mentally ill woman called Martha, whom he meets while working at a pub.
Following the series’ success curious fans have tried to discover the inspirations behind the show, which members of the cast have vehemently discouraged.
It comes after Richard Gadd urged Baby Reindeer fans to stop trying to uncover the identities of the real people who inspired the Netflix show.
Key PointsHarvey had a Baby Reindeer toy
‘Real Martha’ says she hasn't seen Baby Reindeer and calls series 'misogynistic'
I did not love Richard Gadd, ‘Real life’ Martha says
Fiona Harvey ‘did not phone’ Richard Gadd
'I never got the impression Gadd felt sorry for me’
22:27 , Alexander Butler
Baby Reindeer fans react to ‘unethical’ Piers Morgan interview with ‘real’ Martha
Baby Reindeer fans watch Piers Morgan interview through their fingers21:10 , Alexander Butler
Piers Morgan Uncensored viewers are feeling guilty about watching the host’s interview with the “real” Martha, Fiona Harvey.
News of the interview was met with controversy after some viewers questioned the ethics behind Morgan’s interview with the woman whose alleged campaign of stalking and harassment inspired the series.
'Get a job’: ‘Real’ Martha sends message to Richard Gadd over Baby Reindeer20:59 , Alexander Butler
Pictured: Fiona Harvey during interview20:55 , Alexander Butler
Fiona Harvey during her interview, where she has denied being a stalker (Piers Morgan)
Harvey got ‘bog standard’ grades in her law degree20:53 , Alexander Butler
Fiona Harvey said she got “bog standard” grades in her law degree from Aberdeen University. “I got alright grades, not top of the year or anything,” she said.
When challenged by Morgan, she would not specify the exact grade and claimed she could not remember as the course involved 13 subjects. She claimed she went on to study politics after her law course.
Pictured: A tense exchange between Morgan and Harvey20:51 , Alexander Butler
Piers Morgan has challenged Fiona Harvey over claims she sent thousands of emails to actor Richard Gadd (Piers Morgan)
I did not love Richard Gadd, Harvey says20:49 , Alexander Butler
Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey has said she was never in love with Richard Gadd. “I don’t fancy little boys, without proper jobs”, she said.
In the bizarre interview, Ms Harvey claimed it was in fact Mr Gadd who had propositioned her but she had turned it down due to having a boyfriend.
Fiona Harvey has said she was never in love with Richard Gadd, who plays himself as Donny Dunn in the hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer (Ed Miller/Netflix)
Harvey has 6 different emails20:47 , Alexander Butler
Fiona Harvey has admitted having six email addresses. When asked why, she said it was easier to keep different people on different email addresses.
“Maybe that makes me a maniac, or a stalker or something, but it makes it nicer and easier,” she said.
‘Leave me alone’, Harvey tells Gadd20:42 , Alexander Butler
Fiona Harvey has told Richard Gadd to “leave her alone” and claimed she is exploring options to sue Mr Gadd and Netflix.
Asked if she had a message for Mr Gadd, she said: “Leave me alone, please. Get a life, get a proper job. I am horrified at what you have done.”
Fiona Harvey told Richard Gadd to ‘leave her alone’ and said she was ‘horrified’ by the Baby Reindeer series (Piers Morgan Uncensored, TalkTV)
20:39 , Alexander Butler
In a tense exchange with Piers Morgan, Fiona Harvey denied phoning Richard Gadd and claimed she never had his phone number.
Ms Harvey claimed she had only sent Mr Gadd a “handful” of emails, a few tweets and a written letter. She also claimed the comedian could have secretely taped her when asked about the existence of voicemails left on his phone.
Piers Morgan and Fiona Harvey on ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’ (YouTube)
Harvey claims she has lawyer boyfriend20:35 , Alexander Butler
Fiona Harvey claimed she has a lawyer boyfriend who she has been in a relationship with for five years and he finds the show and news coverage “horrendous”.
In the wide-ranging interview, she also revealed details of her “impoverished” but middle class upbringing in the Scottish countryside with her mother.
Ms Harvey said: “My mother worked incredibly hard. My parents got divorced when I was nine but she worked like a Trojan.”
In the controversial interview, Ms Harvey revealed details of her ‘impoverished’ childhood in the Scottish countryside (Piers Morgan/X)
‘Real Martha’ says she hasn't seen Baby Reindeer and calls series 'misogynistic'20:28 , Alexander Butler
I never got the impression Gadd felt sorry for me, Harvey says20:26 , Alexander Butler
Fiona Harvey said she never got the impression Richard Gadd felt sorry for her, as depicted in the Baby Reindeer Netflix drama.
Working as a struggling stand-up comic, Gadd, depicted as “Donny Dunn” first met his stalker after he offered “a crying stranger a cup of tea” while he was working at a pub in London.
She said she regretted ever visiting the Hawley Arms, where she met Mr Gadd in Camden. She also denied being unwell and someone who needed help, as depicted in the show.
Working as a struggling stand-up comic, Gadd, depicted as ‘Donny Dunn’ first met his stalker after he offered ‘a crying stranger a cup of tea’ while he was working at a pub in London (Ed Miller/Netflix)
20:23 , Alexander Butler
Fiona Harvey denied having a resemblance to actor Jessica Gunning who plays the obsessive stalker Martha in Baby Reindeer and said people said she looked more like Lorraine Kelly.
Jessica Gunning as Martha in ‘Baby Reindeer’ (Netflix)
Harvey denies going to prison20:21 , Alexander Butler
Fiona Harvey has denied ever being sent to prison, as depicted in the Baby Reindeer Netflix drama, and claims she has never been convicted of a crime.
“It is completely untrue and very career damaging. I want to rebutt that. I’m not a stalker. It’s just complete nonsense.”
In the drama, Martha’s character is convicted of stalking (Netflix)
Fiona Harvey denies heckling Gadd’s stand up routines20:19 , Alexander Butler
Fiona Harvey has denied heckling Richard Gadd’s comedy stand up routine as depicted in the hit Netflix drama. She said she had attended one of his show’s but questioned “Why would I do that?” when asked about the depiction.
She also denied turning up at Mr Gadd’s house and said the show was “hyperbole” while slamming streaming service Netflix as “mad”.
Mr Gadd appears as himself in the show, and peforms various stand up routines where the fictional Martha heckles him (Ed Miller/Netflix)
‘Real life Martha’ only sent a handful of emails20:16 , Alexander Butler
Fiona Harvey, who has been labelled the “real Martha”, has denied sending actor Richard Gadd up to 41,000 emails and said she only sent “a handful” of messages.
Harvey had a Baby Reindeer toy20:12 , Alexander Butler
Fiona Harvey, who has been labelled the “real Martha”, said it was true she had a toy reindeer which the show is named after.
However, she denied it was false Richard Gadd appeared at her house, as depicted in the series. She also denied sending thousands of emails and texts to the actor and comedian. She “didn’t send him anything” - only “jokey, bantery emails”.
Baby Reindeer is ‘hyperbole’, Harvey claims20:10 , Alexander Butler
Baby Reindeer is a “hyperbole”, Fiona Harvey, 58, said. Ms Harvey added the only true part was meeting Richard Gadd at the Hawley Arms pub in Camden.
Fiona Harvey has not seen Baby Reindeer20:07 , Alexander Butler
Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey, 58, who has been labelled the “real Martha”, said she has not seen Netflix drama Baby Reindeer as it is “not her sort of drama”.
“It’s taken over enough of my life, it’s obscene, misogynistic and I’ve received death threats,” she said.
Piers Morgan isn’t the problem with the Baby Reindeer interview – we are19:29 , Alexander Butler
Piers Morgan isn’t the problem with the Baby Reindeer interview – we are
‘Real Martha’ claims she did not do jail time17:30 , Emma Guinness
The woman who has identified herself as the inspiration behind Martha in Baby Reindeer has claimed she did not do jail time.
Fiona Harvey, 58, a lawyer from Scotland, said she is now considering taking legal action over her portrayal in the Netflix hit, which its creator, Richard Gadd, admits is based on a real story.
“I’ve not been to prison,” she told the Daily Record. “I don’t know where the four-and-a-half years and nine months comes in.
“None of this happened. It’s a load of rubbish.”
In the show, Martha stalks comedian Donny, who later discovers that she has been to prison for similar offences.
“This is all made up and hyperbole,” Harvey said of the show. “There are no restraining orders, injunctions or interdicts anywhere. There’s just no way. I’ve not had the police at my door about any of these things.
“It’s a load of rubbish. I don’t have any money but I’m a perfectly capable lawyer so I will represent myself.”
The ‘real Martha’ is considering taking legal action against Richard Gadd (Ed Miller/Netflix)
How and where to watch ‘real Martha’ interview16:50 , Emma Guinness
Piers Morgan’s interview with the “real Martha” from Baby Reindeer is set to air tonight.
You can watch the pre-recorded interview at 8pm GMT tonight on the YouTube channel Piers Morgan Uncensored.
The host, 59, sat down with Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey, 58, for a tell-all interview about the character she allegedly inspired in the hit Netflix show.
The interview lasts 30 minutes.
Piers Morgan and the woman being labelled the ‘real Martha’ (X/Twitter)
Doctor Who writer says Baby Reindeer should have been ‘much stricter’ about disguising identities16:30 , Emma Guinness
Russel T Davies has claimed that if he had written Baby Reindeer, he would have been “much stricter” when it came to concealing the identities of the real people involved.
The revelation comes after the woman alleged to be the “real Martha”, the stalker, sat down with Piers Morgan for a tell-all interview, following her identification by internet sleuths.
“Compliance and editorial policy drives us mad here but I sleep at night,” the Doctor Who writer told The Times.
The claim comes after Netflix UK’s senior public policy director, Benjamin King, said the production company took “every reasonable precaution in disguising the real-life identities of the people involved in that story.”
“Ultimately, it’s obviously very difficult to control what viewers do, particularly in a world where everything is amplified by social media,” he said.
The woman who has identified herself as Martha is set to give her side of the story tonight (Piers Morgan Uncensored)
Richard Gadd said he struggled with ‘toxic empathy’ for stalker Martha15:50 , Emma Guinness
Richard Gadd has struggled with feelings of “toxic empathy” towards his stalker – despite the profound impact she has had on his life.
The comedian, 34, explained that even though she left him in a situation where his life “wasn’t really functioning” he “still had these unbelievable pangs of feeling sorry for her.”
“I never saw someone who was a villain,” he said. “I saw someone who was lost by the system, really. I saw someone who needed help and wasn’t getting it.”
Stalker: Jessica Gunning as Martha in the hit Netflix drama ‘Baby Reindeer' (Netflix)
14:30 , Emma Guinness
The “real Martha” has slammed Piers Morgan for paying her an alleged £250 for her tell-all interview.
Fiona Harvey, 58, is widely claimed to be the inspiration for stalker Martha in the Netflix hit Baby Reindeer and she recently sat down with Morgan to share her opinion on the show, which is based on real events.
Now Harvey feels “used” by the host, who paid her a reported £250 for her story.
“Piers said it went well,” she said. “He referred to it as a sparring match. He landed a few punches on me and I landed a few punches on him. He asked me if I loved Richard Gadd and I said you’ve got to be joking.”
The ‘real Martha’ has denied all claims that she ever loved Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd (Netflix)
Richard Gadd ‘questioned’ the lack of help given to his stalker14:00 , Emma Guinness
The creator of Baby Reindeer Richard Gadd said he “questioned” why his stalker was not given appropriate help.
The comedian, 34, told The Independent that he was “quite confronted” by the lack of resources available in stalking cases from the police.
“It does feel like we’re at a crisis point with our public services right now. Going through the police process on [the stalking case], I really did feel quite confronted with just how kind of how much lack of resources there seemed to be,” he said.
“Like, why wasn’t she being helped in some way? I left with more questions than answers.”
Richard Gadd questioned why his stalker wasn’t helped (Netflix)
Viewers question the ethics of Piers Morgan’s interview with ‘real Martha'13:26 , Emma Guinness
Baby Reindeer viewers have slammed Piers Morgan’s interview with the “real Martha” ahead of it airing tonight.
They have called into question the ethics of the host because of how the character was portrayed on the show - and creator Richard Gadd’s statement that she is just as much of a victim as he is.
In the Netflix hit Martha is portrayed as seriously mentally ill, which is why viewers are now concerned for the welfare of the woman claimed to be her inspiration, Fiona Harvey, 58.
Taking to Twitter (X) to share their concerns, many flooded Morgan’s post promoting the interview with criticism.
“This is exploitation of a person who is in a vulnerable position. Clearly unethical,” slammed one viewer.
A second added: “This guy has absolutely no shame!”
Harvey has already told the Daily Record that she is not happy with how the interview went and says she feels “used” by Morgan.
“It seemed to me that I was set up. I feel a bit used,” she said.
The Independent has reached out to Piers Morgan Uncensored for comment.
Jessica Gunning as Martha in ‘Baby Reindeer’ (Netflix)
Interview with ‘real Martha’ from Baby Reindeer set to air tonight13:17 , Emma Guinness
Piers Morgan’s tell-all interview with the woman who allegedly inspired the Netflix hit show Baby Reindeer is set to air tonight (9 May).
The host, 59, sat down with Scottish lawyer, Fiona Harvey, 58, to give her a chance to tell “her side of the story”.
Harvey allegedly inspired the character of Martha - a lonely woman in her 40s who becomes obsessed with aspiring comedian Donny in the show.
The 59-year-old was linked to the Netflix hit by fans after the show’s creator, comedian Richard Gadd, revealed it was inspired by his own life.
The interview will be available to watch at 8pm GMT tonight on the YouTube channel Piers Morgan Uncensored.
Piers Morgan and the woman being labelled the ‘real Martha’ (X/Twitter)
