ITV commissions psychological thriller, 'Playing Nice', starring James Norton

ITV commissions psychological thriller, Playing Nice, starring James Norton, Niamh Algar, James McArdle and Jessica Brown Findlay.

Adapted by Grace Ofori-Attah, produced by Rabbit Track Pictures and STUDIOCANAL

ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill has commissioned four-part psychological thriller, Playing Nice adapted by Malpractice writer Grace Ofori-Attah from the best-selling novel by British thriller author JP Delaney with Kate Hewitt (One Day) directing all four episodes. CANAL+ pre-bought the series.

Principal photography for the series is currently underway in Cornwall.

BAFTA nominated James Norton (Happy Valley, A Little Life, Nowhere Special), BAFTA nominated Niamh Algar (Mary and George, The Virtues, Raised By Wolves, The Wonder, Calm With Horses), Olivier nominated James McArdle (Sexy Beast, The Mare of Easttown, Life After Life) and BIFA nominated Jessica Brown Findlay (The Flatshare, Life After Life, Black Mirror, Downton Abbey) all take leading roles in the limited series.

STUDIOCANAL will produce the series with Rabbit Track Pictures, the production company founded by Norton and co-founder and Managing Director, Kitty Kaletsky (Rogue Agent). Executive producers are Kitty Kaletsky, James Norton, Kate Crowe (Great Expectations, Taboo, Misfits) and STUDIOCANAL’s Joe Naftalin, with Isobel Carter overseeing for STUDIOCANAL. Grace Ofori-Attah and author JP Delaney also executive produce. Nick Pitt (Black Mirror, His Dark Materials) is series producer.
ITV Drama Commissioner, Helen Perry, will oversee production for the broadcaster with Playing Nice premiering on ITV1 and streaming on ITVX.

Set against a sweeping Cornish landscape, two couples discover that their toddlers were switched at birth in a hospital mix-up, and face a horrifying dilemma: do they keep the sons they have raised and loved, or reclaim their biological child?

Living a waking nightmare, Pete (James Norton) and Maddie (Niamh Algar) are jettisoned into the world of the other couple; Miles (James McArdle) and Lucy (Jessica Brown Findlay). At first it seems all four are agreed on a solution, but it soon becomes clear that hidden motives are at play. How far can each couple trust the real parents of their child – or even each other? As Pete and Maddie are stretched to breaking point, they realise they will stop at nothing to keep their family together.