ITV's latest sensation, Playing Nice, features Happy Valley star James Norton as Pete Riley, a father who is thrown into turmoil when he learns his children were swapped at birth. The gripping plot forces him and his partner to grapple with the heart-wrenching decision of whether to continue raising the sons they have come to love or seek to reclaim their biological child.
The narrative unfolds as Pete and his partner Maddie (Niamh Algar) uncover a shocking truth about their son Theo. They cross paths with another couple, Miles (James McArdle) and Lucy Lambert (Jessica Brown Findlay), who are grappling with the same predicament.
The couples learn that their premature babies were mistakenly switched in the neonatal intensive care unit three years prior, following genetic testing. Despite deciding to keep their current children, they attempt to form relationships with their biological offspring, causing their moral compasses to falter.
The series draws inspiration from JP Delaney's novel of the same name, which chronicles Pete's journey as Miles reveals the shattering news of their babies' mix-up at birth. The plot thickens as plans to sue the hospital spark an investigation, unearthing unsettling questions about the events that transpired on the day the babies were switched.
James Norton, a producer of the series, revealed that while it wasn't based on a specific event, such incidents do occur. Speaking to Yahoo, he said: "It does happen, not a lot, but it does happen, and to the point where guidelines around like what you do if the kid's younger than two and a half years you switch them, and if they're older than three you leave them where they are because it's too damaging."
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"So around the two and half, three-year mark -which our kids are in the show- it's very unclear as to what to do. There is historical cases of this happening, it's quite disturbing."
Parenting forum Mumsnet reviewed the series, praising its unflinching portrayal of real-life issues such as postpartum depression. The review highlighted Maddie's journey, stating: "The flashbacks to her intrusive thoughts and struggles bonding with her baby were hard to watch but felt so honest."
It went on to say: "In fact, it's rare to see such a raw depiction of PND on screen, and I'm certain it will resonate with many who have faced similar challenges."
The series also explores the trauma of neonatal intensive care, which can be a triggering experience for those who have lived through it. Reviewer Rebecca Roberts noted: "Playing Nice was never going to be a nice, comfortable watch."
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Executive producer Kitty Kaletsky shared why she was attracted to the project, saying simply: "it's about human beings".
She elaborated: "It's about parenting. It's about what it is to have parents. It's about what it is to have children.
"It's about class and wealth, and it's incredibly thrilling. It's a psychological drama with incredibly thrilling genre elements."
Playing Nice is available to watch on ITVX
