Playing Nice

Rabbit Track Pictures

Industry	Television production
Founder	James Norton
Key people	James Norton (Executive Producer)
Parent	StudioCanal (collaboration)

Playing Nice is a British television miniseries consisting of four episodes, produced for ITV by StudioCanal in collaboration with Rabbit Track Pictures. Adapted from the novel by J. P. Delaney, the story unfolds in Cornwall. James Norton not only stars in the series but also acts as executive producer through his company, Rabbit Track Pictures. Direction is handled by Kate Hewitt, with the script adapted by Grace Ofori-Attah.

Synopsis

After learning their toddler sons were exchanged at birth, two couples face the difficult choice of either continuing to raise the children they have bonded with or reclaiming their biological offspring.

Cast

• James Norton portrays Pete Riley
• Niamh Algar takes on the role of Maddie Wilson
• James McArdle appears as Miles Lambert
• Jessica Brown Findlay plays Lucy Lambert

Production

The television adaptation of J. P. Delaney's Playing Nice is a joint production between StudioCanal and Rabbit Track Pictures. James Norton leads the cast and holds an executive producer role. The series is designed to appeal to audiences who enjoy psychological thrillers on ITV, featuring compelling acting and high-quality production standards.

Filming

Filming commenced in Cornwall during November 2023, with scenes shot at locations such as St Ives, Padstow, Mawgan Porth beach, and Park Head. The shooting schedule extended into early 2024.

Broadcast

The show made its debut on ITV and the streaming platform ITVX on 5 January 2025.

Reception

Holding a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the series received mixed reviews. Anita Singh from The Telegraph described it as an engaging child-swap thriller despite some plausibility issues. Janet A Leigh of Digital Spy awarded it five stars, calling it “perfectly addictive.” In contrast, Rachel Aroesti of The Guardian criticized the series as "mind-bendingly bad," highlighting its emphasis on atmosphere over narrative depth.