Playing Nice

Playing Nice

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7 / 10

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Overview

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?

Media

James Norton and the Playing Nice cast pretended to be ABBA in Cornwall | BAFTA

Cast

Jessica Brown Findlay

Creator:

Grace Ofori-Attah

Fist Air Date:

2025-01-05

Episode Runtime:

undefinedm

Production Companies:

ITV, StudioCanal, Rabbit Track Pictures

Genres:

Keywords:

based on novel or book child custody co-parenting cornwall, england father son relationship legal battle mother son relationship parent parent child relationship parental rights parenting son switched at birth thriller

More Show Details

Vote Average: 6.6/10

Vote Count: 30 Votes

Show Popularity: 3.5007

Show Status: Ended

Show Type: Miniseries

Spoken Languages: English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 04 May 2026 at 1:03 pm

7 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10 THE SUMMARY Based on JP Delaney’s psychological thriller, this four-part ITV drama follows two couples, Pete (James Norton) and Maddie (Niamh Algar), and Miles (James McArdle) and Lucy (Jessica Brown Findlay), who discover their toddlers were switched at birth. Set against the rugged, beautiful backdrop of Cornwall, the initial agreement to "play nice" and share the children quickly dissolves into a pained nightmare. As Miles’s manipulative and sociopathic tendencies emerge, Pete and Maddie find themselves fighting to keep the family they’ve raised while the very definition of parenthood is put through a pained, high-stakes wringer. THE PROS This is a great series for those who love a "what would you do?" ethical dilemma that feels entirely honest and terrifying. It hits a 7 because the central hook is a total highlight; the pained realization that your child isn't yours is a sincere gut-punch. James Norton and Niamh Algar are amazing, bringing a grounded, emotional weight to the story that makes the more preposterous moments feel almost believable. The move from London to the Cornish coast was a smart move, as the sweep of the cliffs adds a fair shout of "edge of the world" tension to the psychological warfare. It’s a great series for a weekend binge, providing a pained, twisty ride that keeps you guessing about Miles’s true motives until the end. THE CONS It stays at a 7 because the plot can feel like a bit of a slog as it moves from grounded drama into full-blown "unpleasant" melodrama. It misses a higher mark because some of the character choices—especially Pete’s passive behavior—are an honest head-scratcher and can be a pained bit frustrating to watch. The final episode is a fair shout for "over the top," with a resolution that feels a pained bit asinine compared to the smart, emotional setup of the first half. While the tension is amazing, the sheer level of dread and the "sociopath" trope can make the viewing experience feel a bit of a slog for those who wanted a more realistic exploration of the situation. THE VERDICT 7/10. A highly addictive thriller. It’s an amazing showcase for the leads, even if the script eventually loses its way in the Cornish fog. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • To keep the setting feeling honest, the show was filmed entirely on location in Cornwall, specifically around St Ives, Penzance’s Jubilee Pool, and the village of Mevagissey, shifting the book's original London setting to the coast.• The series was written by Grace Ofori-Attah, who is uniquely both a registered psychiatrist and a scriptwriter, a background she used to ensure the pained psychological manipulation felt as sincere and clinical as possible.• James Norton not only stars as Pete but also served as an executive producer through his company, Rabbit Track Pictures, marking another major 2025 release for him alongside his "royal" role in *King & Conqueror*. THE VIBE Like a beautiful beach house with a rotting foundation. It smells of sea salt, expensive wine, and the metallic tang of a cold, hidden motive.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

4 Episodes

Air Date: 2025-01-05

Videos

James Norton and the Playing Nice cast pretended to be ABBA in Cornwall | BAFTA

Playing Nice Official Trailer | ITV

Cast

Jessica Brown Findlay

Related Shows To

Playing Nice

Reviews for

Playing Nice

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 4 May 2026 at 2:03 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10
THE SUMMARY
Based on JP Delaney’s psychological thriller, this four-part ITV drama follows two couples, Pete (James Norton) and Maddie (Niamh Algar), and Miles (James McArdle) and Lucy (Jessica Brown Findlay), who discover their toddlers were switched at birth. Set against the rugged, beautiful backdrop of Cornwall, the initial agreement to “play nice” and share the children quickly dissolves into a pained nightmare. As Miles’s manipulative and sociopathic tendencies emerge, Pete and Maddie find themselves fighting to keep the family they’ve raised while the very definition of parenthood is put through a pained, high-stakes wringer.
THE PROS
This is a great series for those who love a “what would you do?” ethical dilemma that feels entirely honest and terrifying. It hits a 7 because the central hook is a total highlight; the pained realization that your child isn’t yours is a sincere gut-punch. James Norton and Niamh Algar are amazing, bringing a grounded, emotional weight to the story that makes the more preposterous moments feel almost believable. The move from London to the Cornish coast was a smart move, as the sweep of the cliffs adds a fair shout of “edge of the world” tension to the psychological warfare. It’s a great series for a weekend binge, providing a pained, twisty ride that keeps you guessing about Miles’s true motives until the end.
THE CONS
It stays at a 7 because the plot can feel like a bit of a slog as it moves from grounded drama into full-blown “unpleasant” melodrama. It misses a higher mark because some of the character choices—especially Pete’s passive behavior—are an honest head-scratcher and can be a pained bit frustrating to watch. The final episode is a fair shout for “over the top,” with a resolution that feels a pained bit asinine compared to the smart, emotional setup of the first half. While the tension is amazing, the sheer level of dread and the “sociopath” trope can make the viewing experience feel a bit of a slog for those who wanted a more realistic exploration of the situation.
THE VERDICT
7/10. A highly addictive thriller. It’s an amazing showcase for the leads, even if the script eventually loses its way in the Cornish fog.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• To keep the setting feeling honest, the show was filmed entirely on location in Cornwall, specifically around St Ives, Penzance’s Jubilee Pool, and the village of Mevagissey, shifting the book’s original London setting to the coast.
• The series was written by Grace Ofori-Attah, who is uniquely both a registered psychiatrist and a scriptwriter, a background she used to ensure the pained psychological manipulation felt as sincere and clinical as possible.
• James Norton not only stars as Pete but also served as an executive producer through his company, Rabbit Track Pictures, marking another major 2025 release for him alongside his “royal” role in *King & Conqueror*.
THE VIBE
Like a beautiful beach house with a rotting foundation. It smells of sea salt, expensive wine, and the metallic tang of a cold, hidden motive.

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