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James Norton’s divisive new ITV drama breaks record

BBG News

James Norton’s baby-swap thriller has broken records by becoming ITVX’s best-ever drama launch.

Playing Nice‘s success was announced on Instagram by the show’s production company StudioCanal.

The post stated, “Playing Nice has shattered records, making it ITVX Official’s most successful drama debut ever!” It continued with a congratulatory message to our collaborators at ITV and Rabbit Track Pictures. Don’t forget to catch the exhilarating series currently streaming in the UK and soon available internationally.

As a dedicated viewer, I’m thrilled to share that the four-part series we’ve been watching has broken records on ITVX! It’s been streaming non-stop by those who binged it in one day, nearly doubling the hours clocked by other shows such as Mr Bates vs The Post Office. What a testament to its popularity!

Despite facing widespread criticism from viewers who deemed the concept of the show as unrealistic, there’s some positive news on the horizon.

The story, featuring Niamh Algar from “Malpractice,” follows Pete and Maddie as they endure a harrowing experience when they uncover the truth that their baby was exchanged at birth.

Efforts to find a peaceful settlement with the other pair, featuring James McArdle and Jessica Brown Findlay from Downton Abbey, soon turn contentious, leading to a dispute that involves both children. The play, “Playing Nice,” delves into issues of trust and postpartum mental health.

In response to the criticism faced by the show, Norton clarified to critics that it is a dramatic production during an appearance on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show.

Norton clarified, “Since I’m now in a position of responsibility, you’re seeking out potential risks, and there’s nothing more at risk than family. Whether it’s your own parents or your kids, they are the entities that cause those early morning worries.

In other words, while I understand if some people find it overwhelming, I must say that it feels quite dramatic.

The star from Happy Valley shared insights on his filming journey, labeling it as a “difficult yet rewarding” process.

He shared that some parts needed a fair share of attention, dedication, and emotional intensity, according to Digital Spy.

In our journey, we aimed to portray a realistic and complex human experience since the purpose of our show is to provoke thought about how one might react in similar situations. Therefore, we strived to maintain an ambiguous, gritty, and authentic feel throughout.

During a chat with Red Magazine, the actor also delved into the series’ examination of male identity.

The subject explores the concepts of contemporary masculinity. Specifically, it questions whether, in today’s society, a man should be passive, allow room for his partner and others, and distance himself from the oppressive nature of traditional patriarchal structures.

Consequently, he suggests, ‘Perhaps we should act harmoniously at all times. Maybe we should strive to be overly accommodating.’ In doing so, he seems to overstep the mark, veering excessively towards being agreeable.

During an interview with Digital Spy, Norton pointed out that Pete often makes a mistake by believing that always acting kindly, evading conflicts, and remaining passive will eventually lead to everything being fine. However, one comes to understand that such behavior is not effective in resolving issues.

“You have to sometimes play nasty in the face of nastiness.”

Tune into “Playing Nice” each Sunday and Monday at 9 pm, on both ITV1 and ITVX. You can also catch the entire series in its entirety on ITVX.

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2025-01-21 18:48

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