First look at Happy Valley star’s epic TV return in baby swap thriller about couple ‘in waking nightmare’

HAPPY Valley star James Norton will face a 'horrifying dilemma’ in a twisted new drama series. 

First look pictures of  ITV’s new thriller Playing Nice have been released and this time around James is a far cry from the dastardly Tommy Lee Royce.

James Norton will star alongside Malpractice’s Niamh Algar.

Malpractice writer Grace Ofori-Attah is adapting the best-selling novel of the same name by JP Delaney.

Speaking about her recent project Grace said: “It has been an absolute privilege to adapt JP Delaney’s gripping novel.”

The new series follows the story of two separate couples who discover their toddlers were switched at birth during a hospital mix-up.

The couples will have to make a heartbreaking decision about whether to keep the sons they have raised and loved or get back their biological sons.

The show’s synopsis reads: “Living in a waking nightmare, Pete (Norton) and Maddie (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?”

Playing Nice will consist of four episodes, directed by Kate Hewitt. 

Production for the series is underway and the crew are currently filming in Cornwall.

ITV’s drama commissioner, Helen Perry, spoke on the upcoming drama and said: “Playing Nice is an enthralling thriller with a knotty moral dilemma at its heart. 

“Not only will viewers be hooked, they’ll be left questioning ‘What would I do...?’ as Grace Ofori-Attah’s superb script raises questions about the nature of parenting and how far we’ll go for those we love.”

James and the Co-Founder &; Managing Director Kitty Kaletsky spoke on behalf of their production company Rabbit Track Pictures saying that they “thrilled and very excited” about the project.”

A release date for Playing Nice has yet to be released  by ITV.