Furious ITV viewers slammed James Norton’s ‘ridiculous’ baby swap drama Playing Nice following Monday’s second episode and asked how the ‘pathetic’ series, which still has another two instalments to air, could possibly be ‘strung out’ any further

The Happy Valley actor, 39, was joined in the stellar cast including Niamh Algar from Channel 4’s The Virtues Fame, James McArdle from HBO’s Mare Of Easttown, and Jessica Brown Findlay, from Downton Abbey.

The drama follows a harrowing tale of two families entangled in a nightmarish scenario when they learn that their young sons were mistakenly swapped at birth due to a hospital blunder.

Viewers already branded Sunday’s opening episode ‘far fetched’ and ‘unrealistic’ and the second instalment left them equally unimpressed and switching off as the drama rumbled on.

Taking to X they fumed: ‘Not sure how they will spin this out to four episodes’: ‘I’ve lost interest in Playing Nice really quickly. Only episode 2 but the story is so ridiculous’: ‘This was a novel? Was it a pop-up colouring book?!’. ‘Sorry but this is getting pathetic’.

It comes after viewers claimed they had ‘worked out’ the show’s huge huge baby twist after just one episode.

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Furious ITV viewers slammed James Norton’s ‘ridiculous’ drama Playing Nice following Monday’s second episode and asked how the ‘pathetic’ series could be ‘strung out’ further

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The drama follows a harrowing tale of two families entangled in a nightmarish scenario when they learn that their young sons were mistakenly swapped at birth due to a hospital blunder

Many have taken to X to share that they thought James Norton’s character Pete’s wife Maddie (Niamh Algar) swapped the infants on purpose.

‘Wonder if Pete’s wife swapped them at birth’: ‘The woman swapped the babies on purpose. Just a theory.’  ‘I bet you the Blonde mum swapped them at birth and it wasn’t the hospital’: ‘Won’t be the hospital, my money is on Pete’s wife.’

Meanwhile others highlighted one major flaw in the ‘far fetched’ plot which saw the families of the two boys make contact and meet without supervision from social services – even finding out each others’ addresses.

Viewers claimed none of this would ever be allowed to happen in the real world, which they said pulled them out of the drama.

Taking to social media, they said: ‘I work in the legal sector (family), so I know exactly how this situation would work from the beginning, the ridiculousness of it so far has put me off taking it seriously, if i knew NOTHING about the law it might be quite compelling…’;

‘Gutted by how god damn predictable and unrealistic this show is. I was looking forward to watching it when I seen it advertised. It’s such an interesting concept for a show though two kids unknowingly switched at birth,’;

‘As unrealistic as it is, #PlayingNice is a bit good. Miles is a complete weirdo but there’s gonna be a big twist at one point. Oh and James Norton is [fire emoji],’;

‘Really far fetched but I am absolutely hooked!’; ‘Oh c’mon. As he’d happily let her babysit so soon onto her own. You really have to suspend belief with this story,’;

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The Happy Valley actor, 39, was joined by a stellar cast including Niamh Algar from Channel 4 ‘s The Virtues Fame, James McArdle and Jessica Brown Findlay from Downton Abbey

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View gallery

Viewers already branded Sunday’s opening episode ‘far fetched’ and ‘unrealistic’ and the second instalment left them equally unimpressed and switching off as the drama rumbled on

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View gallery

Taking to X they fumed: ‘Not sure how they will spin this out to four episodes’: ‘I’ve lost interest in Playing Nice really quickly. Only episode 2 but the story is so ridiculous’

‘This is so unrealistic. He wants both kids??!! Which ITV intern studying GCSE Performing Arts wrote that into the script?’;

‘Its sort of good, but far fetched at same time and loads of reality gaps, like where are social services too far fetched to be good, poor factual plot,’;

‘Just started watching this and it’s already ridiculous whatever happened to confidentiality? How did he find out where Theo lives?’;

‘None of this would take place without local authority legals and a myriad of professionals,’;

‘Not very realistic at all but I suppose it wouldn’t make much of a series of it was done through the proper meetings etc guess I’ll have to turn the logical side of my brain off for this! Bearded dad is far too forward for my liking!’;

‘I cannot believe for a second that both couples would just be allowed to meet one another without professional mediation or supervision. Have the hospital authorities just shared addresses and told them to get on with it?’

Playing Nice follows a harrowing tale of two families entangled in a nightmarish scenario when they learn that their young sons were mistakenly swapped at birth due to a hospital blunder.

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View gallery

It comes after viewers claimed they had ‘worked out’ the show’s huge huge baby twist after just one episode

+8
View gallery

Many have taken to X to share that they thought James Norton’s character Pete’s wife Maddie (Niamh Algar) swapped the infants on purpose

Faced with an agonising decision, they must choose between the children they’ve nurtured and their biological offspring.

As the plot thickens, ‘hidden motives’ emerge, casting doubt on the trust between the couples and driving Pete (played by James) and Maddie (portrayed by Niamh) to the brink.

During the series, it initially appears that all four parties have found a common ground for a solution, only to uncover motives shrouded in secrecy.

As suspicions rise, questions emerge about the trustworthiness of the child’s ‘true’ parents and even among each other.

Pete and Maddie find themselves at breaking point as they prepare to go to any length to ensure their family remains intact.