James Norton turned heads when he popped up on This Morning on Monday, with the star causing quite a stir during his interview. He appeared on the show alongside co-star Niamh Algar to talk about their brand new drama, Playing Nice, now available on ITVX.

James and Niamh delved into the details of the riveting series, as they chatted with hosts and . Yet, it was James' bold transformation that stole the show the actor revealed a neat buzzcut, a stark contrast to his typically longer hairstyle and a drastic change from his appearance as Pete in Playing Nice.

In the four-part series, James portrays Pete and Niamh plays Maddie, his significant other. Alongside them are James McArdle and Jessica Brown Findlay who complete the ensemble as Miles and Lucy, portraying another couple ensnared in turmoil, reports .

Adapted from JP Delaney's bestselling page-turner, Playing Nice throws two couples into an emotional storm after a hospital error switches their babies at birth. Torn between keeping the children they've nurtured or seeking out their biological sons and daughters, the series poses an agonising moral quandary.

The show's teaser sets a chilling tone: "How far can each couple trust the real parents of their child or even each other? As Pete and Maddie are stretched to breaking point, they realise they will stop at nothing to keep their family together."

James has opened up about the emotional rollercoaster he encounters while playing Pete, acknowledging that the role is particularly taxing. He shared his thoughts on the unique difficulties of playing a part with such a harrowing storyline.

The Happy Valley star revealed: "The role is emotionally challenging to play, and it takes you to a dark yet unusual place. Stories about bereavement, heartbreak or grief are more familiar. This is a story which encapsulates all of those various forms of pain, but to find out that your child is not your own, is not an experience which people have often."

He went on to add: "There's not endless books or avenues to have a chat with others who've gone through the same thing. It's a parent's worst nightmare and that has been the challenge, to think about what one would go through if this happened, knowing that there aren't that many examples or experiences similar, and then trying to predict what that would feel like."

This Morning airs on weekdays on ITV1 from 10am. Playing Nice is available to watch on ITVX.