Playing Nice, an ITV sensation, stars Happy Valley's James Norton as Pete Riley, a father whose life is thrown into chaos when he learns his children were swapped at birth. He and his partner are faced with the terrifying choice of continuing to raise the sons they've always loved or attempting to reclaim their biological child.

The narrative kicks off with Pete and his partner Maddie (played by Niamh Algar) discovering something shocking about their son Theo. They encounter another couple - Miles (James McArdle) and Lucy Lambert (Jessica Brown Findlay) - who are in the same predicament.

They learn that three years prior, their premature infants were mistakenly switched in the neonatal intensive care unit following genetic testing. While they opt to keep their current children, they attempt to familiarise themselves with their genetic offspring, causing their moral compasses to fluctuate.

The series draws inspiration from JP Delaney's novel of the same title, which depicts Pete's journey as Miles reveals the heartbreaking news that their babies were exchanged at birth. The synopsis further reads: "A plan to sue the hospital triggers an investigation that unearths disturbing questions about just what happened the day the babies were switched."

James Norton, who took on a role as producer for the series, acknowledged the gritty reality of the show's premise in his comments to Yahoo: "It does happen, not a lot, but it does happen, and to the point where guidelines around like what you do if the kid's younger than two and a half years you switch them, and if they're older than three you leave them where they are because it's too damaging.

"So around the two and half, three-year mark -which our kids are in the show- it's very unclear as to what to do. There is historical cases of this happening, it's quite disturbing."

Mumsnet, a haven for parenting advice, also discussed the series' approach to real-life issues, giving high praise.

The review commended Maddie's storyline in particular: "The flashbacks to her intrusive thoughts and struggles bonding with her baby were hard to watch but felt so honest.

"In fact, it's rare to see such a raw depiction of PND on screen, and I'm certain it will resonate with many who have faced similar challenges."

Highlighting the distressing subject of neonatal intensive care, Playing Nice touches on themes that are deeply affecting for audience members with lived experience.

"Playing Nice was never going to be a nice, comfortable watch," said Rebecca Roberts in the Mumsnet review.

Executive producer Kitty Kaletsky chimed in about her attraction to the series, expressing how it centres on "it's about human beings".

She elaborated: "It's about parenting. It's about what it is to have parents. It's about what it is to have children."

"It's about class and wealth, and it's incredibly thrilling. It's a psychological drama with incredibly thrilling genre elements."

Playing Nice is available to watch on ITVX