latest drama venture, Playing Nice, has been causing a stir with behind-the-scenes shots revealed this week. The new series, which is set against the backdrop of Cornwall’s picturesque locations such as St Ives, Padstow, and Newquay, includes scenes of the cast and crew braving the breezy coast for some surfing action.
A particular photo captures the windswept actor in his role as Pete, clad in a wetsuit on-set. Another snapshot features the actor alongside co-star James McArdle, who plays Miles, both gripping surfboards post-ocean plunge.
Yet, it was a captivating ensemble shot that sparked fervent chatter among fans in the comments section. The image shows James in character as Miles deeply engaging with his biological son, prompting viewers to praise the performances of the young actors, especially the child portraying Theo.
The plot surrounds Theo, born biologically to Miles and Lucy, who was entwined in a hospital mix-up and has been mistakenly raised by Pete and Maddie (portrayed by Niamh Algar). Meanwhile their biological son David has been raised by Miles and Lucy, reports .
This leaves each family with a heart-rending dilemma: do they swap the children or continue raising the one they’ve come to love? Admiration poured in for the young performers, with one viewer exclaiming: “The two little boys were fantastic.”
ITV shared some behind-the-scene images of the cast on-set while filming in Cornwall (Image: ITV/FACEBOOK)
Echoing these sentiments, one said: “Those children, so young and brilliant.”
Others chimed in with high praise, noting: “Great kids, and so young!” and celebrating the efforts of the ‘wee boy’ who shone like a ‘star’. Further adding to the chorus, another observer noted: “The 2 little boys were very good.”
The emotional tale stitches together the fabric of two families torn between a legal battle and the bonds formed with the children they believed were their own.
Renowned actor James Norton opened up about the psychological depth of his latest role, stating: “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.”
Playing Nice has gripped ITV viewers (Image: ITV/FACEBOOK)
He continued to delve into the unique emotional challenges presented by the show, remarking: “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.”
Despite the demanding nature of his character, Norton only had praise for his time spent filming in Cornwall, revealing his affection for the location with: “I love filming in Cornwall! It’s been an amazing experience.”
Moreover, as an executive producer on ‘Playing Nice,’ he talked about the joys of production, including taking on surfing during their second day on set, describing it as fun.
James Norton had nothing but praise when speaking about filming in Cornwall (Image: ITV/FACEBOOK)
He further commented on the beautiful settings for the shoot: “We had the dramatic Cornish landscape to work with and we filmed on some of the most beautiful cliffs and coastline in the country.”
In addition to experiencing the scenic wonders, Norton enjoyed local charms, saying: “St Ives is very beautiful and we went pottering around the town during lunch breaks. It’s a really special thing to entrench ourselves in the community.”
The final two episodes of Playing Nice will air on ITV on Sunday 12 and Monday 13 January. However, the full series is available to stream on ITVX.