James Norton and his new ITV baby-swapping thriller have been slammed as ridiculous’ and ‘gratuitous’ by annoyed fans and critics.

James Norton’s latest TV thriller, Playing Nice, has left viewers seething, with fans branding the ITV series “ridiculous” and “hollow” in their scathing reviews.

The drama, based on JP Delaney’s novel, explores a harrowing moral dilemma: two families discover their children were swapped at birth, forcing them to navigate a complex, emotionally charged situation.

But for many, the story’s execution left much to be desired, with viewers flooding social media with their complaints.

One wrote: “15 minutes into #PlayingNice and what an absolute load of nonsense this is already.” Another said: “Did producer James Norton insist on the gratuitous topless swimming scene? #PlayingNice.”

A third added: “I’ve lost interest in Playing Nice really quickly. Only episode 2 but the story is so ridiculous.”

TV Playing Nice fans ‘switch off’ as they brand James Norton’s new drama ‘ridiculous’ (Image: ITV)

And it’s not just viewers as critics have also been decidedly unimpressed, with The Guardian’s Tim Dowling, summing up the general sentiment by giving the ITV series one star and branding it “mind-bendingly bad”.

He added: “Coiling ridiculous plot around a nauseating premise – babies swapped at birth, one of the parents is a hellish sociopath – makes for a hollow and unpleasant watch. This is the very worst of modern television.”

The series follows Maddie, a chef played by Niamh Algar, and her stay-at-home husband Pete, portrayed by James Norton.

Their idyllic life is shattered when they learn their three-year-old son Theo isn’t biologically theirs, prompting an introduction to Miles (James McArdle), Theo’s biological father. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Miles, a controlling and manipulative character, harbours sinister intentions.

The two families are forced to make an impossible decision (Image: ITV) (Image: ITV)

The plot escalates into a chaotic series of events involving what many have called preposterous coincidences and decisions that leaves one questioning the characters’ logic.

Adding to the frustration was Norton’s portrayal of Pete, whose decisions seemingly often defied logic. While Miles exuded a menacing presence, Pete’s passive nature left viewers unimpressed.

“Pete is meant to be our nice guy hero, but he’s so annoyingly spineless, dumb and unrealistic,” another viewer tweeted.

As Playing Nice reached its conclusion, critics found the ending unsatisfying, labelling it “guffaw-inducing” and “asinine.” The show, which attempted to delve into the complexities of parenting and identity, ultimately fell flat for many.

Playing Nice continues on ITV1 on Tuesday at 9pm and is available to stream on ITVX.