![itvplaying nicenew for 2025pictured:james norton as pete riley.this photograph is (c) itv plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/termsfor further information please contact:patrick.smith@itv.com](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/playing-nice-episode-3-05-68d2d330be867.jpg?crop=0.405xw:0.304xh;0.219xw,0.271xh&resize=1200:* "itvplaying nicenew for 2025pictured:james norton as pete riley.this photograph is (c) itv plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/termsfor further information please contact:patrick.smith@itv.com")
All hail, James Norton! Known for playing somewhat complex men in often unthinkable situations, the actor can toggle seamlessly between tender and terrifying - and he makes it look easy. The British actor has turned his hand to everything from a Parish priest in Grantchester to a heartbroken father in Nowhere Special - and he's yet to disappoint.
That all means that when it comes to what to watch him in next - there's rather a lot of choice. So, we’ve rounded up the very best James Norton dramas to watch now on Netflix, ITV, the BBC and more - including one that's up there with Happy Valley! So clear your schedule - and get ready for some top-notch entertainment!
The Trial of Christine Keeler
Having first aired in 2019 to rave reviews, The Trial of Christine Keeler follows a major real-life scandal in British politics in the 1960s - the Profumo affair, which saw politician John Profumo have an affair with 19-year-old Christine Keeler. James Norton plays the well-connected osteopath Stephen Ward, who introduced Christine to Profumo, and was later charged with prostitution offences. You can watch it all now on Netflix.
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Grantchester
![kudos presentsgrantchesterepisode 1pictured: james norton as sidney chambers and robson green as geordie keating.this photograph is (c) kudos/itv and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.comfor further information please contact:patrick.smith@itv.com 0207 1573044](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/p2-ep2-mbargoed-until-13th-april-grantchester-ep1-51-68d2d0a29b40e.jpg?crop=0.452xw:0.302xh;0.434xw,0.233xh&resize=980:* "kudos presentsgrantchesterepisode 1pictured: james norton as sidney chambers and robson green as geordie keating.this photograph is (c) kudos/itv and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.comfor further information please contact:patrick.smith@itv.com 0207 1573044")
In beloved ‘50s detective series Grantchester, which first aired in 2014, James starred as former Scots Guards officer-turned-Parish priest Sidney Chambers, who forms an unlikely crime-solving partnership with Detective Inspector Geordie Keating. Sidney is flawed, thoughtful, and fond of jazz - and we think his performance is up there with that in Happy Valley. James appears in series 1 to 4 of the drama, which you can watch in its entirely on ITVX.
King & Conqueror
Not only does James Norton star in epic battle saga King & Conqueror, he also executive produced it with his Rabbit Track production company. The 2025 series tells the epic story of 1066 and the battle between Harold Godwinson - played by James - and William, Duke of Normandy for the English crown (embellished for TV, of course). You can watch all eight episodes on BBC iPlayer now.
McMafia
McMafia stars James as the complicated hero Alex Godman, a hedgefund manager and son of Russian exiles who's tried to steer clear of his family’s criminal past - until a violent event pulls him back into the world of money laundering. James’ performance in the series led to wild speculation that he’d be taking the baton from Daniel Craig as the next James Bond - and rumours are still rife about that very topic! Watch all eight episodes of series 1 on BBC iPlayer now.
Playing Nice
![itvplaying nicenew for 2025episode 4pictured: james norton as pete with theo.this photograph is (c) itv plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/termsfor further information please contact:patrick.smith@itv.com](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/playing-nice-episode-4-03-68d2cfb7afec9.jpg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.0442xw,0&resize=980:* "itvplaying nicenew for 2025episode 4pictured: james norton as pete with theo.this photograph is (c) itv plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/termsfor further information please contact:patrick.smith@itv.com")
There’s a particularly horrifying premise at the heart of Playing Nice - the babies of two couples are switched at birth, and one is in the care of a sociopath. James plays former journalist Pete, who lives a seemingly happy life with his wife in Cornwall. That is, until they learn the awful truth about their toddler… You can watch all four episodes of the squirm-inducing 2025 drama now on ITVX.
House of Guinness
Get ready for an epic family saga, because House of Guinness is the brand-new Succession-like series from Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight. The drama follows the family behind the dark Irish beverage and James plays brewery foreman Sean Rafferty who - for all his incredibly loyal service to the Guinness family, is never allowed to forget that he works for them. It's coming to Netflix very soon - on Thursday 25th September!
Happy Valley
Happy Valley needs no introduction and James's star turn as notorious British TV baddie Tommy Lee Royce speaks for itself. It is, after all, how he made a name for himself. We meet him in series 1 when he’s fresh out of prison for committing a violent crime. He’s charismatic, chilling and child-like, making him without a doubt one of TV’s best modern villains. You can watch all three series of Happy Valley now on BBC iPlayer.
The Nevers
US sci-fi drama The Nevers ran between 2021 and 2023, and stars James as the rich, irreverent aristocrat Hugo Swann. Hugo owns a private club - he’s a social butterfly who specialises in extortion - and he brings a touch of humour to the vivid Victorian steampunk world. We highly recommend catching up on the six-episode series on Sky now.
Nowhere Special
Tissues at the ready for this one! Admittedly, it's a film - but it's still worth every moment of your time. The drama sees James play John, a window cleaner who's terminally ill and searching for the perfect family to take care of his young son after finding out - heartbreakingly - that he has just a few months left to live. Critics called James’s performance “spine-tingling”, and you can see what they mean by watching it on BBC iPlayer now.
![itvplaying nicenew for 2025pictured:james norton as pete riley.this photograph is (c) itv plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/termsfor further information please contact:patrick.smith@itv.com](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vidthumb/33619137-98fd-4055-9189-3be07b82a285/thumb_1080x1920.0000001.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=1200:* "9 “must-see” James Norton dramas to binge now")
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