First look: Maxine Peake, Alison Steadman in BBC One’s Rules of the Game
David Farnor | On 02, Aug 2021
BBC One has released a host of new images from Rules of the Game, produced by The Forge (Roadkill, National Treasure).
The four-part thriller about sexual politics in the modern workplace stars Maxine Peake (Three Girls, Silk) as Sam, a hard-headed manager at a family-run business in the North West. However, when Sam arrives at work one day to find a dead body in the office reception she is forced to reckon with not only murky behaviour in the present, but murderous secrets from the past as well.
Rakhee Thakrar (Sex Education, Four Weddings And A Funeral [TV] ) plays Maya, a new HR Director who tries to shake up the old-fashioned lad culture, and begins investigating historic cases of misconduct. Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacy, Life) plays Anita, a member of the board and the cold, hardened widower of narcissistic company founder Harry. Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes, Truth Seekers) plays DI Eve Preston, an immensely driven, thick-skinned, no-nonsense detective who is investigating a case centred around the company.
Further cast members include Kieran Bew (Warrior), Ben Batt (Scott & Bailey), Callie Cooke (The Stranger), Katherine Pearce (Three Girls) and Zoë Tapper (Liar).
Peake says: “What a glorious cast. Working alongside my fellow sisters each day, with their commitment and understanding towards Ruth Fowler’s script about sexual politics in the workplace, with Jennifer Sheridan directing, has reminded me once again why we need to keep fighting for more women to have a voice in the filmmaking process.”
Rules Of The Game is written by Ruth Fowler with George Faber and Mark Pybus as Executive Producers for The Forge, and Lucy Richer and Ayela Butt for the BBC. Jennifer Sheridan will direct all four episodes and the producer is Simon Meyers. All3Media International is handling international distribution.
Filming has completed and the series will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2022.