Rules of the Game

Sam is ruthless, abrasive, and her willingness to play along with the boys means she’s climbed to the top of the ladder at sportswear company Fly. As COO, it’s a view she’s comfortable with. Maya, the newly hired HR Director, has a very different perspective.

She and Sam clash from their very first meeting, and when Maya begins to unpick the toxic culture of the workplace, dark secrets begin to emerge. Soon both she and Sam are asking questions about a young female employee, Amy, who died in mysterious circumstances after a company party some years ago.

Rocked by a sudden terrible death on company premises, Sam faces questions from the police, and finds herself pulled in all directions: by her loyalty to the company, by her own family, by Maya, and by new revelations about the death of Amy, ten years ago. Two deaths, one toxic workplace. Just how culpable is the company – and how guilty is Sam?

Credits

A 4 x 60 minute thriller for BBC1

Starring: Maxine Peake, Rakhee Thakrar, Susan Wokoma, Kieran New, Ben Batt, Callie Cooke, Alison Steadman, Zoe Tapper, Katherine Pearce

Written by: Ruth Fowler

Directed by: Jennifer Sheridan

Produced by: Simon Meyers

Executive Producers:

Mark Pybus and George Faber for The Forge

Lucy Richer and Ayela Butt for The BBC


AWARDS:

WINNER of New York Festival 2022 Best Entertainment Programme – Drama (Bronze)


PRESS:

‘It asks questions about internalised misogyny, gatekeeping, gradations between self-preservation and complicity, what the rules of the game were and are – and whether women can ever win.’ 4* Guardian


‘Maxine Peake is on dazzling form in this clever, understated drama.’ 4* Evening Standard


‘…subtle, relentless, acerbic.’ The Observer


‘…zingy, expectation-busting.’ New Statesman


‘Addictive sexual politics thriller’ The Times