‘It's an important story'

Maxine Peake and Rakhee Thakrar on their complex workplace thriller

- ELAINE REILLY

RULES OF THE GAME

NEW TUE & WED / BBC1 / 9PM / EPS 1-2 of 4 / DRAMA

Sam Thompson

MAXINE PEAKE

The Chief Operating Officer at family business Fly Dynamic is determined to stop newly hired HR Director Maya from finding out anything that could tarnish the company’s reputation.

A brutal death at a sportswear company’s HQ is the starting point for Rules of the Game, a brand-new BBC1 thriller exploring sexual politics in the modern workplace.

When Fly Dynamic’s chilly Chief Operating Officer Sam Thompson (played by Anne star Maxine Peake) arrives at work one morning to find a dead body in the office reception, DI Eve Preston (Enola Holmes’ Susan Wokoma) is convinced of foul play.

And as Sam is forced to unpick the chain of events leading up to this moment, starting with the arrival of ambitious new HR Director Maya Benshaw (ex-EastEnders star Rakhee Thakrar), a dangerous web of sinister secrets and historic toxic behaviour at the family business soon begins to emerge.

TV Times caught up with Maxine, 47, and Rakhee, 37, for a video meeting to find out more about the four-part series…

Why did this drama appeal to you both?

RAKHEE It’s an important and timely story. All the characters feel fully formed and have somewhere to go.

MAXINE Yes, they’re complex and witty, and there’s a seam of dark humour. It’s a really great script with something to say.

What's your take on the characters you play?