Rivals by Jilly Cooper was a must-read 'bonkbusting' novel of the 1980s, as it followed some eccentric 'country set' characters in the fictional UK county of Rutshire. And now it's being adapted into a television series by Disney Plus.
There are star-studded casts...and then there’s the star-studded cast of Rivals, which boasts a who’s who of British and Irish acting talent including the likes of David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Danny Dyer, Aidan Turner, Claire Rushbrook, Katherine Parkinson and Emily Atack.
The eight-part saga is based heavily on Jilly Cooper's bestselling book Rivals and follows the tense rivalry between two ambitious and charismatic men, Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Lord Tony Baddingham, and is packed with sex, romantic entanglements, and shocking antics.
"I’m utterly enchanted to be able to announce our all-star line-up for Rivals," says author Jilly Cooper, who also acts as executive producer on the Disney Plus series "Featuring some of the best acting talent that the British Isles has to offer, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better ensemble cast. I cannot wait to be on set and see them bring the characters I love so much to life!"
So here’s everything you need to know about Rivals on Disney Plus…
Rivals release date
Rivals is an eight-part series that launches as a box set on Disney Plus in the UK and Hulu in the US on Friday October 18 2024, so is a big part of Autumn TV this year.
How to watch Rivals: stream the British drama show online
Is there a trailar for Rivals?
Yes Disney Plus has released an official trailer plus a teaser trailer for Rivals set to the Robert Palmer track Addicted To Love. It's really taking us back to the 1980s. Do take a look below..
Rivals on Disney Plus plot
Rivals is part of Jilly Cooper’s racy 10-book 'Rutshire Chronicles’ series which follows members of England’s power-grabbing social elite as they fall in and out of bed with each other and fight tooth and nail to get ahead.
Set in the ruthless, excessive world of independent television in 1986, it chronicles the rivalry of two powerful men — the rakish ex-Olympic rider and Tory MP Rupert Campbell-Black and his ambitious TV station controller Lord Tony Baddingham. But a long-simmering power struggle between them threatens to boil over when the two men lock horns over the future of Corinium Television.
During a franchise renewal year, Tony is planning to expand his media empire and hires brilliant new chat-show host Declan O’Hara (Poldark’s Aidan Turner) and hotshot producer Cameron Cook (Code Black’s Nafessa Williams). But when he spies an opportunity to publicly destroy his arch-enemy Rupert, can Tony finally get revenge on the man who has it all?
Rivals cast — Alex Hassell on playing Rupert Campbell-Black
In Rivals. Alex Hassell plays the rakish and dangerously charismatic ex-Olympian and Tory MP and Minister for Sport who has Rutshire’s eccentric locals under his spell… well, all except Tony Baddingham, his ruthless adversary, that is.
"Tony can’t stand Rupert because, from his perspective, he’s effortlessly privileged," says Alex, 44. "People throw themselves at Rupert’s feet and Tony is jealous, but Rupert thinks Tony is mean, cold and selfish."
As one of the executive producers on the drama, Jilly Cooper searched far and wide before casting Alex as the story’s irresistible rake. "Jilly gave the seal of approval for me as her Rupert,’ says Alex. ‘I’m not blond and blue-eyed like in the books, but I’d managed to portray some essential Rupertness that she was pleased with. I hope viewers think so, too."
Jilly COoper adds: "The minute we met with Alex we knew he’d perfectly embody my all-time hero, the iconic, racy, ruthless, and devastatingly handsome, Rupert Campbell-Black. Viewers are in for a treat!"
* Alex Hassell has had roles in The Boys, Silent Witness, The Miniaturist and was Metatron in His Dark Materials.
David Tennant on playing Lord Tony Baddingham
David Tennant is Rupert’s single-mindedly egotistical Rutshire neighbour Lord Tony Baddingham (see our main picture), controller of Corinium Television.
"These are the days when ITV was split into regional franchises and Corinium is the Rutshire TV franchise," explains David, 53. "Owning one was a big deal, and Tony is motivated by wealth and power, but also by the fact that he doesn’t come from the upper echelons of society, like Rupert."
David says he has his actor wife, Staged star Georgia Tennant, to thank for his role in the adaptation. "Georgia knew Jilly’s books and was convinced I had to be involved, and that it would make sensational television," he shares. "She said, “It’s exactly what the country needs, exactly what the world needs”. Whenever I’ve mentioned it, mostly but not exclusively, it’s a certain generation of women who go quiet and giddy at the thought that it’s become a TV show. I only hope we can meet everybody’s fantasies."
* David Tennant is best known for being the tenth incarnation of The Doctor in Doctor Who but also for dramas such as Good Omens, Inside Man, Des, Broadchurch and Around the World in 80 Days.
Aidan Turner on playing Declan O’Hara
Aidan Turner plays TV presenter Declan O’Hara, who’s wooed to Corinium TV from the BBC by Baddingham himself, but feels he’s been swindled and vows to get his revenge.
During a recent interview with us Aidan revealed more about his Rivals role: "I look like I’m from circa 1975 but it’s for Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, which I’m filming until October. I hadn’t read Rivals before. It seems very British so it wasn’t really on my radar, but it’s really fun. But after we wrap the tache is definitely going to go and I’m going to take a break – I’d love a big holiday!"
In addition Aidan also told The Times in a recent interview: “We have so much sex on our show, we have to have two intimacy coaches. Two!
“Every day we’re in a different huge manor house somewhere, having garden parties. And it is that thing as well, which happens sometimes in shows — and I see it happening [here], though none of us have kind of admitted to it, but it’s definitely there — where there’s a slight methody thing happening. We’re all up for the party. We went out the other night to the Ivy. We had a late night, lots of cocktails. Never wanted a season two of anything more in my life.”
Irish actor Aidan made his name playing Ross Poldark on BBC1 period drama Poldark, but has since had roles in Leonardo and The Suspect and will play an elite tennis coach in Prime Video's Fifteen-Love.
Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones
Danny Dyer stars as Freddie Jones (see main picture above) who is honourable, loyal and lovable, he’s a self-made electronics millionaire. Freddie’s got the money, but finds himself, along with his social-climbing wife Valerie (played by Lisa McGrillis (Maternal, Mum), an outsider to Rutshire’s cliques.
Danny Dyer says: "When I was offered the part, it was a no-brainer. I mean, Jilly Cooper? I knew it would be brilliant. Also, I’ve not had many opportunities to play a role where I look this different. I think it will change a few people’s perceptions of me.
"There are a lot of vulgar characters in Rivals, but Freddie is one of the likeable ones. He’s a working-class fella who’s found himself within this elite world. His wife Valerie [Lisa McGrillis] loves it, but Freddie doesn’t fit in. Then he meets romance novelist Lizzie Vereker [Katherine Parkinson] and they become fascinated with each other.
"We had a ball shooting in big manor houses, all dressed up in 80s clobber. It’s a decade like no other, especially with the look, and I think we’ve pulled it right out the bag. I grew to love my moustache, and there’s also a great scene where Freddie brings out a karaoke machine. I had to belt out Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell in front of the cast!"
* Danny Dyer is of course best known for playing Mick Carter in EastEnders. He's about to star in Channel 5 drama Heat, and host Scared Of The Dark on Channel 4, and has hosted quiz shows Cheat and The Wall. His movies include The Football Factory, Goodbye Charlie Bright, Severance and The Business.
Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham
In Rivals, Claire Rushbrook (Sherwood) plays Lady Monica Baddingham, Tony’s dependable, upper-crust wife who has absolutely no interest in the dramatic goings-on within her husband’s empire.
Who else is starring in Rivals?
There's plenty of other top cast in Rivals including Victoria Smurfit (Bloodlands season 2) plays Maud O’Hara, a former actress and Declan’s bohemian, fickle wife, while Bella Maclean (Sex Education) plays their strong-willed elder daughter, Taggie.
Luke Pasqualino (Our Girl, Skins, The Musketeers) plays the charming Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Tony’s younger brother and the proprietor of Cotchester’s hot spot, Bar Sinister. Emily Atack (The Inbetweeners) plays Sarah Stratton, the new wife to Deputy Prime Minister, Paul Stratton, played by Rufus Jones (W1A). Sarah is ambitious and not afraid to use her looks to get to the top. Paul, on the other hand, is in the throes of a midlife crisis...
Meanwhile, Nafessa Williams (Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody) plays Cameron Cook, a ferociously talented American TV executive, who’s brought to Corinium by Tony to produce Declan’s new prime-time talk show.
Katherine Parkinson (The Kennedys, Humans, Here We Go) stars as Lizzie Vereker, a romantic novelist consistently overlooked by her preening and self-centred TV presenter husband, James Vereker, played by Oliver Chris (The Crown, Trying).
Rivals cast: who’s who in the raunchy drama based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s novel
All about Rivals author Jilly Cooper
Rivals is part of Jilly Cooper’s bestselling Rutshire Chronicles, the iconic literary series of 10 novels packed full of wit, romantic entanglements, sex and unforgettable characters.
The first book in the series Riders was released in 1985, followed by Rivals (1988), Polo (1991), The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous (1993), Appassionata (1996), Score! (1999), Pandora (2002), Wicked! (2006), Jump! (2010) and Mount! (2016).
Jilly Cooper is a journalist, author who lives in Gloucestershire, in the west of the UK. Born in 1937, Jilly is now 86 and is a widow, having been married to publisher Leo Cooper from 1961 until his death in 2013. They have two adopted children and five grandchildren.
Behind the scenes and locations on Rivals
Rivals is filming around the UK in 2023. The series is executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins (A Very English Scandal, Holding, EastEnders) and Alexander Lamb (The Bay, We Hunt Together, Ackley Bridge), Felicity Blunt, Laura Wade, Rivals author Jilly Cooper and Director of Scripted Content for Disney+ EMEA Lee Mason. Rivals is produced by Happy Prince, which is part of ITV Studios and the series is written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins with Olivier Award-winner Laura Wade (The Riot Club).
The lead director of Rivals is BAFTA-nominated Elliot Hegarty (Ted Lasso, Cheaters, Trying), who also serves as executive producer on episodes 1-3. Eliza Mellor (The Midwich Cuckoos, Behind Her Eyes, Poldark) serves as Series Producer.
In addition to Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Wade, the series writers room also includes: Sophie Goodhart, Marek Horn, Mimi Hare and Clare Naylor, Dare Aiyegbayo, Kefi Chadwick, Tray Agyeman and Sorcha Kurien Walsh. The Casting Director is Kelly Valentine Hendry (Bridgerton).
