Rivals season 2: cast, plot and everything we know

After the phenomenal success of Rivals season 1 on Disney Plus, fans of the Jilly Cooper adaptation are already looking forward to Rivals season 2 - and after the first season ended on a huge cliffhanger, everyone is desperate to know what happens next. 

Fans of Jilly Copper's bestselling books will already know that the Rivals finale didn't cover the whole story of the novel, which means there is plenty of drama still to come in season 2, which was confirmed on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

The racy eight-part first series, which stars David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Alex Hassell, Katherine Parkinson and Danny Dyer, has become one of the most talked about TV shows of 2024. 

Set in the fictional British county of Rutshire, the story centers around a long-term rivalry between ex-Olympic rider turned politician Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and TV station controller Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant), who, along with their friends, family and neighbors, drip with ambition, lust and power.

Now we know the second series is officially happening and Dame Jilly Cooper, Executive Producer and Rivals author, said she is 'orgasmic with excitement' about the news! “Nearly 40 years after my novel Rivals was published, I’ve adored seeing the world fall in love with my beloved characters - Rutshire’s Finest.

"It has been a fairytale come true working with Happy Prince and Disney Plus on the first season. I’m orgasmic with excitement and cannot wait for the return of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the rest of the characters in season two!"

Here's everything we know about Rivals season 2...

Rivals season 2 release date 

Rivals season 2 has been officially announced, however a release date is a long way off for now. As soon as we get more information on a release date we will add it to this guide.  

In the meantime, all episodes of Rivals season 1 are available to stream now on Disney Plus.

Rivals season 2 plot 

The main question on everyone's minds as we head into a second season is will Tony Baddingham be in the show? After the Rivals season 1 ending saw him beaten over the head with a TV award as Cameron Cook lashed out in self-defense, could he be dead? While we don't know what direction the screenwriters will take Tony's character in, fans of the novel will know that Tony is very much a part of the second half of the book, so there is hope that he will survive. In fact (spoiler alert!) in the book Tony has a fling with Declan's wife Maud, so that could well be in the second season, too. 

Knowing what happens in the remaining story of the novel, we also know season 2 could focus on the outcome of the TV franchise battle between Corinium and Venturer - but who will win? 

Meanwhile, we might also see what happens next between Taggie and Rupert after THAT kiss, and could we eventually find out who Perdita is? Viewers of the first season saw Declan burn the notes that he had on Rupert from his TV appearance, and the name Perdita was visible in the fire. Fans of the book will know that Perdita is Rupert's daughter so there is a chance she could be introduced in the second season. 

Rivals season 2 cast

If he isn't carted off in a body bag Lord Tony Baddingham is likely to return with David Tennant in the role. Alex Hassell could return as Rupert Campbell-Black, Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara, Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones, Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones and Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham. 

Victoria Smurfit (Bloodlands season 2) is likely to return as Declan's wife, Maud O’Hara and Bella Maclean (Sex Education) as Taggie. 

Luke Pasqualino (Our Girl, Skins, The Musketeers) is likely to be back as Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Tony’s younger brother.

Emily Atack (The Inbetweeners) could return as Sarah Stratton, the new wife to Deputy Prime Minister, Paul Stratton, played by Rufus Jones. 

Meanwhile, Nafessa Williams (Whitney Houston:  I Wanna Dance with Somebody) could return as Cameron Cook, Katherine Parkinson (The Kennedys, Humans, Here We Go) as Lizzie Vereker and Oliver Chris (The Crown, Trying) as James Vereker. 

Is there a trailer for Rivals season 2?

Not yet, it is too early for a trailer, sadly, but as soon as one is released we will add it to this guide. 

Behind the scenes and more on Rivals season 2

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 and 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.

Rivals season 1 was filmed around the UK and the series is executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins (A Very English Scandal, Holding, EastEnders), Alexander Lamb (The Bay, We Hunt Together, Ackley Bridge), Felicity Blunt, Laura Wade, Elliot Hegarty (Cheaters, Ted Lasso), Rivals author Jilly Cooper and Disney Plus EMEA Scripted Content, Jonny Richards.