David Farnor | On 22, Apr 2026

Anyway you want it, that’s the way you need it… That’s the soundtrack to the return of Rivals on Disney+ UK next month, as a new trailer gives us a first look at Season 2 – which is shaping up to be exactly the way we want it.

Season 2 will see the vengeful return of Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) who is on a mission to destroy Rupert Campbell-Black and Declan O’Hara’s rival television company “Venturer”. Viewers are also treated to footage of the residents of Rutshire’s favourite international sport, polo, introducing fan-favourite characters from Dame Jilly Cooper’s beloved Rutshire Chronicles, Sebbie and Dommie Carlisle. Also, Rivals’ addictive romances are teased with our couples, Rupert and Taggie, Freddie and Lizzie, Declan and Maud, Charles and Gerald, Sarah and Paul all navigating twists and turns in their relationships…

In the second season, the battle for the Central South West television franchise reaches fever pitch as the war between Corinium and Venturer enters a dangerous new phase. More ruthless than ever, Tony is determined to dismantle his rivals piece-by-piece, weaponising scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power. Amidst the hedonistic glamour of 80s excess, the personal lives of our Rutshire heroes spiral into chaos. Marriages fracture under the weight of ambition, illicit affairs threaten to shatter families, and long-buried secrets ignite with explosive consequences. As rivalries push everyone to the brink, loyalties are tested and hearts are broken in the pursuit of victory. But what is the true cost of war?

Alongside Tennant will be returning stars Alex Hassell (‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’, ‘The Boys’) as Rupert Campbell-Black, Aidan Turner (‘Poldark’, ‘The Hobbit Trilogy’) as Declan O’Hara, Nafessa Williams (‘Black Lightning’, ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody’) as Cameron Cook, Bella Maclean (‘Sex Education’, ‘London Tide’) as Taggie O’Hara, Katherine Parkinson (‘Humans’, ‘Here We Go’) as Lizzie Vereker, Danny Dyer (‘EastEnders’, ‘The Football Factory’) as Freddie Jones, Victoria Smurfit (‘Bloodlands’, ‘Once Upon A Time’) as Maud O’Hara, Claire Rushbrook (‘Sherwood’, ‘Ali and Ava’) as Lady Monica Baddingham, Oliver Chris (‘The Crown’, ‘Trying’) as James Vereker, Lisa McGrillis (‘Maternal’, ‘Mum’) as Valerie Jones, Emily Atack (‘The Emily Atack Show’, ‘The Inbetweeners’) as Sarah Stratton, Rufus Jones (‘W1A’, ‘Home’) as Paul Stratton, Luca Pasqualino (‘The Musketeers’, ‘Shantaram’) as Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Catriona Chandler as Caitlin O’Hara (‘Wild Cherry’, ‘Pistol’), Annabel Scholey (‘The Split’) as Beattie Johnson, Gary Lamont (‘Boiling Point’, ‘Outlander’) as Charles Fairburn, Hubert Burton (‘Wolf Hall’, ‘Living’) as Gerald Middleton, Gabriel Tierney (‘Enola Holmes 2’, ‘The Winter King’) as Patrick O’Hara, Lara Peake (‘How To Have Sex’, ‘Reunion’) as Daysee Butler and Bryony Hannah (‘Talamasca’, ‘Call The Midwife’) as Dierdre Kilpatrick.

This season also sees the addition of new guest stars, Hayley Atwell (‘Mission Impossible’, ‘Agent Carter’) as Helen Gordon, Rupert Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mother of his two children, and Rupert Everett (‘Napoleon’, ‘My Policeman’) as her husband Malise Gordon, Campbell Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor. They are also joined by Maxim Ays (‘Boarders’, ‘Sanditon’) as Sebbie Carlisle and Bobby Lockwood (‘Wolfblood, Here We Go’) as Dommie Carlisle.

Season 2 will be released in two parts – the first six episodes on 15th May, with the next six episodes arriving later this year.

 

First look: Rivals returns for Season 2 in 2026

11th December 2025

Rivals will officially be back on our screens next year, and new images give us a first proper look at Season 2.

Set against the backdrop of the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England, Rivals delves headfirst into the ruthless world of independent television in 1986. Alex Hassell (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”, “The Boys”) stars as Rupert Campbell-Black, who clashes with David Tennant (“Doctor Who”, “The Thursday Murder Club”) as Lord Tony Baddingham, the head of the TV network Corinum – alongside Aidan Turner (“Poldark”, “The Suspect”) as star TV journalist Declan O’Hara. The ensemble also includes Danny Dyer (“EastEnders”, “The Football Factory”), Katherine Parkinson (“Humans”, “Here We Go”), Nafessa Williams (“Black Lighting”, “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody”), Emily Atack (“The Emily Atack Show”, “The Inbetweeners”) and Victoria Smurfit (“Bloodlands”, “Once Upon A Time”).

“A charismatic cast and playful source material make this 80s satire a delightfully naughty romp,” we wrote in our review of Season 1.

Season 2 promises more wit, desire, and jaw-dropping twists, as power struggles intensify, rivalries deepen and ambition pushes loyalties to the brink. Following Season 1’s dramatic cliffhanger, Lord Baddingham is back and out for vengeance ready to stop at nothing to keep Corinium’s empire unrivalled.

The new images give us a glimpse at the return of Tennant, Hassell, Turner and Williams, along with Bella Maclean as Taggie O’Hara.

Watch this space for a confirmed release date.

 

Rivals renewed for Season 2

>4th December 2024

Rivals will return for a second season.

The saucy drama, based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles, launched this October and promptly wooed viewers with its wit, romantic entanglements and, ahem, romantic entanglements.

Set against the backdrop of the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England, Rivals delves headfirst into the ruthless world of independent television in 1986. Alex Hassell (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”, “The Boys”) stars as Rupert Campbell-Black, who clashes with David Tennant (“Doctor Who”, “The Thursday Murder Club”) as Lord Tony Baddingham, the head of the TV network Corinum – alongside Aidan Turner (“Poldark”, “The Suspect”) as star TV journalist Declan O’Hara. The ensemble also includes Danny Dyer (“EastEnders”, “The Football Factory”), Katherine Parkinson (“Humans”, “Here We Go”), Nafessa Williams (“Black Lighting”, “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody”), Emily Atack (“The Emily Atack Show”, “The Inbetweeners”) and Victoria Smurfit (“Bloodlands”, “Once Upon A Time”).

Following the dramatic events of Season 1, Disney+ and Happy Prince (part of ITV Studios) have officially renewed the show for a second run.

Dame Jilly Cooper, Executive Producer and Rivals author, commented: “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. And it has been a fairytale come true working with Happy Prince and Disney+ 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!”

Lee Mason, Executive Director of Scripted Originals, EMEA Disney+, added: “It’s been phenomenal seeing the reaction to Dame Jilly Cooper’s Rivals – this autumn’s most talked about series. We’re thrilled that existing fans of the novels, alongside those new to the Cooperverse, have taken the series to their hearts. I can’t wait to get back to Rutshire and see what exciting drama the Happy Prince team have in store for season two – bring on more romance, betrayal, and shoulder pads!’

Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Chief Creative Officer of Happy Prince and Alexander Lamb, Creative Director of Happy Prince said: “It’s been magical to receive the love back from viewers that we put into Rivals. The Rivals team set out to create people’s favourite television show, something enduring that our audience would take to their hearts and watch and rewatch. We’re delighted that we’re returning to Rutshire with Jilly and Disney+. It’s a special place to be.”

Rivals is executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins (“A Very English Scandal”, “Holding”, “EastEnders”), Alexander Lamb (“Ackley Bridge”, “The Bay”, “We Hunt Together”), Felicity Blunt, Elliot Hegarty (“Cheaters”, “Ted Lasso”), Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade (“The Riot Club”), “Rivals” author Dame Jilly Cooper and Disney+ EMEA Scripted Content, Jonny Richards.

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