The hit television show Rivals, based on the best-selling novel by the late Dame Jilly Cooper, has been officially renewed by Disney+ for a third series.
Star-Studded Cast and Setting
The award-winning drama features a stellar cast including Doctor Who star David Tennant, Poldark's Aidan Turner, and former EastEnders actor Danny Dyer. Set in the 1980s amidst the picturesque Cotswolds countryside, the series explores the high-stakes world of British television, where careers, marriages, and reputations hang by a thread as professional and personal lives collide.
Critical Acclaim for Season Two
The second series, which received an extended run of 12 episodes, has garnered widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences. It depicts the ruthless world of independent television in 1986, focusing on the rivalry between Lord Tony Baddingham (Tennant) and former MP Rupert Campbell-Black, played by TV and theatre star Alex Hassell.
The mid-season finale aired earlier this month, shocking viewers with the death of a fan-favourite character. A further six episodes are set to be released later this year.
Dame Jilly Cooper's Legacy
Dame Jilly was actively involved in the show's production and served as an executive producer. In October last year, during filming for the second series, she died unexpectedly at age 88 after suffering injuries from a fall at home.
Dominic Treadwell-Collins, chief creative officer of Happy Prince, and Alexander Lamb, Happy Prince's creative director, said: “We’ve been delighted and overwhelmed by the audience’s response to season two of Rivals – testament to the hard work from everyone working on Rivals both on and off screen. Our one sadness is that Jilly didn’t get to witness the love for season two. But she’s still very much with us in spirit and would be so delighted that season three has been greenlit. We’re so thrilled to continue to work with Disney as we dive deeper into the Rutshire Chronicles and expand the Cooperverse even further.”
Lee Mason, vice-president of Scripted for Disney+ EMEA, added: “The phenomenal response to Rivals is a credit to the bold, irreverent and endlessly entertaining world created by Dame Jilly Cooper, our cast, creative team and production partners at Happy Prince. We’re delighted to be bringing audiences a third season on Disney+/Hulu. Expect more ambition, more romance, more rivalries and, of course, more scandal as we return to Rutshire for another irresistible chapter.”
Upcoming Episodes and Season Three
The second half of Rivals series two will air in November on Disney+ in the UK and internationally, and on Hulu in the US. Further details about the third season are yet to be revealed.
