Rivals star Alex Hassell made a rare red carpet appearance with wife Emma King at Apple TV's BAFTA Brunch at 180 House in London on Saturday, ahead of Sunday's star-studded ceremony. The actor, who plays Rupert Campbell-Black in the raunchy Disney+ show, will soon be back on screen for the 'even raunchier' second season, which debuts May 15.
Alex Hassell's Dashing Look
Alex, 45, cut a dashing figure as he hit the red carpet in a tailored navy suit layered over a simple white T-shirt. Meanwhile, fellow actress Emma caught the eye in a pink ruffled top paired with high-waisted black trousers. The blonde beauty completed her chic look with heels and a matching handbag as she lovingly held hands with her handsome husband.
Emma King's Playful Teasing
In an interview with iNews, Alex revealed that Emma had playfully teased him about stripping on screen, quipping that he'd better stop 'before I get a name for myself'. The British heartthrob met Emma at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and they have now been married for 15 years. Based in north London, the loved-up couple have seen both of their careers blossom since their studies.
Emma King's Career
Hull-born Emma has an impressive portfolio of Shakespearean roles under her belt, alongside film and TV credits including The Vanishing (2018), Dagr (2024), and the space Western series Cowboy Bebop (2021), which Alex also starred in.
Rivals Season 2: Even Raunchier
The second season of Rivals looks set to be even raunchier than the show's debut, with Danny Dyer claiming viewers 'are rooting for infidelity' and Aidan Turner sharing details of a particularly steamy scene. Based on Dame Jilly Cooper's 1988 novel, the comedy-drama debuted on Disney+ in October 2024 and immediately became a huge hit. The eight-episode first series ended in December 2024 and was soon renewed for a second outing.
Cast Insights
Ahead of the show's return on May 15, multiple cast members addressed what's in store for viewers. Danny Dyer plays electronics businessman Freddie Jones, who is having an affair with romance author Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson). The actor explained: 'We're delving into the complications of two people who are madly in love but married with children to other people. There are a lot of people rooting for infidelity, which is quite rare.'
Aidan Turner stars as TV journalist Declan O'Hara, who has faced a struggle balancing work demands with former actress wife Maud (Victoria Smurfit). He described a steamy shower sex scene between the couple as 'fun' to film, telling the Daily Mirror: 'Victoria and I are very comfortable with each other. We've worked together quite intimately since the first series and we just clicked straight away – it might be the Irish thing.'
