Rivals season two is set to premiere on Disney+ on Friday, May 15, with a three-episode launch. The streaming platform has renewed the series for a total of 12 episodes, with the first six airing weekly after the initial drop. The second batch of episodes is expected later this year, though an exact date has not yet been confirmed.
The show, based on Dame Jilly Cooper's 1988 novel, follows the rivalry between an MP and a TV station owner in the fictional Cotswolds county of Rutshire. The star-studded cast returns, including David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham, Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black, Aidan Turner as Declan O'Hara, and Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker. Other returning actors include Danny Dyer, Emily Atack, and Victoria Smurfit.
New additions for season two include Hayley Atwell as Helen Gordon, Rupert's ex-wife, and Rupert Everett as her husband Malise Gordon. Maxim Ays and Bobby Lockwood also join the cast as Sebbie and Dommie Carlisle, respectively.
The plot intensifies as the battle for the Central South West television franchise escalates. According to Disney+, Tony Baddingham becomes more ruthless, using scandal and manipulation to maintain power. Amidst 1980s excess, personal lives spiral into chaos, with marriages fracturing and secrets emerging.
Rivals was a critical and commercial success, winning an International Emmy and a Royal Television Society Award, and earning nominations for BAFTA TV Awards and a National Television Award. A Disney+ subscription starts at £5.99 per month.
