The second season of the hit drama series Rivals has been confirmed, with a release date set for 15 May on Disney+. The announcement was accompanied by a new teaser trailer, which places David Tennant's character Lord Tony Baddingham at the centre of the action once more.
Tennant, 54, reprises his role as the formidable TV mogul, making a dramatic helicopter entrance in the preview. He delivers lines including 'Sorry I’m late, darling. I’ve had a terrible headache' and later warns his employees at Corinium Television: 'We are at war.' The trailer opens after the tense cliff-hanger from the first season, which left Lord Baddingham motionless in a pool of blood after being struck by Cameron Cooke, played by Nafessa Williams.
Returning cast members include Danny Dyer as businessman Freddie Jones, who describes the chaos as 'a bloody circus,' and is seen getting close with love interest Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson). Alex Hassell's lothario Rupert Campbell-Black is also shown growing close with Bella Maclean's Taggie O'Hara, while Aidan Turner's journalist Declan O'Hara remarks: 'It’s entertaining. In the most delightful way.' The trailer features Billy Idol's 'Mony Mony' throughout.
New guest stars for the upcoming season include Hayley Atwell, known for Agent Carter, and Rupert Everett from My Policeman. Set in the 1980s against the Cotswolds countryside, the award-winning drama follows the high-stakes world of British television amid personal and professional upheaval. Based on Dame Jilly Cooper's best-selling novel, the second series will see Lord Baddingham stop at nothing to keep his television company, Corinium, unrivalled.
Dame Jilly Cooper died unexpectedly in October at the age of 88, following injuries from a fall. A memorial service was held last month. The second series of Rivals will consist of 12 episodes and premieres on Disney+ on 15 May.
