Rivals season 2 is being written right now – here's everything we know
Following the roaring success of Rivals last autumn – and the fact that season one only covered half the plot of its origin novel! – it's no surprise that Disney+ has confirmed that season two is on its way. Phew, right? Because when it comes to light-relief telly that you can easily binge in one sitting, complete with plenty of eye candy, Eighties nostalgia (the shoulder pads... the big hair!), iconic one-liners, raunchy sex scenes and a thumpingly good soundtrack, it's right up there with the very best.
Based on the second book in Jilly Cooper's The Rutshire Chronicles, Rivals is set amid the lives of the socially elite in the fictional English county of Rutshire and depicts the cut-throat world of Eighties independent television. Packed full of wit, romantic entanglements, 'romps' and unforgettable characters, the eight-part first season featured a stellar cast including Alex Hassell, David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, Danny Dyer and Emily Atack. No wonder Jilly is 'orgasmic with excitement' for it to return (yes, her words, and no, we couldn't love her more).
We joyfully ploughed through Rivals season one when it landed on Disney+ on 18 October last year, and if you're anything like us you're no doubt desperate to know what comes after that brilliant, nail-biting cliffhanger in the final episode.
So, here's everything we know so far about Rivals season two, including updates on the release date, cast and plot...
Will there be a Rivals season 2?
Yes! Disney+ announced at the end of last year that Rivals season two has been greenlit. Jilly Cooper, who is once again executive producing, said: “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 for 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!"
Rivals season 2: Release date
There's been no word yet on exactly when Rivals season two will land, but with so many A-listers on the cast, we can imagine it may take some time to align their schedules to film a second series. The first, eight-episode season of Rivals took about seven months to film between March and September 2023, before airing the following October. So, don't expect a follow-up until at least 2026. Rest assured we'll let you know as soon as we hear more...
To reassure us that Rivals season two is definitely in the works, showrunner Dominic Treadwell-Collins (he behind EastEnders, A Very English Scandal and You & Me, no less) recently shared an amusing photo on his Instagram feed, captioned, 'Script meeting. #Rivals2 👠'. The picture featured Cooper, wearing a Wicked T-shirt in a nod to her steamy 2006 novel (just in case you weren't already convinced of her idol status) and standing next to a life-size cut-out of Alex Hassell in character as heartthrob Rupert. This makes sense, because from everything we've heard, we're not sure Jilly would have turned up without one...
Rivals season 2: Plot
The first series of Rivals focused on the longstanding rivalry that comes to a head between aristocratic politician hero Rupert Campbell-Black (played by Alex Hassell and inspired, according to Cooper, by the Queen's first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles) and independent TV kingpin, Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant).
Before it landed, Disney+ said: "It is 1986 and Britain is booming. Rivals dives headfirst into the cut-throat world of TV where hairdos are big and ambitions are even bigger. Deals are brokered in boardrooms, as well as bedrooms. Nobody can be sure who will come out on top. With every man and woman out only for themselves, can true love really blossom in this highly anticipated adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s bestselling Rutshire Chronicles novel?"
So, what could we expect from a second season? Well, if you've read the book the show is based on, you'll know exactly what could happen in the second half. However, some elements of the series one plot deviated from the book, so the screenwriters could well go off piste.
One thing's for sure: Rivals season two will centre around lothario Rupert and his surprisingly slow-burn relationship with Irish TV presenter Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner)'s 20-year-old daughter, Taggie, after the two finally shared a kiss. Declan is not going to be happy...
There's also the question mark over Sarah Stratton's baby, and who the father is – it's either Rupert, James or her husband. Eek! Then what of Lord Baddingham, who Cameron whacked over the head in self-defence at the end of the final episode of season one...
Like us, Rivals showrunner Dominic Treadwell-Collins is excited about what's in store. "Of course, I’ve got the ghost of season one on my shoulders," he told The Hollywood Reporter in December 2024. "I'm writing as someone who’s a type A overachiever. That’s a challenge to have. So looking ahead to season two, it’s bigger, better, bolder, stronger. We know we want to keep coming back with the show."
"We’ve already started working on scripts. We’re laying down little Easter eggs for the viewers," he added. "We’re being really rigorous. But what’s great is the team are fans. We watch telly, we are the audience, so we’re going to be harder on ourselves than the audience ever will."
Rivals season 2: Cast
When Rivals returns for a second season, we hope to see the same brilliant cast back in action. Many of the cast have said they'd be up for more Rutshire drama, so we're keeping our fingers firmly crossed!
Given how much drama is yet to come, we reckon we can rest assured that Alex Hassell will be reprising his lead role as Rupert Campbell-Black, with Bella Maclean back in hers as Taggie.
Then we've got Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook, Aidan Turner as Declan O'Hara, Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton, Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones and Victoria Smurfit as Maud O'Hara, all of whom will likely appear again, but the jury's out on David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham after that explosive finale...
We'll keep you up to date with more information on Rivals season two as soon as we get it, so watch this space...
Rivals is available to stream now on Disney+
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