Rivals has been greenlit for a second season on Disney+ and Dame Jilly Cooper is fired up about it. “I’m orgasmic with excitement,” she said about the news.
Rivals romped onto the streaming channel in October, becoming the smash hit of autumn television. The London Standard called it “gloriously trashy” and the raunchy Eighties adaptation of Cooper’s classic bonkbuster even caused a mini property boom in the Cotswolds. It also surprised audiences by revealing how fine an actor Danny Dyer is, with his portrayal of Freddie Jones.
Now Disney+ has announced a second season of the British upper crust behaving badly is officially on its way.
“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,” said Cooper. “I cannot wait for the return of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the rest of the characters in season two!"
No dates have been disclosed as yet but it sounds like the production team is promising more of high camp high jinks. “Bring on more romance, betrayal, and shoulder pads!” said Disney executive director Lee Mason.
The first season of Rivals ended on a dramatic cliff-hanger (spoiler alert!), with Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) slapping Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams) after finding out about her affair with Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell). Cook responds by bludgeoning him with a TV award – a departure from the original novel – leaving him bleeding from a headwound. Will Baddingham survive?
Campbell-Black, the showjumper turned Conservative MP, has also made an aggressive pass at 19-year-old Taggie (Bella Maclean), groping her under her skirt. But she’s still crushing on the older scoundrel, and the two share a stolen kiss and love confession. We’ll see if their relationship makes it into season two.
Disney+ commissioned Rivals after looking for its own answer to smash hit Downton Abbey – and it seems viewers are hungry for more escapism in the form of the secret lives of rich people from the past.
Rivals season one is now streaming on Disney+
